Who Can Stay in the Car When Entering Macau

Check a passport

Who may stay in the car for entry

Nationals of a Macau visa-free country, with a valid passport, may complete arrival in the car at the inbound lane. The list is the visa-free table on the Macau SAR Government Portal (page last modified 2026-08-10; snapshot taken 2026-10-15). The table says “United States of America (except for holders of a US diplomatic passport)”: an ordinary US passport is visa-free; a US diplomatic passport is not on that list.

Who must use the hall

Anyone who needs a Macau visa or an “Authorization to Enter and Stay” (an Entry Permit, also called visa on arrival) cannot enter Macau in the vehicle. The Public Security Police say they must clear at the arrival hall of the port, or at the Clearance Hall for On-board Passengers near the arrival vehicle lanes.

Six countries that need a visa in advance

Nationals of Bangladesh, Nepal, Nigeria, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Vietnam must already hold a Macau visa. Visa on arrival does not apply. The same police note says holders of diplomatic passports are still visa-free, and that officials of those countries' missions in China, officials of international organisations in China, and their families, may apply for a visa on arrival with their passport and diplomatic, consular or staff identity card. The checker above is for an ordinary passport.

If you have to use the hall

The 9 June 2025 notice says passengers who cannot clear in the vehicle may use the on-board passenger hall near the lanes, or the arrival and departure halls. Passengers using that hall walk along the pedestrian crossing, then board again at the passenger pick-up area. This page does not add a waiting time, a promise about which lane stays open, or where the driver will stop. Follow the signs and the officers on the day.

To and from mainland China: get out at the mainland port

Trips to and from mainland China (Guangdong–Macau and Hong Kong–Shenzhen routes) clear at a mainland port, where passengers get out of the car for border control. The passport list on this page covers Macau entry at the HZMB Macao Port only.

Hong Kong, Macao, mainland and Taiwan documents

The 88 countries on the visa-free table are foreign passports. A Hong Kong permanent identity card, a Hong Kong Re-entry Permit, or a Mainland Travel Permit for Hong Kong and Macao sits in a different part of the same official note. This checker does not turn those documents into a yes or a no for staying in the car.

Official text

Rules can change. Macau authorities and the officers on the day decide. This page and the checker are a helper, not a legal guarantee.