Routes at a glance
Macao Immigration
The main routes to Macao fall into six groups: Talent Recruitment, specialised non-resident workers, Major Investment, residence authorisation (family reunion), study, and other specific statuses — each handled by a different authority. “Immigrating to Macao” is a catch-all phrase: there is no single application called “Macao immigration”. This page maps each route’s target group, responsible authority and the related pages on this site.
The main routes to Macao
| Route | Who it suits | Responsible authority | Related page |
|---|---|---|---|
| Talent Recruitment (High-end / Outstanding / Advanced Professional) | Highly qualified, highly skilled and shortage-sector talent | Talent Development Committee | Talent Recruitment Information Centre |
| Specialised non-resident worker (blue card) | People with a Macao employer | Labour Affairs Bureau / Unitary Police Service | Working and talent pathways |
| Major Investment / Major Investment Plan | Large-scale investors | IPIM (Macao Trade and Investment Promotion Institute) | Major Investment Information Centre |
| Residence authorisation (family reunion / dependants) | Family members of Macao residents, or people settling in Macao | Unitary Police Service | Residence and family information |
| Study in Macao (student stay permit) | People admitted by a Macao higher-education institution | Education and Youth Development Bureau / Unitary Police Service | Study in Macao information |
| Other situations (for example Portuguese nationals) | Depends on individual status and legal basis | Depends on the case | Official Services and Documents Index |
Fees and timelines
Official fees and processing periods differ by route. Talent Recruitment applications are free, with a 90-day statutory review. Major Investment / Major Investment Plan applications are free and take 45 working days. Residence authorisation costs MOP 20,000, with exemptions for several categories including Chinese and Portuguese nationals. A separate page sets out each figure and flags what the government has not published.
FAQ
Common questions about "Macao immigration"
Is there an “investment immigration” route in Macao?
Property-based investment residence has been closed to new applications since 4 April 2007 (Administrative Regulation 7/2007). The current official route behind the phrase is Major Investment / Major Investment Plan, whose assessment criteria expressly require investment of no less than MOP 15 million.
Is “immigrating to Macao” one single procedure?
No. It is a catch-all phrase. In practice you apply to different authorities for different permissions depending on your purpose: residence authorisation (Unitary Police Service), Talent Recruitment (Talent Development Committee), or Major Investment residence (IPIM), among others.
Do applications cost money?
It depends on the route. Talent Recruitment applications are free. Residence authorisation costs MOP 20,000, with exemptions for several categories including Chinese and Portuguese nationals. Major Investment / Major Investment Plan applications are free of charge. See the official fees and timelines page for detail.
Can I bring my family?
Most routes allow it, with the scope depending on the category. For Talent Recruitment the family unit is the spouse, a person in a de facto marriage, and children under 18 not yet emancipated — parents are not included. Residence authorisation has separate rules for family members and other relatives; the official page prevails.
Official sources
Go back to the official pages before you apply
The main official sources behind this page. Before submitting, the current publication of the responsible authority is the final reference.
Last reviewed: 16 September 2026; next routine review: 16 December 2026. Where official pages change, the official source prevails.