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Macao

Nationality · visas, permits and migration

U.S. non-immigrant visas, FY2025
2,079
UK visas issued, 2025
165
Schengen visa refusal rate, 2024
2.9%
NationalityMOISO 3166
Data as at 2025
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Visa requirements for a short visit

Whether citizens of Macao need a visa for a short tourist or business visit, according to the legal lists. Rules change; check the official source before travelling.

DestinationShort visitLegal basis
Schengen areaNo visa for stays of up to 90 days in any 180-day periodRegulation (EU) 2018/1806 (consolidated 30.12.2025)
United KingdomNo visa; electronic travel authorisation (ETA) requiredImmigration Rules, Appendix Visitor / ETA National List
CanadaTemporary resident visa requiredIRPR s. 190, Schedule 1.1
Source: Regulation (EU) 2018/1806 (consolidated 30 Dec 2025); UK Immigration Rules, Appendix Visitor and ETA National List; Canada IRPR s. 190 and Schedule 1.1; Immigration Department (HKSAR), visit visa requirements as at 31 Dec 2025Data as at Oct 2026

Living abroad

People born in Macao who live in another country: mid-year estimates of the international migrant stock (UN DESA). Where a destination records citizenship rather than country of birth, its foreign citizens are counted.

Largest destinations, 2024
  1. Hong Kong76,947
  2. China59,238
  3. Canada5,036
  4. Australia3,081
  5. Portugal2,571
  6. Taiwan1,803
  7. Chile458
  8. Norway112
  9. Costa Rica1

Living abroad by year

75k149k19901995200020052010201520202024
75k149k19902000201020202024
Data table
199073,961
199579,787
200086,316
200593,169
2010101,050
2015116,399
2020139,129
2024149,247
Living abroad, 2024
149,247
Change since 2000
+72.9%
Share living in the largest destination, 2024
51.6%
Source: United Nations, DESA Population Division, International Migrant Stock 2024 (CC BY 3.0 IGO)Data as at 2024

United States

Visas issued to citizens of Macao by U.S. consulates (fiscal years, October–September) and certified PERM labor certifications.

Non-immigrant visas by class, FY2025
  1. B1/B21,874
  2. F1122
  3. J119
  4. B114
  5. H1B14
  6. H47
  7. C1/D7
  8. G25
  9. O14
  10. P13

Non-immigrant visas by fiscal year

1,8013,602201720182019202020212022202320242025
1,8013,60220172019202120232025
Data table
20172,497
20183,602
20193,057
2020653
2021158
2022324
20231,507
20242,449
20252,079
Immigrant visas by class, FY2025
  1. F2B9
  2. IR55
  3. F14
  4. IR13
  5. F43
  6. FX2
  7. IR22
  8. I51
Immigrant visas, FY2025
32
Certified PERM labor certifications, FY2024 (latest year with citizenship)
7
Source: U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Consular Affairs, monthly visa issuances (public domain); U.S. Department of Labor, OFLC PERM disclosure data (public domain)Data as at FY2025

Green cards and U.S. citizenship

People born in Macao who became U.S. lawful permanent residents (green cards) or U.S. citizens, and admissions of citizens of Macao with an I-94 record (DHS, fiscal years).

Green cards by fiscal year

551102015201620172018201920202021202220232024
55110201520172019202120232024
Data table
2015100
2016110
2017110
201890
2019100
202060
202150
202260
202390
202480
Green cards by class of admission, FY2024
  1. Immediate relatives of U.S. citizens30
  2. Family-sponsored preferences20
  3. Employment-based preferences20
Green cards, FY2024 (born in Macao)
80
Naturalizations, FY2024 (born in Macao)
60
I-94 admissions, FY2024 (citizenship)
0
Source: U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Office of Homeland Security Statistics, Yearbook of Immigration Statistics 2024 (public domain)Data as at FY2024

United Kingdom

Entry clearance visas issued to nationals of Macao (Home Office) and students with a permanent address in Macao (HESA).

Visas issued by group, 2025
  1. Study152
  2. Work5
  3. Other4
  4. Family3
  5. Visitor1

Visas issued by year

172344201020122014201620182020202220242025
172344201020132016201920222025
Data table
2010174
2011185
2012190
2013217
2014260
2015300
2016312
2017344
2018339
2019318
2020140
2021231
2022203
2023219
2024201
2025165
Students at UK universities, 2024/25
435
Source: Home Office, Immigration system statistics (year ending June 2026), Open Government Licence v3.0Data as at 2025

Canada

Permits and invitations for citizens of Macao, by year the permit took effect (IRCC).

YearTFWP workIMP workStudyPermanent residentsExpress Entry invitations
2025007500
202402075100
2023045140150
202202014050
20210151101515
202002014005
2019020185100
201801022500
201701519050
201605200100
201505205100
Source: IRCC, monthly open data (rounded to the nearest 5). Open Government Licence – CanadaData as at 2025

Australia

Temporary skilled visas (subclass 457 to 2018, then 482) granted to primary applicants who are citizens of Macao, by financial year ending 30 June (Home Affairs).

Primary visas granted by financial year

362005–062007–082012–132014–152016–172018–192022–232025–26
362005–062011–122014–152017–182022–232025–26
Data table
2005–061
2006–072
2007–081
2011–124
2012–135
2013–142
2014–153
2015–166
2016–172
2017–185
2018–192
2021–221
2022–232
2024–252
2025–263
By stream, 2025–26
  1. Core Skills2
  2. Specialist Skills1
Granted, 2025–26
3
Share of all Australian grants, 2025–26
0.0%
Source: Department of Home Affairs (Australia), BP0014 Temporary Resident (skilled) visas granted, data locked at 30 Sep 2026 (data.gov.au, CC BY)Data as at 2025–26

Schengen visas in Macao

Short-stay (C) visa applications at Schengen consulates located in Macao, 2024. Applicants are mostly, but not only, its citizens.

Schengen stateApplicationsIssuedNot issuedRefusal rate
Portugal341289102.9%

Applications by year

2905802009201020112012201320142015201620172018201920202021202220232024
290580200920122015201820212024
Data table
2009171
2010220
2011226
2012284
2013417
2014580
2015498
2016455
2017503
2018557
2019551
202043
202114
202260
2023309
2024341
Refusal rate, 2024
2.9%
Refusal rate, 2019
5.4%
Source: European Commission, DG Migration and Home Affairs, visa statistics for consulates (CC BY 4.0)Data as at 2024

Remittances

Money that migrants send home: personal remittances received by Macao, in current US dollars (World Bank).

Remittances received by year, US$ million

87174200220052008201120142017202020232025
871742002200620102014201820222025
Data table
200247
200348
200453
200553
200655
200754
200852
200948
201047
201148
201247
201349
201437
201540
201628
201735
201842
201955
202066
202174
202289
2023112
2024136
2025174
Remittances received, 2025
US$174 million
Share of GDP, 2025
0.3%
Source: World Bank, World Development Indicators (CC BY 4.0)Data as at 2025

Official data, not advice. Visa Atlas publishes figures from government registers and statistics. It does not assess eligibility or give immigration advice; for advice, consult a regulated adviser. Read more