The National Immigration Administration (NIA) announced in a statement yesterday that it will resume its electronic application procedure for mainland residents to apply for an Individual Visit Scheme (IVS) travel permit, as well as for permits for mainlanders’ tour groups to Macau, from today.
According to a statement by the Macau Government Information Bureau (GCS) yesterday, Chief Executive Ho Iat Seng expressed his “heartful” gratitude to the central government for its support in providing greater convenience to travellers from the mainland and contributing to the recovery of Macau’s economy and the tourism industry.
The chief executive also expressed his thanks to the State Council Hong Kong and Macau Affairs Office (HKMAO), the Central People’s Government Liaison Office in Macau, the Ministry of Public Security, and the National Immigration Administration, for their “invaluable guidance and support”.
According to the NIA statement, travellers from medium to high-risk COVID-19 areas or those who have travelled to those areas cannot obtain a “smart travel permit” through e-application.
Meanwhile, the Macau Trade and Investment Promotion Institute (IPIM) said in a statement yesterday that it will work in line with the new measure, adding that it will devote more resources to connect trade visitors from the mainland with Macau’s four key industries (technology, research and development, and high-end manufacturing; traditional Chinese medicine; cultural tourism; modern finance), distinctive shops and local SMEs, in order to support the recovery of the local economy.
Moreover, the Macau Government Tourism Office (MGTO) said in a statement yesterday that it will continue to promote Macau’s tourism activities both online and offline in anticipation of an increase in the number of travellers from the mainland.
The organisation of mainlanders’ tour groups, as well as their electronic applications for a smart travel permit to Macau, including for individual travellers, had been suspended since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in early 2020.
The mainland authorities resumed issuing Individual Visit Scheme (IVS) travel permits to Macau in September 2020.
