China: Macau officials imposing tighter domestic COVID-19 curbs as of June 20 /update 72

Event

Officials in Macau are imposing tighter domestic curbs as of June 20 due to COVID-19 activity. Mass testing of residents is underway through the afternoon of June 21. Authorities have advised residents to remain at home. All businesses must suspend operations, though casinos and supermarkets may remain open. Dine-in services are banned. Public venues, including schools, parks, museums, and sports facilities must close. Public sectors, except for emergency and essential services, will also suspend operations through June 21.

The government requires all travelers leaving Macau through the Zhuhai-Macau border checkpoint to present a negative nucleic acid test result taken within 24 hours. Individuals that enter Zhuhai from Macau must undergo seven days of home isolation, followed by seven days of self-health monitoring and nucleic acid tests on days 1, 3, 7, and 14. Additionally, ferry services between Macau and Shenzhen and Shekou in China are suspended.

Domestic Measures
Individuals in Macau must register their addresses or most frequented locations to receive a health code. Facemasks remain mandatory in casinos, government offices, and on public transport. All businesses, except for casinos and supermarkets, must suspend operations. Venues must ensure that all staff, visitors, and performers are fully vaccinated or hold a negative nucleic acid COVID-19 test result valid for 48 hours. Thermal scanners are in place at all entry points into Macau and many businesses, including casinos.

International Travel Restrictions
Residents from mainland China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan may enter Macau if they have not been to other locations in the previous 21 days. The government also permits some foreign nationals in Hong Kong with new residence permits, work or student visa holders and their families, and important short-term business and academic trips to enter the territory if they have not left Greater China within 21 days of entry and obtain permission.

Arrivals from Hong Kong and Taiwan must be fully vaccinated and present a certificate attesting that they took at least two doses of the COVID-19 vaccine at least 14 days ago and within seven months, provide a negative COVID-19 test result obtained taken within 24 hours before departure, quarantine at a government-designated facility for 10 days, and undergo self-health management or monitoring for seven more days. Individuals who completed the first two doses of the COVID-19 vaccine more than seven months prior must receive a booster to enter Macau. Arrivals from Hong Kong entering via the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge must undergo and wait for a nucleic acid test result at the border checkpoint. Hong Kong arrivals must serve their quarantine at Treasure Hotel.

Officials require inbound passengers from mainland China to present a negative COVID-19 nucleic acid test result. Inbound flight passengers and arrivals from Guangdong must ensure the testing sample is taken within seven days before departure. Land and sea travelers entering from mainland China must hold test results issued within the last 48 hours. Entrants from mainland China's medium- and high-risk areas must continue to quarantine for at least seven days and up to 14 days at designated hotels from their last exposure. Travelers from affected areas do not need to pre-book a hotel. Officials could alter quarantine requirements at short notice. A complete list of requirements for travelers from mainland China is available by clicking here.

Returning citizens and permitted travelers from other international locations must take a COVID-19 test within 48 hours before departure for Macau, quarantine for 10 days at a designated location upon arrival, and undergo self-health management for seven more days. Officials can increase quarantine if passengers return a positive serological test result. Any entrant that previously contracted COVID-19 within the last two months may only enter Macao at least 14 days after obtaining three consecutive negative antigen or nucleic acid test results taken at least 24 hours apart. Travelers arriving from extremely high-risk destinations including Bangladesh, Botswana, Brazil, Cambodia, Eswatini, India, Indonesia, Iran, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, Russia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Tanzania, Turkey, the US, and Zimbabwe must present three nucleic acid test results taken at least 24 hours apart within five days of departure.

Most arrivals must pay quarantine fees, if applicable. Locals returning for the first time or traveling for specific purposes are exempt. 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 allowed some routes to destinations in mainland China to operate. All persons departing Macau by air or sea must carry negative COVID-19 nucleic acid test results issued no more than seven days before 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
Macau Testing Appointments