Macau authorities have denied entry to more than 2,500 mainland Chinese passport holders between January and April 20th, 2026, citing suspected abuse of the city’s transit entry arrangement, according to the Public Security Police Force.
The individuals were refused entry for failing to present valid onward travel documents, not proceeding to a third country as required under transit rules, or making frequent entries and exits to circumvent Macau’s stay regulations, police said.
Under existing rules, mainland Chinese residents typically enter Macau using the Exit-Entry Permit for Travelling to and from Hong Kong and Macau, with Individual Visit Scheme (IVS) endorsements allowing stays of up to seven days. These endorsements are generally subject to application intervals of two to three months. However, travelers holding Chinese passports with confirmed onward tickets to a third destination may enter Macau in transit and stay for up to seven days.
Authorities said some individuals have exploited this arrangement by entering Macau under the pretext of transit without completing onward travel, effectively bypassing restrictions on visit frequency. In response, Macau has tightened enforcement measures, including reducing permitted stay durations for repeat offenders and denying entry after multiple violations.
Police said they have maintained close coordination with mainland authorities to combat disruptions to border control order and misuse of the transit system. They also warned against online content promoting methods to evade immigration rules, urging travelers to verify such information carefully.
With the upcoming May Day holiday period, authorities said additional measures have been deployed to ensure smooth border operations, including joint inspections at the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge checkpoint and enhanced monitoring of cross-border vehicles suspected of transporting individuals attempting to misuse transit rules.
