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Visa requirements, security, medical & other essential information
The following information will give you the basic facts you need to know before starting out on your trip. Visa requirements, security concerns, local medical facilities and laws vary tremendously across the Asia Pacific region, so it is important that you know the facts for your destination and don't arrive without a visa or inadvertently break a local law! The information on this page is intended to give you an overview - please be sure to confirm entry requirements with your travel agent when purchasing your ticket.
COUNTRY DESCRIPTION:
Macau, formerly a Chinese territory under Portuguese administration, became a Special Administrative Region (SAR) of the People's Republic of China (PRC) on December 20, 1999, with a high degree of autonomy, except in the areas of defense and foreign policy.
Macau retains its own currency, laws, and border controls. Facilities for tourism are well developed. Gambling, tourism, and textile and apparel manufacturing are the major sectors in Macau 's economy.
With a population of approximately 469,800, Macau covers a 27.3 square-kilometer area including the peninsula of Macau, connected to the PRC, and the two islands of Taipa and Coloane linked by a highway 2.2 km long. Read the Department of State Background Notes on Macau for additional information.
ENTRY/EXIT REQUIREMENTS:
Valid passports are required. Passports should be valid for 30 days beyond the intended period of stay in Macau. Because many neighboring areas require six months validity remaining on the passport, visitors planning travel beyond Macau should ensure that their passports are valid for at least six months from the date of their proposed entry into such areas.
A visa is not required for tourist visits of up to 30 days. For further information on entry requirements, contact the Embassy of the People's Republic of China, Room 110, 2201 Wisconsin Avenue, N.W., Washington D.C. 20007; tel (202) 338-6688; fax (202) 588-9760; e-mail chnvisa@bellatlantic.net; website http://www.china-embassy.org.
Holders of a Hong Kong Permanent Identity Card or a Hong Kong Re-entry Permit may use either document to enter Macau for a maximum stay of one (1) year.
SAFETY AND SECURITY:
Visitors are urged to take responsibility for their own personal security while traveling overseas.
CRIME:
Petty street crime occasionally occurs in tourist areas in Macau, including in and around casinos.
INFORMATION FOR VICTIMS OF CRIME:
The loss or theft abroad of a passport should be reported immediately to the local police and your Embassy or Consulate. If you are the victim of a crime while overseas, in addition to reporting to local police, please contact your Embassy or Consulate for assistance.
The Embassy/Consulate staff can, for example, assist you to find appropriate medical care, to contact family members or friends and explain how funds could be transferred. Although the investigation and prosecution of the crime is solely the responsibility of local authorities, consular officers can help you to understand the local criminal justice process and to find an attorney if needed.
MEDICAL FACILITIES AND HEALTH INFORMATION:
Several major hospitals in Macau have adequate medical facilities and can provide emergency medical care. The Macau government provides a telephone list of hospitals and health centers at http://www.cityguide.gov.mo/phone/phone_e.asp?cat=6.
Highly developed medical facilities and trained personnel are available in Hong Kong, which is about an hour by jetfoil and ten minutes by helicopter from Macau.
MEDICAL INSURANCE:
You are urged to consult with your medical insurance company prior to traveling abroad to confirm whether your policy applies overseas and whether it will cover emergency expenses such as a medical evacuation.
TRAFFIC SAFETY AND ROAD CONDITIONS:
While in a foreign country, visitors may encounter road conditions that differ significantly from those at home. The information below concerning Macau is provided for general reference only, and may not be totally accurate in a particular location or circumstance.
Traffic moves on the left in Macau, and roads are narrow and winding. Traffic is generally congested throughout the day. Taxis are plentiful and inexpensive by the airport, ferry terminal, and gaming venues. Public buses are also inexpensive and frequent.
AVIATION SAFETY OVERSIGHT:
As there is no direct commercial air service between the United States and Macau, the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has not assessed Macau’s Civil Aviation Authority for compliance with ICAO international aviation safety standards.
SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES:
Language:
The official languages in the Macau SAR are Chinese and Portuguese. English, however, is spoken in tourist areas.
Currency:
There are no currency restrictions for tourists in Macau. Although the pataca is the official currency in Macau, Hong Kong currency is commonly used in transactions, especially in tourist areas. Travelers visiting Macau from Hong Kong may wish to bring sufficient Hong Kong dollars to cover their expenses. Credit cards and ATM network debit cards are widely accepted in Macau. Banks and major hotels accept traveler's checks.
Customs Regulations:
Macau customs authorities may enforce strict regulations concerning temporary importation into or export from Macau of items such as firearms, ivory, certain categories of medications, and other goods.
There is a 5% duty levied on electrical appliances and equipment imported into Macau. It is advisable to contact the Embassy of the People's Republic of China in Washington D.C. or one of the PRC's consulates in the United States at the addresses noted above, or the Macau Customs Service, Rua S. Tiago da Barra, Doca D. Carlos I, SW, Barra-Macau, tel (853) 559-944 or fax (853) 371-136 for specific information regarding customs requirements.
Typhoons:
During the storm season (July through September), Macau Observatory (Direccao dos Servicos Meteorologicos e Geofisicos) issues typhoon warnings on an average of six times a year.
Macau Observatory has a good notification and monitoring system in place. Please consult Macau Observatory's website at http://www.smg.gov.mo for further information.
CRIMINAL PENALTIES:
While in a foreign country, a visitor is subject to that country's laws and regulations, which sometimes differ significantly from those at home and may not afford the protections available to the individual at home. Penalties for breaking the law can be more severe than at home for similar offenses.
Persons violating Macau’s laws, even unknowingly, may be expelled, arrested or imprisoned. Penalties for possession, use, or trafficking in illegal drugs in Macau are severe, and convicted offenders can expect long jail sentences and heavy fines. |
HOTEL RESERVATIONS 
