The Macau government has announced that from this Thursday 1 September, foreign visitors from 41 countries will be allowed to enter Macau – including those from Australia, the United States, Japan and Korea.
The Macau Executive Order No. 166/2022 was issued by the Chief Executive of Macau and repeals the prohibition of entry for non-residents. In accordance with this directive, the Health Bureau has drawn up the latest entry regulations, meaning non-residents of Macau holding 41 foreign passports will be allowed to enter the country from 1 September. However, they will still be required to undergo seven days of hotel quarantine upon entry.
The 41 countries are: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, United Kingdom, Brunei, Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Korea, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Malta, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Singapore, Slovak Republic, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand and the United States.
According to the Health Bureau, “Holders of valid passports from the 41 countries mentioned above may enter Macau from countries and regions other than Hong Kong, Taiwan and Mainland China.”
It added, “Foreign passport holders are still required to present a negative nucleic acid test certificate at the time of boarding the plane, vehicle or ship and at the time of entry, while those entering Macau from countries and regions other than Hong Kong, Taiwan or Mainland China are required to hold a confirmation of hotel booking for isolation in Macau, a certificate of booking for routine nucleic acid testing during the isolation period, and undergo at least 7 days of intensive medical observation in isolation and 3 days of self-health management upon entry.”
Macau was closed to foreigners on 17 March 2020, with its borders having remained closed for almost 30 months since.
Attracting more foreign customers, namely those not from mainland China or Hong Kong, was recently revealed as a key point in the government’s tender guidelines ahead of the upcoming deadline for bids on 14 September. The current concessions of Macau’s six concessionaires expire on 31 December 2022.