intriguing destinations. Covering only 34 square kilometres, it's Macau's geographical location and safe harbour that made it a key Far East trading post. The arrival of the Portuguese in the 16th century created a rich and fascinating cultural diversity.
Macau is a special administrative region of China, but Portuguese influence is very evident in the culture, street names, and architecture. The historic centre of Macau, Senado Square, is a protected UNESCO Heritage Site containing dozens of important buildings and squares reflecting the merging of cultures. The history of Macau is fascinating, but Macau is also a vibrant, dynamic, innovative destination. Macau's walking routes are great ways to explore the key sites of different neighbourhoods. Take time to wander down to side streets and alleyways. Here you will find tea merchants with their special teas. You will find ladies packaging on egg noodles and the enticing smell coming from bakeries and noodle shops. There are lots of various markets to explore too. You will find the most natural, fresh vegetables here. Macau is famous for its cuisine as the food here is legendary. Given Macau’s history, it is no surprise that Portuguese and Chinese foods are exceptional here. However, most intriguing is Macau's cuisine which takes some features of both Chinese and Portuguese cuisine. Most of the population lives in the Macau Peninsula. But you do not need to go too far to escape the hustle and bustle. It is worth taking a stroll around Taipa Village to have a different experience. Walk down to Cunha Street, otherwise known as a food street, you will find a food shop around every corner. Narrow lanes of this street give a glimpse of Macau's past.
Reasons to
visit Macau are many as in terms of tourism, Macau is a very promising land. However, you might need to spare your time to handle visa procedures prior to your visit. Luckily, to alleviate some of the confusion, we decided to talk about the Macau tourist visa. We will seek an answer to the question of do I need a tourist visa for Macau? It is in our best interest to identify whether there is a need for applying for a tourist visa.
Do I need a tourist visa for Macau?
The answer depends on where you are from.
Visa statutes of countries can change depending on the relations and treaties among countries. They can be divided into two groups, visa-required and
visa-free countries. Visa-free countries are:
Albania, Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, Bulgaria, Canada, Cape Verde, Chile, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominica, Egypt, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Grenada, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kiribati, Latvia, Lebanon, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Mali, Malta, Mauritius, Mexico, Moldova, Monaco, Mongolia, Montenegro, Morocco, Namibia, Netherlands, New Zealand, North Macedonia, Norway, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Samoa, San Marino, Serbia, Seychelles, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Tanzania, Thailand, Turkey, United Kingdom, United States of America, Uruguay.
Countries that are not on the list are visa-required countries meaning that nationals of these countries will need to start Macau tourist visa application to
travel to Macau. But don't forget that most people except nationals of Bangladesh, Nepal, Nigeria, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Vietnam can take advantage of visas on arrival.
Macau tourist visa details
As you might guess from the name, a Macau tourist visa is given to people who wish to travel to Macau as a tourist for a short time. What are Macau
tourist visa details? What are the requirements for a tourist visa? You will find the answer to the questions on the list below:
- Macau tourist visa application form filled out, signed by the applicant.
- Passport and copy of the main page where biodatas are.
- Recently taken two photos that cover the full face of the applicant.
- Copy of ID card.
- Documents proving the capability of financing the travel. It can be a bank statement, deposit in a savings account, tax payment receipt, employment certificate, etc.
- Accommodation and round trip reservations.
- If you travelled to Macau before, then copies of pages of the passport depicting information on the previous travel to Macau.
Proof of purpose of visit.
Additional requirements for the Macau
tourist visa application can be set depending on your status. You might be asking, "How much is tourist visa for Macau?”.
Well, it depends on many things, and the Macau visa fee can be around 30-100 USD.
How long does visa processing take? In general, processing time does not exceed 5 business days. But as it also depends on your nationality, etc., so the average time for processing is 15 working days.
How to apply Macau visa?
Above, we have talked about tourist visas via an embassy or consulate. As Macau is not an independent state, you will need to contact an embassy of China in your country to travel to Macau. You can apply for "
Authorization to Enter and Stay" through a representative only when there are no Chinese Embassy/Consulate/Diplomatic Representations in your country of residence or near. Usually, you have to research for detailed information on visa applications, documents, requirements, etc., in the first place. Then make an appointment and present your documents at the scheduled time. Wait for the visa to get processed. After all, you will know your visa application status.
Does going to Macau reset my Chinese tourist visa?
This question puzzles so many people. Although Macau is a part of China, it is still considered as “
leaving the country” and will allow you to reset your Chinese visa. In fact, visiting any of the special administrative regions such as Hong Kong and Macau will be considered as leaving the country, therefore resetting the Chinese tourist visa.
Do Chinese people need a visa for travelling to Macau? The answer is no. But they are required to have a two-way permit. If a Chinese national stay in Macau for more than 90 days, then they will need to report to PSPF for a "
special authorization of stay" within the first 90 days of entry.
Can I get tourist visa upon arrival?
Most people who intend to visit Macau will need to apply for a visa on arrival. How to
apply Macau visa on arrival? What is different in visa on arrival? Well, as the name explains, this visa can be granted upon arrival. You will enter Macau, and at the airport, you will stand in a queue at the immigration office to present your visa application. If everything is okay with your application, you will be granted a visa which will allow you to remain in Macau. What are the requirements?
- You will need a passport with validity for at least one month beyond the return date. In the passport, there should be two blank pages ready to be processed.
- Application for arrival card - should be filled out at the border checkpoints.
- Reservation for proving accommodation should be presented (it can be a hotel booking) alongside airline tickets.
How much is tourist visa for Macau?
It depends:
Individual – 13 USD
Family Passport – 25 USD
Children under 12 years old – 7 USD
Group Tour (
At least 10 members, organized by a single travel agency, present a collective travel document) – 7 USD per person
Can I extend My tourist visa?
We can understand if the duration of your tourist visa is not satisfactory for you. Is Macau
tourist visa extension possible, though? Yes, you can extend your short visa.
However, a Macau tourist visa extension will be granted for less than 90 days. How to do it? Anyone who wants to extend his or her visa to Macau needs to contact the local Migration office, which is responsible for extending the visa.
To summarize, with its historical background, rich culture, delicious foods, and vibrant city life, Macau is a great tourist destination. That is why every year, millions of tourists travel to Macau. Macau is called Las Vegas of
Asia as it has many casinos, great hotels, etc. If you like having an enjoyable night, Macau is just right for you. Although you will need a visa to travel to Macau, thanks to a visa on arrival, it is much convenient now. Remember that all visa procedures should be taken seriously; otherwise, your application can be denied.