Macau's permanent and non-permanent foreign residents will soon be able to apply again for all categories of visas to enter the Chinese mainland, a source close to the Office of the Commissioner of the Foreign Ministry in Macau told The Macau Post Daily today.
The source said that the foreign residents need to submit proof of having stayed in the Macau Special Administrative Region (MSAR) for at least two consecutive months prior to the date of application. However, they do not need to have been vaccinated against COVID-19, the source said.
The source, who asked not to be named, also said that other foreign nationals living in Macau such as non-resident workers (colloquially known as "blue card holders") who have been inoculated with a Chinese vaccine against the novel coronavirus will also be able to apply for a mainland entry visa again, based on certain conditions and requirements.
The source, who asked not to be named, said that
the new eased visa entry requirements would be announced next week.
As a part of its COVID-19 prevention measures, the central government imposed a blanket ban on foreigners' entry into the mainland in March last year. However, the ban has meanwhile been gradually relaxed.
Macau's current COVID-19 vaccination drive consists of two vaccines, China's Sinopharm and Germany's BioNTech. The latter is supplied by Shanghai-based Fosun.
Macau has recorded 48 COVID-19 patients since January 22 last year. All have been cured and discharged from hospital.
Macau has one of the world's lowest COVID-19 incidence rates.
