Since the beginning of this year, Zhuhai residents can apply for a visa allowing them to enter Macau once a week, with each stay limited to a maximum of seven days. The visa is valid for one year and does not require a waiting period before they can return to Macau. Previously, Zhuhai residents could only enter once every two months and had to apply for a visa for that purpose. Residents in the rest of Guangdong province could only obtain entry visas once every three months.
According to the Public Security Police (PSP), the new policy is expected to bring an additional 20,000 people per day from Zhuhai and Hengqin, significantly increasing border traffic. On the first day of the new policy’s implementation—January 1—more than 3,200 Zhuhai and Hengqin residents crossed the border into Macau. PSP data indicates that approximately 2,500 of the new visa holders were from Zhuhai, while around 700 were from the neighboring Hengqin area.
Sun, a professional in the cultural industries and a resident of Zhuhai, told PLATAFORMA that he now has “more freedom to travel and attend cultural events in Macau” without worrying as much about restrictions. Under the previous limits, he preferred to “save” his bi-monthly visa for “more renowned events.” Sun’s profession relies heavily on networking at cultural events such as art exhibitions or film screenings, and this new policy allows him to participate in more events and expand his contact network.
Part of a series of recently adopted measures to facilitate cross-border movement, this initiative also aims to improve the economic situation for Macau’s small and medium enterprises (SMEs), which have so far been suffering from the reverse trend—Macau residents shopping in Zhuhai, where prices are lower and the variety of products is greater. Police authorities are preparing for the increased border flow, and the tourism industry expects to accommodate a wave of new visa holders in Macau, especially during the Chinese New Year holidays.
Zhuhai accounts for more than 26 percent of visitors from Guangdong province. In a recent report by Seaport brokerage, analyst Vitaly Umansky acknowledges that the visa relaxation is a boost to the local industry from the Central Government: “China has expanded several visa policies for Mainland visitors, including faster processing times, improved business visa procedures, an expansion of cities covered by the individual visa plan, multiple entries for hotel guest groups staying in Hengqin, and for conventions,” Umansky notes. He says these measures will positively impact Macau’s economy as early as 2025.
Eric Fong, Director of the Population Research Center at the University of Hong Kong, agrees that this policy could boost local consumption. However, he told PLATAFORMA that the “extent of this impact will depend on how much each visitor is willing to spend.”
Limited to Residents
The measure applies only to Zhuhai residents who were born there or possess a residence certificate. The neighboring city has a population of about 2.49 million people, with approximately 1.7 million eligible for this new measure. Consequently, some Zhuhai residents contacted by PLATAFORMA said the measure will not impact their lives, as they were not born in Zhuhai nor possess the residence certificate, known as ‘hukou.’ Many workers who migrated from other Chinese cities remain excluded despite living in Zhuhai. The new visa also does not permit professional activities in Macau.
Hengqin residents now have unrestricted access to Macau, but only 40,000 people currently live in the Deep Cooperation Zone. Many Zhuhai residents who regularly travel to Macau already have student visas or work permits, allowing them to cross the border daily.
The new policy has seemingly already boosted parallel trade, with some Zhuhai residents posting on social media that they earn 800 yuan per day just by transporting goods across the border. Macau customs authorities previously reported intercepting over 12,000 people for illegal trade between 2020 and 2024. During the same period, 313 enforcement actions were carried out, resulting in the seizure of goods worth over 237 million patacas. With more frequent access to Macau, this illicit activity has suddenly become even more lucrative.
