China: Macau officials shorten quarantine period for travelers from extremely high-risk locations, amend some testing requirements as of Jan. 31 /update 65

Event

Macau will reduce the quarantine period for arrivals from extremely high-risk locations from 28 to 21 days as of Jan. 31. The affected localities include 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.

Additionally, arrivals from Hong Kong must present a COVID-19 nucleic acid test result taken within 24 hours instead of 72 from Feb. 3. Non-Macau residents that fail to present a valid test result will be refused entry. Macau has also increased the current 24-hour COVID-19 nucleic acid test requirement for arrivals from Zhuhai, Guangdong Province, to 48 hours as of Jan. 31. Officials may continue to amend travel restrictions over the coming weeks depending on COVID-19 activity.

Domestic Measures
Large gatherings remain banned. 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. Authorities permit entertainment and other nonessential businesses to operate. 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. 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 with new residence permits, work or student visas 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 provide a negative COVID-19 test result obtained taken within 24 hours before departure and quarantine at a government-designated facility for 14 and 21 days respectively. 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 land and sea travelers entering from other parts of mainland China, including Guangdong Province, 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. 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 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. 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. These travelers are subject to a 21-day quarantine in designated facilities. Authorities will likely extend the quarantine for individuals with a positive serological test result.

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