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New Macau visa scheme for neighboring cities kicks off

Starting January 1st, 2025, a new visa policy has been introduced for Zhuhai and Hengqin residents. Zhuhai residents can now apply for a travel permit to visit Macau once a week, while Hengqin residents can apply for a multiple-entry visa.

According to local media outlet Macao Daily, this new policy, combined with the New Year holiday, has led to a noticeable increase in visitors at Gongbei Port, the busiest border crossing for Macau in terms of traffic volume. The flow of visitors at the port has remained smooth, with many mainland residents taking advantage of the holiday to visit Macau for sightseeing and shopping.

Macau Gongbei border gate

Zhuhai immigration authorities had previously projected an increase in visitors from neighboring cities to Macau. They also anticipated that there would not be a dramatic rise in visa applications following the start of the new visa scheme. Meanwhile, the authorities have upgraded their equipment in preparation for the scheme.

For first-time applicants, personal applications will require at least seven days for processing by immigration. However, for those who have already applied for a visa to visit Macau, the process will take only 10 minutes via the 24-hour machine.

The “One Week, One Trip” visa policy allows Zhuhai residents to visit Macau once per week within the calendar year, with each stay limited to seven days. Zhuhai has a population of about 2.49 million, with approximately 1.7 million holding local household registrations. This new measure will increase the frequency of visits for Zhuhai residents, who previously had the option to visit once every two months.

The policy is expected to foster greater integration between Zhuhai and Macau, promote cultural exchanges, and stimulate the local tourism and shopping markets. As for Hengqin, residents now have unrestricted access to Macau; however, the region is home to fewer than 40,000 residents.

Viviana Chan
Viviana Chanhttps://agbrief.com/
Viviana Chan is an editor, interpreter, and journalist. With over a decade of experience, she writes in English, Chinese, and Portuguese. Viviana started her career in Macau-based newspapers, where she became passionate about the region's social, financial, and cultural development. Her writing focuses on the economy, emerging industries, gaming development, political affairs, and cross cultural-exchange in the business and cultural domains. She is avid for news and eager to discover and cover stories that generate public relevance.

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