Travel Tips in Macau
Visas
Visas are not required for:
(a) Visitors with passports from
Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, Cape Verde, Croatia,
Czech, Cyprus, Denmark, Dominica, Egypt, Estonia, Finland, France,
Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan,
Latvia, Lebanon, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Mali, Malta, Mongolia,
Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovak, Slovenia,
South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Tanzania and the United Kingdom (6
months) for a stay up to 90 days.
(b) Visitors with passports from
Australia, Canada, Chile, India, Indonesia, Kiribati, Liechtenstein,
Malaysia, Mexico, Monaco, Namibia, New Zealand, Philippines, Samoa,
Seychelles, Singapore, South Africa, Switzerland, Thailand, Turkey,
the United States of America and Uruguay for a stay up to 30 days;
(c) Nationals of China with valid Macau
entry/depart documents, including residents of Mainland China, Hong
Kong, Taiwan and overseas Chinese for a stay of up to 30 days;
(d) The "Hong Kong Identity Card",
"Hong Kong Permanent Identity Card" or "Hong Kong Re-entry Permit"
holders may stay in Macau for a maximum period of one year.
For others who need a visa, this can be
obtained from the Immigration Services through Embassies/Consulates
of the PRC and should be used within the validity. Visas are also
available on arrival in Macau at the Immigration Services for a
period of 30 days.
For those who want to travel to
mainland China, visas may be obtained at any of the China Travel
Service (CTS) offices counters in Macau (the main branch is located
at Rua de Nagazaki, 35 – tel.853-700888) or at the Gongbei
Immigration and Customs (after the Border Gate).
Customs
With the exception of routine inspections, customs declaration is
not required for entering or leaving Macau. Imported electric
appliances should have a 5% tax paid. Duty free articles include
gold objects, antiques and cameras. Foreign tourists are permitted
to take one liter of spirits and 200 cigarettes or 50 cigars.
Language
Most people in Macau speak Cantonese. Mandarin is becoming more
popular and many people speak Portuguese and English too.
Currency
Macau's currency is the pataca (MOP$). One pataca is divided
into 100 avos. There are no exchange control regulations and money
can be transferred in and out. HK$ are also widely used in Macau
(with an exchange rate of around MOP$103=HK$100). The only
currencies used in the casinos are M$ and HK$.
Foreign currency or travelers' cheques
can be changed in hotels, banks and authorized exchange dealers
located all around the city. Most credit cards are accepted in many
hotels, shops and restaurants. There are no restrictions on the
amount of currency, which can be brought in or taken out.
