Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China vs Islamic Republic of Pakistan
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
Islamic Republic of Pakistan
Pakistan uses the Pakistan Online Visa System for major entry routes, including tourist/visit, business, work, investor, student and family-visit visas. Work cases are employer-led and the official work route points applicants to the Board of Investment for further requirements, while business and investor categories depend heavily on invitation, recommendation or investment evidence.
- Official portal
- Ministry of Interior, Government of Pakistan
- Languages
- Urdu, English
- Currency
- Pakistani rupee
How Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China and Islamic Republic of Pakistan differ
| Dimension | Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China | Islamic Republic of Pakistan |
|---|---|---|
| Total routes covered | 8 | 6 |
| Routes without employer sponsor | 5 | 3 |
| Routes leading to permanent residence | 8 | 0 |
| 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 - General Visa |
| 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 | Urdu, English |
| Currency | Hong Kong dollar | Pakistani rupee |
| Primary regulator | Law Society | PBC |
| 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
Islamic Republic of Pakistan
Work - General Visa
- 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
Routes unique to Islamic Republic of Pakistan
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.
Islamic Republic of Pakistan (6)
Tourist/Visit Visa
No sponsor · Non-settlement · Entry visas can be single-entry for up to 3 months; extensions can be multiple-entry up to 6 months or greater than 6 months where eligible.
Business Visa
Sponsor · Non-settlement · A business visa may be granted for up to 5 years and is valid for multiple entries.
Business Investor Visa
No sponsor · Non-settlement · Short-term entry can be 1 year or 3 years multiple-entry; long-term entry can be 5 years multiple-entry; investor extension can be 2 years multiple-entry.
Work - General Visa
Sponsor · Non-settlement · Entry and extension can be granted for 2 years with multiple entries.
Student Visa
No sponsor · Non-settlement · The official page says a study visa is granted for 2 years.
Family Visit Visa
Sponsor · Non-settlement · First-time visa valid up to 5 years with up to 1 year stay on each entry; Pakistan-origin extensions can be up to 2 years, while other extensions are yearly or as relevant rules/policy allow.
Frequently asked questions
Which country has an easier skilled-migration route, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China or Islamic Republic of Pakistan?+
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; Islamic Republic of Pakistan’s Work - General Visa 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 Islamic Republic of Pakistan have more visa routes without an employer sponsor?+
Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China has more: 5 of its covered routes can be pursued without an employer sponsor, against 3 for Islamic Republic of Pakistan. 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.