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Visa-Free Entry to Macao
Nationals of Australia, Canada, Chile, India, Indonesia, Kiribati, Malaysia,Mexico, Monaco, Namibia, New Zealand, Philippines, Samoa,Seychelles, Singapore, South Africa, Thailand, Turkey, the United States of America and Uruguay for a stay up to 30 days. Nationals of Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, Cape Verde, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominica, Egypt, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Lebanon, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Mali, Malta, Mongolia, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovak, Slovenia, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and Tanzania for a stay up to 90 days. Nationals of United Kingdom can stay visa-free for 6 months.
Nationals of China with valid Macao entry/depart documents, including residents of Mainland China, Hong Kong, Taiwan and overseas Chinese for a stay of up to 30 days.
The “Hong Kong Identity Card”, “Hong Kong Permanent Identity Card” or “Hong Kong Reentry Permit” holders may stay in Macau for a maximum period of one year.
There are three types of Visas:
Individual – MOP100, for individuals for a single stay of up to 30 days in Macao, and MOP 50 for children under 12 years of age.
Family – MOP200 for family groups (couples with children under 12 years of age).
Group – MOP50 per person for tourist groups of 10 or more.
Customs
There are no restrictions on the amount of money brought in or taken out. Neither are there any export duties on articles such as antiques, gold, jewellery, radios, cameras, etc.
Banned items
Banned from import are firearms, dangerous drugs, endangered animal species and inflammable substances.
Climate
Macao has a tropical climate influenced by the continental climate of central China. It has brief winters when temperatures might drop below 10 degrees, spring (March-April) is humid with alternating hot and cold days, summer is hot (temperatures often above 30 degrees) with plenty of short heavy showers, and autumn (Oct.-Dec.) is the best time of the year, with dry, sunny days and balmy nights.
Clothing
Dress is conservatively casual and suited to the weather. Very few places demand ties and jackets but they are expected at business meetings. Visitors should pack a swimsuit if they intend to stay in a first class hotel, as most of them have pools.
Transport to Macao
By air from Bangkok, Beijing, Manila, Shanghai, Singapore and Taiwan, etc. All passengers using the Macao International Airport are subject to an airport tax and passenger tax of MOP110 (Passenger over 2 years of age). And MOP50 (Transit passengers or those who continue their journey in less than 48 hours after they have arrived at the airport (regardless of whether entry formalities are proceeded or not).
From Hong Kong by helicopter or fast ferry. Fleets of Jetfoils, Turbocats have at least six sailings an hour (60-70 minutes) throughout the day and at regular intervals through the night. There are also bus services that run between Macao and Guangzhou from 8.00 AM to 8.00 PM.
Transport around Macao
Taxis are cheap and plentiful (but be sure to have your destination written in Chinese) and public buses (fares are MOP2.5-5.0) cover most of the territory. There are cars and mini-mokes (jeep like runabouts) for hire. Also for leisurely rides you can take a pedicab.
Hotels
Macao has 28 hotels of five and four stars, including Hotel Lisboa, Hotel Mandarin Oriental, Westin Resort and Holiday Inn etc. 14 hotels of three stars and a wide range of guesthouses.
Language
Chinese and Portuguese are official languages but English is widely spoken in tourist establishments.
Telecommunications
Macao acquires a range of global communication services, such as International Direct Call (IDD), Mobile Phones, Fax, Telecommunication, Internet Service and Satellite TV service. IDD service could directly reach 219 countries worldwide.
Public holidays (2011)
New Year’s Day (Jan. 1), Lunar New Year (Feb. 3-5), Cheng Ming Festival (Apr. 5), Day following Good Friday(Apr. 22-23), Labour day (May 1), Buddna’s Brithday (May 10), Dragon Boat Day (Jun. 6), Day following Mid Autumn Festival (Set. 13), China National Day (Oct. 1), Day following China National Day (Oct. 2), Chung Yeung Festival (Oct. 5), All Souls Day (Nov. 2), Feast of the Immaculate Conception (Dec. 8), Macao SAR Establishment Memorial Day (Dec. 20), Winter Soistice (Dec. 22), Christmas Festival (Dec. 24-25).
Business hour
Government offices are open five days a week, from 9.00 AM to 5.45 PM (Monday to Thursday) and 5.30 PM (Friday). Lunch break is between 1.00 PM to 2.30 PM (Monday to Friday). Most private companies work 9.00 AM to 6.00 PM, take an hour and a half lunch break, and occasionally work Saturday mornings. Banks are open five days a week, generally open from 9.00 AM to 5.00 PM.
Time differences
Macao is eight hours ahead of GMT, the same as Hong Kong and China. It has no daylight saving time. When it is noon in Macao it is 2 PM in Sydney, 4 PM in Auckland, 5 AM in Lisbon, 4 AM in London, 1 AM in Sao Paulo and 11 PM the previous day in New York or 8 PM in Los Angeles.
Money
The pataca (MOP) is pegged to the Hong Kong dollar, at approximately the same value and through the Hong Kong dollar to the US dollar. The Hong Kong currency is a second currency in Macao. Roughly eight patacas equal one US dollar. There are no exchange restriction or any limit to the repatriation of profit and capital. Money exchanges are available around the clock, at night in hotel and casinos.
Taxes
A 5 % government tax is levied on restaurant and hotel bills (exempted from the current year). Imports are tax-free. However, some products such as tobacco, alcoholic beverages and vehicles are subject to a consumption tax. Profit tax is levied on net profit derived from commercial or industrial business and is a shading-scale tax varying between 3% and 12%. Property tax is 10% or 16%, can be exempted if the property is used for industrial purposes, Stamp duty is a 3% levy on property-transfer transactions. A fixed industrial tax of US$37.5 is imposed annually on all commercial and industrial activities.
Measures
Macao uses metric measurements, although traditional Chinese measures (such as taels of gold, latties’ of rice) are still in daily use.
Electricity
Electricity is 220 volts and 50 cycles AC.
