Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China vs Republic of Madagascar
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:
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
Republic of Madagascar
Madagascar publishes official tourist eVisa guidance through the eVisa Madagascar platform and National Police, long-stay investor, worker, family, work-permit and company-creation checklists through EDBM, and consular short-stay, transformable, study and special-visa category guidance through Ministry of Foreign Affairs mission pages. The current Visa Atlas packet covers tourist eVisa, visa on arrival, consular short stay, tourist extension, transformable visa, long-stay investor, worker, family and study routes, work permit, special official visas and company creation for foreign investors. Embassy payment and appointment mechanics can be locally specific, so applicants should use the competent Madagascar mission for consular filing details.
- Official portal
- eVisa Madagascar / Border Police of Madagascar
- Languages
- Malagasy, French
- Currency
- Malagasy ariary
How Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China and Republic of Madagascar differ
| Dimension | Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China | Republic of Madagascar |
|---|---|---|
| Total routes covered | 8 | 12 |
| Routes without employer sponsor | 5 | 6 |
| Routes leading to permanent residence | 8 | 4 |
| Typical full settlement timeline | GEP residence -> extensions -> right of abode/permanent resident status after 7 years of continuous ordinary residence. | — |
| Dominant skilled visa | General Employment Policy (GEP) | Work Permit |
| 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 | Chinese, English | Malagasy, French |
| Currency | Hong Kong dollar | Malagasy ariary |
| Primary regulator | Law Society | EVISA |
| Policy changes (last 12 months) | 0 | 0 |
Skilled-route head-to-head
Comparing each country’s most-used skilled-migration route side by side.
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
Republic of Madagascar
Work Permit
- Salary minimum
- —
- Government fees
- —
- Processing time
- —
- Sponsor required
- Yes
- Leads to settlement
- No
Routes unique to Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China
Visa routes side by side
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.
Republic of Madagascar (12)
Tourist eVisa
No sponsor · Non-settlement · Single entry; maximum tourist eVisa duration of 60 days.
Tourist Visa on Arrival
No sponsor · Non-settlement · Tourist route; the official eVisa tourist route states a single-entry maximum of 60 days.
Consular Short-Stay Visa
No sponsor · Non-settlement · 30, 60 or 90 days; the page states the visa is non-transformable into long stay.
Tourist Visa Extension
No sponsor · Non-settlement · Extension up to a total of 90 days according to the reviewed eVisa FAQ.
Transformable Visa
Sponsor · Leads to settlement · One-month transformable visa, used as a bridge to long-stay status.
Long-Stay Investor Visa
No sponsor · Leads to settlement · EDBM fee bands cover stay periods from more than 3 months to 1 year through 5-10 years, definitive and duplicate categories.
Long-Stay Worker Visa
Sponsor · Leads to settlement · EDBM fee bands cover stay periods from more than 3 months to 1 year through 5-10 years, definitive and duplicate categories.
Work Permit
Sponsor · Non-settlement · A work authorisation route tied to the employment file; check the permit validity issued in the decision.
Long-Stay Family Reunification Visa
Sponsor · Leads to settlement · EDBM fee bands cover stay periods from more than 3 months to 1 year through 5-10 years, definitive and duplicate categories.
Long-Stay Study Visa
Sponsor · Non-settlement · Entry visa is described as an immigrant 30-day visa transformable into long stay of more than 90 days.
Diplomatic and Courtesy Visa
Sponsor · Non-settlement · Mission- or status-linked special visa; validity depends on the approved official purpose.
Company Creation for Foreign Investors
No sponsor · Non-settlement · EDBM states documents are delivered 2 days after payment if the file is complete.
Frequently asked questions
Which country has an easier skilled-migration route, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China or Republic of Madagascar?+
Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China’s General Employment Policy (GEP) requires a salary of at least No fixed published floor; Republic of Madagascar’s Work Permit is the dominant skilled route. “Easier” depends on your salary, sponsor situation, and nationality — see each visa’s eligibility detail.
Does Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China or Republic of Madagascar have more visa routes without an employer sponsor?+
Republic of Madagascar 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.