Most visitors to Macau are issued a 30-day visa on arrival unless they are citizens from one of the visa-exempt countries.
However, citizens of certain countries must obtain a visa from one of the Chinese diplomatic missions.
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. Serviço de Migração
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.
Visa policy map
Unrestricted stay Under Macanese laws, holders of the following documents are residents of Macau and are allowed to return to Macau:Documents to be Used by Macao Residents for Entry to and Departure from Macao Macau Resident Identity Card Macao Special Administrative Region passport Macao Special Administrative Region Travel Permit Visit Permit for Residents of Macao to HKSAR
Visa exemption Citizens of the following countries and territories may enter Macau without a visa for the following period:Entry and Exit of Non-residents
1 year 1
1 - Holders of Hong Kong Permanent Residence Identity Cars, Hong Kong Re-entry Permit or Hong Kong Identity Card bearing the marks "*", "***", or "R" only, regardless of nationality.
6 months 1
1 - All classes of British nationality.
90 days All European Union member states1
1 - Except holders of Portuguese passports issued to Macau residents.
30 days 13
2
4
1 - Non-Permanent Residents holding Hong Kong Document of Identity for Visa Purposes. 2 - Also applicable to holders of Taiwan Compatriot Permits. 3 - Holders of a travel document issued by Portugal to non-citizens who are unable to obtain national passports. 4 - Not applicable to holders of U.S. diplomatic passports.
14 days
7 days 1 1
1 - Entering with a passport as a transit passenger.
Unlimited access Laissez-Passer holders Holders of diplomatic passports Holders of diplomatic or consular identity cards issued by the Macau SAR
Entry procedures for Chinese nationals not residing in Macau Special regulations are in force for persons of Chinese nationality who are not residents of Macau. Household registration Residency Travel document Duration of stay Mainland China Mainland China Permit for Proceeding to Hong Kong and Macao (One-way Permit) 7 years Mainland China or overseas Chinese passportChinese Travel DocumentTaiwan Travel Permit with a valid endorsement 7 days (for transit to and from another country or territory only) Exit-Entry Permit for Travelling to and from Hong Kong and Macau with a valid endorsement (Two-way Permit)Varies, at least 7 daysOverseasChinese passport and a document showing overseas residency7 days (extendable to 90 days) (permanent)Anywhere Hong Kong Permanent Identity CardHong Kong Re-entry Permit 1 year Hong Kong Special Administrative Region passport 7 days (for transit to and from another country or territory only) (temporary) Hong Kong Document of Identity for Visa Purposes30 days
Mainland China Mainland Chinese visitors to Macau may enter Macau with 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. For those who are travelling to or from a third country or region, they can alternatively use their Chinese passports, Chinese Travel Documents or Taiwan Travel Permit with a valid exit endorsement for a maximum stay of 7 days.
Mainland Chinese visitors to Macau who live abroad can also use a PRC passport with a document showing overseas residency. They can stay in Macao for a duration of 7 days (extendable to 90 days).
Non-permanent residents of Hong Kong with household registration 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, unless they also hold a resident permit of a third country, in which they can use their PRC passport and residency permit issued by that country.
Hong Kong 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.
Holders of HKSAR passports are granted a stay of 7 days providing they are transiting to a third country.
Entry procedures for visa nationals
Those holding travel documents that are not listed above will be required to obtain an Entry Permit (Visa On Arrival or VOA) 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 October 2025 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 permanent identity card).Application for Macao Visa through Chinese Embassy or Consulate 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.Authorization to Enter and Stay
11 2 1 - except for holders of diplomatic or official passports who are visa-exempt for up to 14 days. 2 - diplomatic passport only.
Entry refusal Under Macanese law, visitors will be denied entry if: they have been deported from Macau, they have been prohibited from entering, staying in or transiting through Macau in accordance with local or international law.
In addition, visitors may be denied entry if: they are frequently entering Macau without justification, they have criminal convictions resulting in incarceration, they have committed, or have the intention of committing, a crime, they have no proof to support that they are bona fide visitors who will leave Macau at the end of their visit (e.g., insufficient funds, not possessing onward tickets or not possessing genuine travel documents).
Extending short stays in Macau 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.Extension of "Authorization to Stay"
Future changes Macau has signed visa exemption agreements with the following countries, but they have not yet entered into force:
Country Passports Agreement signed on Ordinary 4 September 2026
Transit Nationals who would normally require visas may enter Macau without a visa for 48 hours if they arrive and depart from Macau International Airport.
Long stay
Special Authorization to Stay for Non-resident Students
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" (, ). 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."Special Authorization to Stay" for Non-resident Students 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.Renewal of "Special Authorization to Stay" for Non-resident Students
Residence
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.Applying for Residence in Macao S.A.R.
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.
Visitor statistics Most visitors arriving in Macau were from the following countries of nationality: Country/Territory 2017 2016 2015 2014 22,196,203 20,454,104 20,410,615 21,252,410 6,165,129 6,419,839 6,534,543 6,426,608 1,060,107 1,074,525 988,059 953,753 874,253 662,321 554,177 554,521 328,990 300,613 282,217 299,849 307,139 287,025 276,806 262,853 218,301 222,809 229,102 250,046 198,222 236,169 180,836 175,906 197,139 182,467 163,353 189,189 186,378 190,885 182,532 181,457 148,121 165,278 167,578 167,216 143,068 155,763 158,814 196,491 88,988 93,286 92,404 105,914 74,287 75,173 70,973 70,601 57,121 61,301 59,985 60,756 Total 32,610,506 30,950,336 30,714,628 31,525,632
See also
Visa policy of China Visa policy of Hong Kong Visa requirements for Chinese citizens of Macau
References
External links
Immigration and residence service, Public Security Police Force Macau SAR Identification Department