The Office of the Commissioner of the Foreign Ministry in Macau has announced that from next Monday it will “gradually start” to accept again mainland visa applications by foreign residents living in Macau through its China Online Visa Application (COVA) system.
The office announced the measure in a notice received by The Macau Post Daily yesterday.
The notice said that the measure was taken “in light of the latest situation” of Macau’s COVID-19 prevention and control measures and “the needs of cultural exchanges and economic development.”
The notice underlined that “at this stage,” priority will be given to applications for M (business, trade) and F (research, cultural exchange, etc.) visas.
Applicants must hold a Macau permanent or non-permanent ID card (BIR) and provide proof of stay in Macau for at least two consecutive months before the date of application. M visa applicants must provide an invitation letter from a trade partner or a trade fair in the mainland, while F visa applicants must provide an invitation letter from a “relevant entity or individual” in the mainland.
The office restarted the process of accepting the online via applications and appointments yesterday (https://cova.mfa.gov.cn).
The notice noted that the office generally issues visas with one entry of three months of validity and 30 days of stay. A telephone enquiry service (87915126) about the application and appointment procedures is available between 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. on workdays.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, foreign nationals – including those living in Macau – have, in general, been barred from entering the mainland since March last year.
