Every way into Macao.

Macao is a Special Administrative Region of China with its own immigration system, separate from mainland China's visa regime. Passport holders of around 80-90 countries and territories enjoy visa exemption for tourism, family visits and short business trips, with the permitted stay set on entry by the Public Security Police Force (Immigration). The exempt stay varies by nationality: typically 30 days (e.g. United States, Canada and most ASEAN nationals), 90 days (most EU/Schengen states, Japan, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand, Brazil), and 180 days for British, Portuguese and Irish citizens. No advance application or fee is required; the stay must end before the passport's validity drops below the legal margin. Visa-free entry does not authorise employment or study.

Max stay

30 days

Travellers whose nationality is not visa-exempt, and who have not obtained a visa in advance, may apply for an Authorization to Enter and Stay (visa on arrival) at the Visa Room of the checkpoint when arriving in Macao. If approved, the holder is granted an Authorization to Stay for a maximum of 30 days. Applicants must hold a passport valid for at least 90 days and show means of subsistence on a sliding scale (about MOP 5,000 for up to 7 days, MOP 10,000 for 8-14 days, MOP 15,000 for 15-21 days and MOP 20,000 for longer stays), plus a return or onward ticket. The standard individual fee is MOP 200 for single entry and MOP 300 for multiple entry, with reduced fees for children under 12 and groups. The authorisation is for visiting purposes only and does not permit work.

Government fee

MOP 200

Max stay

30 days

Macao has no distinct airside transit visa: travellers passing through Macao are admitted under the ordinary visit regime, entering visa-free if their nationality is exempt or applying for the Authorization to Enter and Stay (visa on arrival) at the checkpoint if it is not. The granted Authorization to Stay (up to 30 days for the visa-on-arrival route, or the nationality-specific exempt period) is ample for transit and short stopovers. Travellers must hold a valid passport, onward travel documentation and sufficient means of subsistence. Those continuing to or arriving from mainland China should note that Macao and the mainland operate separate immigration controls and a Chinese visa is handled separately.

Max stay

30 days

Macao does not issue a separate business visa for short visits: business travellers enter under the same visit regime as tourists, either visa-free (for exempt nationalities) or via the Authorization to Enter and Stay (visa on arrival) for others. The permitted stay is set on entry by nationality, generally 30 to 90 days, and the entry covers meetings, negotiations, conferences, trade fairs and similar short business activity. It does not authorise taking up local employment, which requires a Non-resident Worker's Identification Card (Blue Card). Travellers should carry evidence of the business purpose, such as an invitation from a Macao company, and meet the standard subsistence-funds and passport-validity conditions.

Max stay

30 days

All non-local students enrolled at Macao's tertiary and other education institutions must obtain a Special Authorization to Stay (commonly called the student visa) from the Immigration Department of the Public Security Police Force. It is normally granted only to full-time students. After matriculating, the student applies through the Integrated Online System for Special Authorization to Stay for Non-resident Students and completes the process at the Immigration Building. The authorisation is granted in line with the normal duration of the programme and is typically valid for one academic year, renewable each year, but cannot extend beyond 90 days before the passport expires (or, for mainland students, beyond their travel-permit endorsement). The application is free of charge, and actual class attendance is required to maintain, renew or extend it.

Government fee

MOP 0

Processing time

45 days

Validity

365 days

Every non-resident who works in Macao must hold a Non-resident Worker's Identification Card, widely known as the Blue Card, issued under Law No. 21/2009 by the Public Security Police Force. The card is employer-sponsored: the employer must first obtain an employment (import) quota and authorisation from the Labour Affairs Bureau (DSAL), after which the worker's card is applied for within 6 months of the employer signing for the authorisation. Workers fall into categories of skilled worker, non-skilled worker and domestic helper; the card is strictly tied to the approved employer, workplace, job position and contract term, and changing employer requires a new authorisation. The card fee is MOP 100; formal processing of the card takes about 45 days after a preliminary check. Validity matches the period approved in the work authorisation by the Labour Affairs Bureau or the Secretary for Economy and Finance.

Government fee

MOP 100

Processing time

45 days

Investor residence in Macao runs through temporary residency based on a major investment or a major investment plan beneficial to the Macao SAR, processed with the assistance of IPIM (the Commerce and Investment Promotion Institute). Applications are accepted for holders of an approved major investment plan under assessment and for those already holding significant investments in Macao; the authorities assess the project's economic benefit rather than applying a fixed published threshold. Macao does NOT operate a passive golden visa or citizenship-by-investment scheme, and the historic property-investment immigration route has been closed since 2007. Approved investors receive a temporary residence authorisation that is renewable and can be extended to family dependants, and that can lead to permanent residence after seven years of residence in Macao. Specific investment amounts are set case by case and are not published; applicants should confirm current requirements with IPIM.

Eligible family members of a non-resident worker (Blue Card holder) may obtain a Special Authorization to Stay for family reunion, granted by the Residence and Stay Affairs Department of the Public Security Police Force. Qualifying relatives are the spouse (including de facto partners), first-level lineal minor descendants (and adopted minors) of the worker and spouse, and first-level lineal ascendants. The worker must be recognised as having a specific qualification and being beneficial to the Macao SAR. The authorisation is generally tied to the worker's own authorised stay, and for minor children it expires when the child reaches adulthood. The application is free of charge and takes about 50 days once documents are complete. Dependants are prohibited from working in Macao except where the law specifically allows it.

Government fee

MOP 0

Processing time

50 days

A person who marries or is part of the family household of a Macao Resident Identity Card holder may apply for a Special Authorization to Stay for the purpose of family reunion, defined by Law No. 16/2021 and handled by the Residence and Stay Affairs Department of the Public Security Police Force. The authorisation is valid for a maximum of 2 years and is renewable for equal or shorter periods, never exceeding the sponsor's identity-card validity. Applicants must prove the qualifying relationship, show proof of means of subsistence and a Macao residential address. The application is free of charge. Continued family reunion residence supports the eventual acquisition of permanent resident status (the right of abode), which the Macao Basic Law links to seven years of ordinary residence.

Government fee

MOP 0

Validity

730 days

Macao's Talent Recruitment System, established by Law No. 7/2023 and in force from 1 July 2023, grants residence authorisation to attract qualified professionals and is administered by the Talent Development Committee (CDQQ), which took over this role from IPIM. It runs three tracks: High-end Talents (individuals with exceptional, globally recognised achievements), Outstanding Talents (professionals supporting economic diversification), and Advanced Professionals (specialists in identified short-supply professions). High-end and Outstanding talents are not required to maintain habitual residence in Macao to keep the authorisation, whereas Advanced Professionals must be locally employed (or hold an employment promise), meet a salary level and maintain habitual residence. Applications are filed on the CDQQ electronic platform; approved applicants obtain a temporary residence authorisation that can lead to permanent residence after seven years.

Permanent resident status in Macao confers the right of abode and is recorded on the Macao Permanent Resident Identity Card issued by the Identification Services Bureau (DSI). Under the Macao Basic Law and the Law on the Right of Abode, persons who are not Chinese nationals can become permanent residents after having ordinarily resided in Macao for a continuous period of at least seven years and taking Macao as their place of permanent residence. The seven years count from when temporary residency (for example via talent recruitment or major investment) or family-reunion residence is first granted; the status is not automatic and must be applied for. Permanent residents enjoy the right to live, work and study in Macao without restriction and are eligible for the Macao SAR passport if they are Chinese nationals.