Frequently asked questions
- I am a non-resident student and have just enrolled in a higher education institute in Macao. Do I need to apply for Special Authorization to Stay for Students?
- I heard that some people do not need to fill in the Arrival Card when they enter Macao. To which types of people does this policy apply?
- What is the fine per day for overstaying in Macao? Liable to imprisonment?
- A student from Mainland China leaves Macao and goes back to the Mainland after submitting an application for Special Authorization to Stay for Students to the Residence and Stay Affairs Department. Then for certain reasons the student is not able to go to the unit concerned to collect the examination result on the date of collection specified on the “receipt”. What documents should the student use when he or she re-enters Macao?
- I want my son (non-resident) to study in Macao. Can I apply to the Public Security Police Force for Special Authorization to Stay for the purpose of studying at an education institution as stipulated in Item 6, Term 1, Article 32 of Law No. 16/2021?
- I am a holder of Special Authorization to Stay and have several addresses in Macao. Which one should I declare?
- Persons granted Special Authorization to Stay for over 90 days should specify to the Public Security Police Force their contact address and habitual residence address in Macao. What should be done if the address is changed in the future?
- Under what circumstances will the Public Security Police Force reject my application for Special Authorization to Stay outright?
1. I am a non-resident student and have just enrolled in a higher education institute in Macao. Do I need to apply for Special Authorization to Stay for Students?
Non-resident students who intend to take a higher education program approved by the competent entity in Macao may apply to the Stay Subdivision of the Residence and Stay Affairs Department for Special Authorization to Stay for Students or renewal / extension of the Authorization according to Item 6, Term 1, Article 32 of Law No. 16/2021 and Articles 19-21 of Administrative Regulation No. 38/2021 if their limit of stay is not long enough for them to complete the program.
2. I heard that some people do not need to fill in the Arrival Card when they enter Macao. To which types of people does this policy apply?
Starting from 10 July 2013, the Non-stamping Immigration Clearance Policy was implemented for all passengers (non-residents are exempted from stamping on their travel document upon entry and exit). All passengers do not need to complete an Arrival Card. Instead, a printed Slip of Authorization to Stay bearing the limit of stay in Macao is issued to passengers, who should be mindful of the limit of stay and keep the Slip properly during their stay in Macao. If the Slip is lost, the passenger may approach the designated departments of the Public Security Police Force for reissue of the Slip.
3. What is the fine per day for overstaying in Macao? Liable to imprisonment?
According to Law No. 16/2021 “Legal Regime of Immigration Control, Stay and Residence Authorization of the Macao Special Administrative Region”, persons who still remain in Macao after their Authorization to Stay expires and persons who do not leave Macao within the designated period after their Authorization to Stay is revoked are regarded as overstayers. Overstay is an administrative infraction.
According to the law, an overstayer will be fined MOP500 to 800 per overdue day. The fine should not exceed MOP15000 and should be paid within the statutory 10 working days. The status of an overstayer who overstays for not more than 30 days, pays the fine upon giving himself or herself to the police or immediately after he or she is discovered and has never been fined for the same infraction in the past year can be normalized. Otherwise, the overstayer will be deported and interdicted from entry. In addition, application for Residence Authorization and Special Authorization to Stay will not be permitted for 2 years counting from the date the entry interdiction expires. (For details, please refer to the relevant law and regulation)
4. A student from Mainland China leaves Macao and goes back to the Mainland after submitting an application for Special Authorization to Stay for Students to the Residence and Stay Affairs Department. Then for certain reasons the student is not able to go to the unit concerned to collect the examination result on the date of collection specified on the “receipt”. What documents should the student use when he or she re-enters Macao?
A Mainland student who re-enters Macao with a “PRC Permit for Travelling to and from Hong Kong and Macao” is required to possess a valid “Type D – Stay” endorsement. He or she has to present documents certifying his or her enrollment at a higher institute in Macao (e.g. a valid student card, a testimonial from the higher institute, etc.) and the “receipt”. After inspection by the police officers at the checkpoint, the student will be admitted for the moment and will be given a written notification instructing him or her to proceed to the Residence and Stay Affairs Department on a designated date to complete the relevant procedures. If the student cannot produce the above documents, he or she may be refused entry to Macao.
5. I want my son (non-resident) to study in Macao. Can I apply to the Public Security Police Force for Special Authorization to Stay for the purpose of studying at an education institution as stipulated in Item 6, Term 1, Article 32 of Law No. 16/2021?
Item 6, Term 1, Article 32 of Law No. 16/2021 and Article 19 of Administrative Regulation No. 38/2021 regulate the applications for Special Authorization to Stay for the purpose of taking higher education programs approved by a competent entity. Therefore, non-residents of Macao can apply for Special Authorization to Stay.
6. I am a holder of Special Authorization to Stay and have several addresses in Macao. Which one should I declare?
The requirement to declare the contact address and habitual residence address in Macao serves the purpose of facilitating contact, hence enhancing the processing of an application and protecting the rights of the person concerned and public interests. Therefore, if you live in Macao, a valid address for contact will do.
7. Persons granted Special Authorization to Stay for over 90 days should specify to the Public Security Police Force their contact address and habitual residence address in Macao. What should be done if the address is changed in the future?
If there is any change in the contact address and habitual residence address in the future, persons who are granted Residence Authorization or Special Authorization to Stay for over 90 days, including non-resident workers, their dependants and non-resident students, should update the Public Security Police Force within 45 days from the date of change.
8. Under what circumstances will the Public Security Police Force reject my application for Special Authorization to Stay outright?
Unless otherwise stipulated, the Chief of the Residence and Stay Affairs Department of the Public Security Police Force should give reasons in his written instructions to reject an application for Special Authorization to Stay outright in any of the following situations:
(1) The remaining validity of the interested person’s passport, travel document, return document or other documents accepted for the purpose of immigration control does not meet the requirement;
(2) The interested person is interdicted from making applications for Special Authorization to Stay at the time;
(3) The application is not written in any of the official languages, but applications written in English with no difficulty caused to the Public Security Police Force in the interpretation are excepted.