Cook Islands (self-governing country in free association with New Zealand) vs Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China
A neutral side-by-side of immigration systems, routes and regulators. Each row links to the underlying visa page with its primary government source.
Last reviewed:
Cook Islands (self-governing country in free association with New Zealand)
Cook Islands Visa Atlas coverage is based on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Immigration (MFAI) immigration and visa/permit criteria pages. The current packet covers Cook Islands visitor entry, long-term visitor status, international, government and specialist worker permits, resident investor, resident spouse, special spouse, adult student, research, intern, international child, resident child and permanent residence routes; applicants should check Cook Islands MFAI guidance rather than assuming New Zealand immigration status automatically covers every Cook Islands purpose.
- Languages
- English, Cook Islands Maori
- Currency
- New Zealand dollar
Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China
Hong Kong's Immigration Department runs a suite of talent and employment admission schemes rather than a single points-based system. The headline routes are the General Employment Policy (GEP) for sponsored professionals, the Quality Migrant Admission Scheme (QMAS) and Top Talent Pass Scheme (TTPS) for talent without a prior job offer, and the Immigration Arrangements for Non-local Graduates (IANG). Most schemes are residence tracks: seven years of continuous ordinary residence can lead to the right of abode.
- Official portal
- Immigration Department (Hong Kong SAR)
- Languages
- Chinese, English
- Currency
- Hong Kong dollar
How Cook Islands (self-governing country in free association with New Zealand) and Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China differ
| Dimension | Cook Islands (self-governing country in free association with New Zealand) | Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China |
|---|---|---|
| Total routes covered | 15 | 8 |
| Routes without employer sponsor | 6 | 5 |
| Routes leading to permanent residence | 1 | 8 |
| Typical full settlement timeline | — | GEP residence -> extensions -> right of abode/permanent resident status after 7 years of continuous ordinary residence. |
| Dominant skilled visa | International Worker Permit | General Employment Policy (GEP) |
| Skilled visa salary minimum | — | No fixed published floor |
| Skilled visa processing time | — | Hong Kong Immigration says General Employment Policy applications are normally finalised in four weeks once all documents and fees are received. |
| Skilled visa government fees | — | A Hong Kong GEP application with an initial stay over 180 days costs HKD 1,900 in listed Immigration Department fees. |
| Official languages | English, Cook Islands Maori | Chinese, English |
| Currency | New Zealand dollar | Hong Kong dollar |
| Primary regulator | MFAI | Law Society |
| Policy changes (last 12 months) | 0 | 0 |
Skilled-route head-to-head
Comparing each country’s most-used skilled-migration route side by side.
Cook Islands (self-governing country in free association with New Zealand)
International Worker Permit
- Salary minimum
- —
- Government fees
- —
- Processing time
- —
- Sponsor required
- Yes
- Leads to settlement
- No
Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China
General Employment Policy (GEP)
- Salary minimum
- No fixed published floor
- Government fees
- A Hong Kong GEP application with an initial stay over 180 days costs HKD 1,900 in listed Immigration Department fees.
- Processing time
- Hong Kong Immigration says General Employment Policy applications are normally finalised in four weeks once all documents and fees are received.
- Sponsor required
- Yes
- Leads to settlement
- Yes
Routes unique to Cook Islands (self-governing country in free association with New Zealand)
Routes unique to Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China
Visa routes side by side
Cook Islands (self-governing country in free association with New Zealand) (15)
New Zealand Visitor Entry
No sponsor · Non-settlement · Visitor stay as allowed by the current Cook Islands visitor-entry criteria.
International Visitor Entry
No sponsor · Non-settlement · Visitor stay as allowed by the current MFAI visitor criteria and any approved extension.
Long-Term Visitor Permit
No sponsor · Non-settlement · Longer visitor stay as granted under current MFAI criteria.
International Worker Permit
Sponsor · Non-settlement · Work permission as granted for the approved role and employer under MFAI criteria.
Government Worker Permit
Sponsor · Non-settlement · Work permission as granted for the government-linked role.
Specialist Worker Permit
Sponsor · Non-settlement · Specialist work permission as granted for the approved assignment or role.
Resident Investor Permit
No sponsor · Non-settlement · Residence permission as granted under current resident-investor criteria.
Resident Spouse Permit
Sponsor · Non-settlement · Residence permission as granted under current resident-spouse criteria.
Special Spouse Permit
Sponsor · Non-settlement · Spouse-related status as granted under current MFAI criteria.
Adult Student Permit
No sponsor · Non-settlement · Study permission as granted for the approved course or study period.
Research Permit
Sponsor · Non-settlement · Research permission as granted for the approved project or activity.
Intern Permit
Sponsor · Non-settlement · Internship permission as granted for the approved placement.
International Child Permit
Sponsor · Non-settlement · Child status as granted under current MFAI criteria.
Resident Child Permit
Sponsor · Non-settlement · Resident child status as granted under current MFAI criteria.
Permanent Residence
No sponsor · Leads to settlement · Permanent residence status, subject to the conditions and maintenance rules set by Cook Islands law and MFAI.
Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China (8)
General Employment Policy (GEP)
Sponsor · Leads to settlement · Initial stay normally up to 36 months on employment conditions; extensions typically follow a 3+3+2-year pattern.
Quality Migrant Admission Scheme (QMAS)
No sponsor · Leads to settlement · Initial stay normally up to 36 months under the General Points Test (or a longer initial period for Achievement-based applicants); renewable.
Top Talent Pass Scheme (TTPS)
No sponsor · Leads to settlement · Initial stay of 36 months (Category A) or 24 months (Categories B and C); renewable on meeting the criteria.
Immigration Arrangements for Non-local Graduates (IANG)
No sponsor · Leads to settlement · Initial stay of 24 months on time limitation only; renewable subject to meeting the criteria.
Technology Talent Admission Scheme (TechTAS)
Sponsor · Leads to settlement · Employment-based stay aligned with the company quota and the applicant contract; renewable subject to continued eligibility.
Entry for Investment as Entrepreneurs
No sponsor · Leads to settlement · Initial stay normally up to 36 months on employment (business) conditions; extensions follow the standard pattern.
Capital Investment Entrant Scheme (CIES)
No sponsor · Leads to settlement · Initial stay granted under the scheme, renewable while the investment and asset requirements continue to be met.
Entry for Residence as Dependants
Sponsor · Leads to settlement · Stay normally aligned with the sponsor permitted period of stay; renewable alongside the sponsor.
Frequently asked questions
Which country has an easier skilled-migration route, Cook Islands (self-governing country in free association with New Zealand) or Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China?+
Cook Islands (self-governing country in free association with New Zealand)’s International Worker Permit is the dominant skilled route; Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China’s General Employment Policy (GEP) requires No fixed published floor. “Easier” depends on your salary, sponsor situation, and nationality — see each visa’s eligibility detail.
Does Cook Islands (self-governing country in free association with New Zealand) or Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China have more visa routes without an employer sponsor?+
Cook Islands (self-governing country in free association with New Zealand) has more: 6 of its covered routes can be pursued without an employer sponsor, against 5 for Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China. No-sponsor routes — such as digital-nomad, self-employment, and points-based skilled migration — matter most if you do not yet have a job offer.