Macau, the ‘Las Vegas of Asia’ is known for its gambling tourism and duty-free shopping malls. To promote tourism, Macau has visa-free entries for a prescribed number of days for citizens of 66 countries, which also has India in its list. Let us take a look at what the Macau visa for Indians has to offer.
FREE MACAU VISA FOR INDIAN CITIZENS:
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- Indian citizens who wish to stay in Macau for sightseeing purposes need not apply for a visa/visa on arrival, as long as their stay is only under 30 days.
- Though the visa is free, they will need to hold a valid passport with 6 months of validity.
- If they need to stay longer than 30 days and based on their purpose of travel, they can apply for the various types of visas.
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ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA FOR MACAU VISA:
- The citizen should not be denied from entering, travelling or staying by the law.
- The citizen should not visit Macau regularly without valid reasons.
- The citizen should not have been expelled from Macau.
- The citizen should not be involved in criminal activities and should not have been incarcerated.
- The citizen should have proof of being a bona fide traveller stating their exit from Macau once their visit comes to an end.
MACAU VISA TYPES:
- When your entry in Macau is to exceed 30 days, you can apply for the visa online. It’s a clear and efficient system and hence you won’t have much trouble going through the process.
- Also, if you wish to extend your stay after entering Macau, you need to apply to the local Migration office but not extending 90 days.
The Macau visa for Indian citizens, like most other visas, has the following types:
1. MACAU TOURIST VISA:
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- Macau tourist visa for Indian citizens is issued if their purpose of travel is for sightseeing or visiting family and friends.
DOCUMENTS REQUIRED:
The Macau visa requirements for Indians is as follows:
- Macau tourist application with a necessary declaration.
- A couple of passport size photographs.
- A valid passport (minimum 6 months validity) with 2 blank pages.
- Original and photocopy of bank statements.
- Valid travel insurance.
- Reference letter from employer.
- Proof of accommodation.
- Proof of travelling in a group.
- Confirmed to and fro flight tickets.
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2. MACAU BUSINESS VISA:
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- Though Macau is famous for gambling, it also attracts a large number of businesspeople due to the boom of tourists.
- People who wish to indulge in short term business activities or those who want to start their own venture can apply for this Business visa.
- People visiting for educational purposes or to attend conferences and trade shows also fall in this category.
DOCUMENTS REQUIRED:
- Macau business application with a necessary declaration.
- A couple of passport size photographs.
- A valid passport (minimum 6 months validity) with 2 blank pages.
- Original and photocopy of bank statements.
- Valid travel insurance.
- Reference business letter from the company in India and from the company or organization in Macau.
- Proof of accommodation.
- Confirmed to and fro flight tickets.
Also read: A Guide to China Visa for Indians
3. MACAU STUDENT VISA:
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- For students who see a better prospect of education in Macau, they can apply for the Macau student visa which is issued by The Macau Immigration Department.
- Once the form is filled up, they may request a declaration for Immigration Department.
- It will be issued specifying the total duration of the program within 3 business days.
- The applicant must submit the form with the necessary documents to the immigration department.
- After processing the application, the applicant will be granted a receipt. They can use this receipt to enter Macau until the student visa is granted.
- Note that you are not eligible to work once you are granted the student visa.
DOCUMENTS REQUIRED:
- A couple of passport size photographs.
- A valid passport (minimum 6 months validity) with 2 blank pages.
- Acceptance letter from the University of Macau.
- Proof of funds to take care of the student’s expenses.
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4. MACAU TRANSIT VISA:
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- Those who wish to transit through Macau to a third country will be issued a Transit visa.
- It is generally granted up to 3 days for convenience of travel.
- The Macau visa requirements for transit is as follows:
DOCUMENTS REQUIRED:
- Macau Transit visa application with a necessary declaration.
- A couple of passport size photographs.
- A valid passport of the origin country.
- Original and photocopy of bank statements.
- Valid travel insurance.
- Reference letter from employer.
- Proof of accommodation.
- Proof of travelling in a group.
- Confirmed to and fro flight tickets.
5. EMPLOYMENT VISA/WORK PERMIT:
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- If you wish to land a job in Macau, you will have to apply for a work permit, also called a ‘Blue Card’.
- It is better if you can find an employer before you arrive in Macau. But if that is not possible, you can enter Macau as a visitor and begin looking for employment.
- Once you find a job, you can then apply for a work permit.
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DOCUMENTS REQUIRED:
- A couple of passport size photographs.
- A valid passport (minimum 6 months validity).
- A copy of your Birth Certificate.
- Criminal record from your parent country.
- Employment contract which details all necessary information about your work, title, salary, etc.
- Valid documents from the company in Macau indicating lack of qualified personnel.
- Proof of educational qualification like a diploma, degree certificates.
- Business registration and license of your employer.
- Job description.
- If you have dependents travelling with you, then you must provide the necessary proof of relationship.
- Proof of accommodation.
- Confirmed to and fro flight tickets.
The processing time to get your application approved will take around 3 to 6 months. Meanwhile, you can apply for a temporary residence permit. Make an appointment at the Macau Trade and Investment Promotion Institute (IPIM).
You will have to attend an interview and go through a screening process that will check your eligibility for temporary residence.
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DOCUMENTS REQUIRED FOR TEMPORARY RESIDENCE:
- Valid Identity Card.
- Documents providing proof of purpose of residence in Macau, whether work, family or investment, etc.
For your appointment, you will need the following documents:
- Application form.
- 2 copies of your valid passport.
- A couple of passport size photographs.
- Non-Resident worker identity card (if applicable)
- Criminal record.
- Proof of relationship with your accompanying dependents.
All the documents indicated are for reference only. Kindly check once with the Macau Embassies in India for any change or updated documentation requirements.
OTHER TYPES OF VISA
1. MACAU FAMILY VISA FOR INDIANS:
For those who wish to visit their family members for a short time and enjoy some quality time in Macau can apply for this type of visa.
2. MACAU SPOUSE VISA FOR INDIANS:
For those whose spouse is in Macau, is eligible for this category of visa.
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MACAU VISA FEES
As mentioned before, there are no Macau visa fees for Indian passports if the citizen plans to stay for less than 30 days. If you want to extend your stay, the fee is as follows:
- For an Individual – MOP 100 (Around Rs. 877/-)
- For children below 12 years – MOP 50 (Around Rs. 438/-)
- For the family – MOP 200 (Around Rs. 1753/-)
- For the group – MOP 50 per person (Around Rs. 438/-). Note that the group must contain at least 10 members organized by a single travel manager. The manager should be able to present the collective travel document.
It is always better to check with the Consulate / Embassies of the People’s Republic of China or the Immigration Department of Macau SAR Government for the latest updates.
The Macau Embassy in Delhi is situated at Shanthipath Chanakyapuri, South West Delhi.
The Macau Embassy in Mumbai is at Nariman point.
The Macau Embassy in Kolkata lies in Salt Lake City.
All necessary information regarding latest Macau visa fees for Indian passport holders, working hours and other details can be obtained from their websites.
VISA PROCESSING TIME
- For all general applications that do not have to be related to the Macau Immigration department, the Macau visa for Indians take around 5 business days to get processed.
- For applications that need to be related to the Macau Immigration department, the processing time is around 3 weeks.
- For applications that do not have to be related to the Macau Immigration department, there is an express service that will take 3 business days to get processed.
- There is another fast—track service that will get your application processed on the same day or the next day. This is also applicable for those that do not have to be related to the Macau Immigration Department.
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