Politics and government of Macau |
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The Government of the Macau Special Administrative Region allows citizens of specific countries/territories to travel to Macau for tourism or business purposes for periods ranging from 14 to 180 days without having to obtain a visa. [1] For other entry purposes, such as establishing residence on a long-term basis, a different policy applies.
The Serviço de Migração (Immigration Department), under the Public Security Police Force, is the government agency responsible for immigration matters, whilst the Public Security Police Force itself is responsible for enforcing immigration laws in Macau. [2]
All visitors must hold a passport, travel document and any other documents accepted for the purpose of immigration control valid for 90 days beyond the period of intended stay in Macau.
Under the one country, two systems policy, Macau maintains its immigration and visa policy independently from the rest of China. Consequently, entering Macau from mainland China or Hong Kong requires passing through immigration checkpoints of mainland China or Hong Kong. Whilst Hong Kong residents have visa-free access for short visits to Macau, mainland residents must obtain a Two-way Permit (EEP) with the appropriate exit endorsement from the Chinese Ministry of Public Security before visiting Macau.
Under Macanese laws, holders of the following documents are residents of Macau and are allowed to return to Macau: [3] [4] [5]
Holders of passports issued by following countries and Hong Kong permanent residents can enter Macau as a visitor without a visa (for a maximum period as stated below): [6] [7] [1]
1 - Also applicable to holders of Taiwan Compatriot Permits. Holders of a travel document issued by Portugal to non-citizens who are unable to obtain national passports are also exempt from possessing a visa to enter Macau for a maximum of 30 days. [7]
Not in forceMacau signed a visa-free agreement with Kazakhstan in April 2024 which will come into force after the completion of domestic procedures. [8] |
Special regulations are in force for persons of Chinese nationality who are not residents of Macau.
Residency | Travel document | Duration of stay |
---|---|---|
Mainland China | Exit-Entry Permit for Travelling to and from Hong Kong and Macau (Two-way Permit) [9] | Varies, maximum 90 days |
Chinese passport Chinese Travel Document Taiwan Travel Permit with a valid endorsement | 7 days (for transit from/to a third country or Taiwan) | |
Hong Kong | Hong Kong Permanent Identity Card Hong Kong Re-entry Permit | 1 year |
Hong Kong Document of Identity for Visa Purposes | 30 days | |
Hong Kong Special Administrative Region passport | 7 days (for transit from/to a third country only) |
Mainland Chinese visitors to Macau are required to hold a Two-way Permit. The duration of stay is the one indicated on the exit endorsement, but if the duration indicated is longer than 90 days, the person must report to PSPF for a "special authorization of stay" within the first 90 days of entry. [7] For those who are travelling to a third country or region, they can alternatively use their Chinese passports, Chinese Travel Documents or Travel Permits to and from Taiwan for Mainland Residents for a maximum stay of 7 days. [7]
Non-permanent residents of Hong Kong with residency in mainland China are required to travel with the Two-way Permit along with the valid entry endorsement when travelling directly between Hong Kong and Macau. [7]
Permanent residents of Hong Kong holding valid Hong Kong Permanent Identity Cards or Hong Kong Re-entry Permits are granted a stay of 1 year upon entry. Non-permanent residents of Hong Kong can enter for up to 30 days if they hold a Hong Kong Document of Identity for Visa Purposes to Macau. [7]
Holders of HKSAR passports are granted a stay of 7 days providing they are transiting to a third country. [7]
Those holding travel documents that are not listed above will be required to obtain an Entry Permit (Visa On Arrival or VOA) [10] for entry to Macau, either prior to arrival or on arrival. Visa on arrival provides granted Authorization to Stay for a maximum of 30 days once the application is approved. Updated VOA application fees as of Aug 2023 are MOP200 (single entry) / MOP300 (multiple entry) for individual, MOP400 (single entry) / MOP600 (multiple entry) for family passport, MOP100 (single entry) / MOP150 (multiple entry) for children under 12 with individual passport and MOP100 (single entry) / MOP150 (multiple entry) for groups of at least 10 people organized by a single travel manager and presenting a collective travel document. Alternatively, they can apply for an "Authorization to Enter and Stay" through a representative in Macau.
Nationals of the following countries must obtain a visa in advance through the Chinese diplomatic mission (unless they hold a Hong Kong identity card). [1] [11] They can apply for an "Authorization to Enter and Stay" through a representative only when there are no Chinese diplomatic missions in their country or region of residence. [12]
1 - Diplomatic passport only.
Under Macanese law, visitors will be denied entry if: [7]
In addition, visitors may be denied entry if:
Visitors who have entered with short stay status can extend their "Authorization to Stay", should their travel plans change, by no more than 90 days. This can be done by applying at the local Serviço de Migração office. [13]
Nationals who would normally require visas may enter Macau without a visa for 48 hours if they arrive and depart from Macau International Airport. [1] [7]
Non-resident students in possession of a valid travel document have to go to the Foreigners Subdivision of the Serviço de Migração office located in Taipa, to apply for a "Special Authorization to Stay" (Chinese :外地學生之逗留的特別許可, Portuguese : Autorização Especial de Permanência para Estudantes do Exterior). The Special Authorization to Stay for Non-resident Students is usually valid until 31 December if the study program ends on a date beyond the year, or valid until the last day of the program if the study program ends within the same year. [14] For those who are enrolled in a study program which ends on a date beyond the year, can renew their Special Authorization to Stay for Non-resident Students before the expiry (expiries usually 31 December), only if the Non-resident student continues to be enrolled in the study program at the same higher institute in Macau. [15]
Those wanting to take up residence in Macau for purposes of investment can do so via the Macau Trade and Investment Office in Macau, and then visit the local Serviço de Migração office. [16]
Those wanting to take up residence for other reasons, such as employment, are required to make their application at their local Serviço de Migração office. The procedure varies depending on nationality and residency status. Chinese and Portuguese nationals should make their application via the Comissariado de Residentes at the local Serviço de Migração office, whilst foreign nationals should apply via the Comissariado de Estrangeiros at the local Serviço de Migração office.
Most visitors arriving to Macao were holding travel documents issued by the following countries: [17]
Country/Territory | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 |
---|---|---|---|---|
Mainland China | 22,196,203 | 20,454,104 | 20,410,615 | 21,252,410 |
Hong Kong | 6,165,129 | 6,419,839 | 6,534,543 | 6,426,608 |
Taiwan | 1,060,107 | 1,074,525 | 988,059 | 953,753 |
South Korea | 874,253 | 662,321 | 554,177 | 554,521 |
Japan | 328,990 | 300,613 | 282,217 | 299,849 |
Philippines | 307,139 | 287,025 | 276,806 | 262,853 |
Malaysia | 218,301 | 222,809 | 229,102 | 250,046 |
Thailand | 198,222 | 236,169 | 180,836 | 175,906 |
Indonesia | 197,139 | 182,467 | 163,353 | 189,189 |
United States | 186,378 | 190,885 | 182,532 | 181,457 |
India | 148,121 | 165,278 | 167,578 | 167,216 |
Singapore | 143,068 | 155,763 | 158,814 | 196,491 |
Australia | 88,988 | 93,286 | 92,404 | 105,914 |
Canada | 74,287 | 75,173 | 70,973 | 70,601 |
United Kingdom | 57,121 | 61,301 | 59,985 | 60,756 |
Total | 32,610,506 | 30,950,336 | 30,714,628 | 31,525,632 |
The Mainland Travel Permit for Hong Kong and Macao Resident is a travel document issued by the Exit and Entry Administration of the People's Republic of China. This card-size biometric document is issued to Chinese citizens with permanent residency in Hong Kong and Macau for traveling to mainland China. The bearers can stay in mainland China indefinitely for any purpose, including working and studying, with no restriction imposed. The validity period for the card is 10 years or 5 years.
The Hong Kong Certificate of Identity (CI) was a formal travel document and passport, issued by the Hong Kong Government's Immigration Department until 30 June 1997. It is no longer possible to possess a valid CI as a travel document, as all CIs have expired by 30 June 2007, though most CI holders should be eligible to hold the HKSAR Passport.
The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region passport is a passport issued only to permanent residents of Hong Kong who also hold Chinese citizenship. In accordance with the Basic Law of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, since the handover in 1997, the passport has been issued by the Immigration Department of the Government of Hong Kong under the authorisation of the Central People's Government of the People's Republic of China. As the official languages of Hong Kong are Chinese and English, the passport is printed bilingually in both Chinese and English. In addition, unlike Chinese passport which can be directly issued by Chinese diplomatic missions abroad, the Immigration Department of Hong Kong is the only issuing authority for HKSAR passports.
Hong Kong Re-entry Permit are issued to Hong Kong residents by the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) for travel to mainland China and Macau Special Administrative Region.
The Macao Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of Chinapassport is a passport issued to Chinese citizens who are permanent residents of the Chinese Special Administrative Region of Macau.
A travel document is an identity document issued by a government or international entity pursuant to international agreements to enable individuals to clear border control measures. Travel documents usually assure other governments that the bearer may return to the issuing country, and are often issued in booklet form to allow other governments to place visas as well as entry and exit stamps into them.
The Taiwan Entry Permit (入臺證), formally the Exit & Entry Permit Taiwan Republic of China, is an entry permit issued by the National Immigration Agency in Taiwan for Chinese citizens from mainland, Hong Kong, and Macau to enter and exit the Taiwan Area.
The People's Republic of China passport is a passport issued to citizens of the People's Republic of China for the purpose of international travel, and entitles its bearer to the protection of China's consular officials overseas.
Visitors to the Republic of China (Taiwan) must obtain a visa or authorization in advance, unless they come from one of the visa exempt countries or countries whose nationals are eligible for visa on arrival. All visitors must hold a passport valid for 6 months.
The Mainland Travel Permit for Taiwan Resident is a travel document issued by the Exit and Entry Administration of the People's Republic of China. This card-size biometric document is issued to Taiwan residents for traveling to mainland China. Since 2017, Taiwan residents with this document can stay in mainland China indefinitely for any purpose, including working and studying, with no restriction imposed.
The visa policy of mainland China deals with the requirements which a foreign citizen must meet to travel to, enter, and remain in the mainland of the People's Republic of China. Several categories of visas are available, depending on the purpose and length of stay. Chinese visas are issued outside China by the Chinese diplomatic missions and in China by the exit and entry administrations (EEAs) of the county-level public security bureaus (PSBs). Visa exemptions exist for citizens of certain countries based on bilateral agreements and unilateral decisions.
The visa policy of Hong Kong deals with the requirements in which a foreign national wishing to enter Hong Kong through one of the 15 immigration control points must meet to obtain an entry permit or Visa, which depending on the traveller's nationality, may be required to travel to, enter, and remain in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. Visitors from over 145 countries are permitted without Visa entry for periods ranging from 7 to 180 days, to the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region for tourism or certain business-related activities. All visitors must hold a passport valid for more than 1 month.
The Macao Special Administrative Region Travel Permit is a biometric international travel document issued to non-permanent residents of Macao SAR holding Chinese nationality, who also possess a Macao SAR Non-Permanent Resident Identity Card, and are not eligible for any other type of travel document. Permanent residents of Macao of non-Chinese nationality are also eligible.
The Visit Permit for Residents of the Macao SAR to the Hong Kong SAR is a travel document used by eligible Macau residents to enter Hong Kong. It is valid for seven years, and allows the holder to make multiple visits to Hong Kong, each time for up to 180 days and up to thirty days for pleasure or business without the need to apply for visas or entry permits.
The Macau Resident Identity Card or BIR is an official identity card issued by the Identification Services Bureau of Macau. There are two types of Resident Identity Cards: one for permanent residents and one for non-permanent residents.
Visa requirements for Chinese citizens are administrative entry restrictions imposed on citizens of China who hold Mainland passport by the authorities of other states.
e-Channel, also known as The Automated Passenger Clearance System, is an expedited border control system introduced by the Hong Kong Immigration Department in 2004, designed to speed up border immigration processes for residents of Hong Kong, Macau and frequent visitors to Hong Kong entering and exiting the territory whether it be by land, air or sea via the use of self-service kiosks employed at various border control points.
The Hong Kong and Macao Travel Permit is a travel document issued by the Exit and Entry Administration of the People's Republic of China. This card-size biometric document is issued to Chinese citizens residing in the mainland for traveling to and returning from Hong Kong and Macau for personal purposes.
Visitors to São Tomé and Príncipe must obtain a visa online or from one of the diplomatic missions of São Tomé and Príncipe prior to arrival unless they come from one of the visa exempt countries.
An electronic visa (E-Visa) and an electronic travel authorization are digital travel permits commonly required in conjunction with a valid passport for entry into specific jurisdictions. These electronic travel documents have gained prominence in the modern era of digital connectivity and streamlined travel processes.