China’s National Immigration Administration has announced that, from next Monday 15 May, residents of mainland China who are planning to visit Macau or Hong Kong as part of a tour group will no longer be restricted to visa applications within their home city.
Beijing relaxed most restrictions on group tours to Macau for mainland residents on 6 February, with the caveat that anyone applying for group tour visas was required to do so from their local area.
However, requirements are now set to return to their pre-COVID status with residents to be permitted to apply at any of China’s public security offices nationwide. This will benefit those working in different provinces who wish to apply to join group tours to Macau.
Mainland residents can apply for entry to Macau from anywhere in the country on behalf of visiting relatives, or for the purposes of working, studying, medical treatment, litigation, the handling of property matters, and more.
In addition, the National Immigration Administration has fully restored expedited customs clearance at ports of entry, which will follow the pre-pandemic practice and standard requirements.
The express channel at ports will be open to Chinese citizens holding standard mainland passports, Exit and Entry permits to Hong Kong and Macau or Exit and Entry permit to Taiwan. It will also be available for residents of Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan holding Exit and Entry permits to the mainland, and to certain qualified foreigners.
Mainland residents can apply for entry to Macau for visiting relatives, working, studying, as well as for medical treatment, litigation, and handling property matters, etc. They can also apply at any public security authorities in China and are no longer restricted to their domicile.
