China: Macau officials ban entry for passengers with travel history to some African countries as of Nov. 29 due to variant COVID-19 concerns /update 60

Event

Authorities in Macau are banning entry for passengers with travel history to some African countries as of Nov. 29 due to concerns over COVID-19 variants. Since 00:00 Nov. 28, civilian aircraft are prohibited from carrying passengers with travel history in the last 21 days to Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, or Zimbabwe. The list of affected countries may change at short notice.

Domestic Restrictions
Authorities permit entertainment and other nonessential businesses to operate. Individuals in Macau must continue to register their addresses or most frequented locations to receive a health code. Facemasks remain mandatory in casinos, government offices, and on public transport. Thermal scanners are in place at all entry points into Macau and many businesses, including casinos. Large gatherings remain banned.

Travel Restrictions
Macau permits residents from mainland China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan to enter the territory if they have not been to other locations in the previous 21 days. Authorities allow Hong Kong residents to enter the territory provided they have not traveled outside mainland China within 14 days of arrival. The government also permits some foreign nationals in Hong Kong to enter the territory if they have not left Greater China within 21 days of entry and obtain permission. The policy is only applicable to people with new residence permits, work or student visa holders and their families, and important short-term business and academic trips. Arrivals from Hong Kong must provide a negative COVID-19 test result obtained within 72 hours before arrival, quarantine for 14 days, and undergo an additional seven days of self-health management. Officials require travelers from Taiwan to take a COVID-19 test within 24 hours before departure and quarantine for 21 days at a government-designated facility. Affected people must have a negative COVID-19 test result the day before the management period ends or depart Macau during the management period.

Officials require inbound passengers from mainland China to present a negative COVID-19 test result. Inbound flight passengers must ensure the testing sample is taken no longer before seven days of departure, while overland travelers from Guangdong Province must hold test results issued within the last seven days. Entrants from medium- and high-risk areas of mainland China must continue to quarantine for at least seven days and up to 14 days at designated hotels from their last exposure. Officials could alter quarantine requirements at short notice. A complete list of requirements for travelers from mainland China can be found here.

Returning citizens and permitted travelers from international locations must take a COVID-19 test within 48 hours before departure for Macau, quarantine for 21 days at a designated location upon arrival, and undergo self-health management for seven more days. Officials can increase quarantine to 28 days if passengers return a positive serological test result. Any entrant that previously contracted COVID-19 must provide a certificate proving at least two months have passed since infection or their first positive test result. Arrivals who have visited Bangladesh, Brazil, Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Iran, Nepal, Pakistan, the Philippines, Russia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, or Turkey within 28 days before arrival must present three negative PCR COVID-19 test results taken 24 hours apart within the seven days before entry; the final test must occur within 48 hours before departure. These travelers are subject to a 28-day quarantine in designated facilities. Authorities will extend quarantine to 35 days for individuals that have a positive serological test result.

Most arrivals must pay quarantine fees, if applicable. Locals are exempt from the quarantine fee for their first entry or if traveling for specific purposes. Officials operate a closed management system with Hong Kong for cargo crews, exempting crew members from quarantine if they undergo COVID-19 testing weekly, maintain adequate health standards, and refrain from disembarking in Hong Kong.

Transport between Macau and Hong Kong remains available only via the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge. Several airlines continue to suspend most international flights at Macau International Airport (MFM) amid generally reduced demand. Ferry service disruptions with Hong Kong continue, but officials have resumed some routes to destinations in mainland China. All persons departing Macau by air or sea must carry negative COVID-19 nucleic acid test results issued no more than seven days prior to departure.

Advice

Follow all official instructions. Consider postponing travel to Macau if impacted by travel restrictions. Allow additional time for immigration and health screenings. Delay travel if experiencing symptoms associated with COVID-19, as they may prompt increased scrutiny, immigration delays, or mandatory quarantine. Confirm reservations and business appointments.

Resources

Macau Health Bureau (Chinese and Portuguese)
Macau Higher Education Bureau