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Macau SAR Consular Information Sheet
October 17, 2007

COUNTRY DESCRIPTION:  Macau, formerly a Chinese territory under
Portuguese administration, became a Special Administrative Region (SAR)
of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) on December 20, 1999. The SAR
maintains a high degree of autonomy, except in the areas of defense and
foreign policy. Macau retains its own currency, laws, and border
controls. Facilities for tourism are well developed. Gambling, tourism,
and textile and apparel manufacturing are the largest sectors in Macau’s
economy. With a population of approximately 508,500, Macau covers a 28.2
square-kilometer area including the peninsula of Macau, connected to the
PRC, and the two islands of Taipa and Coloane linked by a highway 2.2 km
long. Read the Department of State Background Notes on Macau for
additional information.
ENTRY/EXIT REQUIREMENTS:  Valid passports are required. Passports should
be valid for 30 days beyond the intended period of stay in Macau.
Because many neighboring areas require six months validity remaining on
the passport, U.S. citizens planning travel beyond Macau should ensure
that their passports are valid for at least six months from the date of
their proposed entry into such areas. A visa is not required for tourist
visits of up to 30 days.
For further information on entry requirements, contact the Embassy of
the People’s Republic of China, Room 110, 2201 Wisconsin Avenue NW,
Washington DC 20007; telephone (202) 338-6688; fax (202) 588-9760;
e-mail chinaembassy_us@fmprc.gov.cn; web site
http://www.china-embassy.org/eng/, or the Consulates General of the PRC
in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago, New York City and Houston.
Travelers may also consult the Macau Tourist Information Bureau’s U.S.
representative office at 5757 West Century Boulevard, Suite 660, Los
Angeles, CA 90045-6407, telephone (310) 568-0009 or fax (310) 338-0708;
http://www.macautourism.gov.mo Please see the Macau SAR government home
page at http://www.gov.mo/ for the latest, up to date entry and exit
requirements.

Holders of a Hong Kong Permanent Identity Card or a Hong Kong Re-entry
Permit may use either document to enter Macau for a maximum stay of up
to one (1) year. All visitors must present their passport or other valid
travel document upon arrival. Visit the Embassy of the People’s Republic
of China web site at http://www.china-embassy.org/eng/ for the most
current visa information.

For information on Currency, Customs Regulations, and Dual Nationality,
please see our “Special Circumstances” section below.

Information on dual nationality or the prevention of international child
abduction can be found on our web site. For further information about
customs regulations, please read our Customs Information sheet.

SAFETY AND SECURITY:  For the latest security information, Americans
traveling abroad should regularly monitor the Department’s Internet web
site at where the current Travel Warnings and Public Announcements,
including the Worldwide Caution Public Announcement, can be found.

Up-to-date information on safety and security can also be obtained by
calling 1-888-407-4747 toll free in the U.S. and Canada, or for callers
outside the U.S. and Canada, a regular toll-line at 1-202-501-4444.
These numbers are available from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time,
Monday through Friday (except U.S. federal holidays).

The Department of State urges American citizens to take responsibility
for their own personal security while traveling overseas. For general
information about appropriate measures travelers can take to protect
themselves in an overseas environment, see the Department of State’s
pamphlet A Safe Trip Abroad.

CRIME:  Petty street crime occasionally occurs in tourist areas in
Macau, including in and around casinos and at the airport. Travelers
should take caution with their personal belongings and travel documents
at all times. Tourists can dial 112 to report crimes directly related to
travel, such as petty theft.

INFORMATION FOR VICTIMS OF CRIME:  The loss or theft abroad of a U.S.
passport should be reported immediately to the local police and the
nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate. If you are the victim of a crime
while overseas, in addition to reporting to local police, please contact
the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate for assistance. The
Embassy/Consulate staff can, for example, assist you to find appropriate
medical care, to contact family members or friends and explain how funds
could be transferred. Although the investigation and prosecution of the
crime is solely the responsibility of local authorities, consular
officers can help you to understand the local criminal justice process
and to find an attorney if needed.
See our information on Victims of Crime.

MEDICAL FACILITIES AND HEALTH INFORMATION:  Several major hospitals in
Macau have adequate medical facilities and are able to provide emergency
medical care. The Macau SAR government provides a telephone list of
hospitals and health centers accessible at
http://www.cityguide.gov.mo/phone/phone_e.asp?cat=6.Travelers should
know that 999 is the number to call in case of an emergency in Macau.
Highly developed medical facilities and trained personnel are available
in Hong Kong, which is about an hour by jetfoil and ten minutes by
helicopter from Macau.

Information on vaccinations and other health precautions, such as safe
food and water precautions and insect bite protection, may be obtained
from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s hotline for
international travelers at 1-877-FYI-TRIP (1-877-394-8747) or via the
CDC’s Internet site at http://wwwn.cdc.gov/travel/default.aspx. For
information about outbreaks of infectious diseases abroad consult the
World Health Organization’s (WHO) web site at http://www.who.int/en.
Further health information for travelers is available at
http://www.who.int/ith/en.

MEDICAL INSURANCE:  The Department of State strongly urges Americans to
consult with their medical insurance company prior to traveling abroad
to confirm whether their policy applies overseas and whether it will
cover emergency expenses such as a medical evacuation. Please see our
information on medical insurance overseas.

TRAFFIC SAFETY AND ROAD CONDITIONS:  While in a foreign country, U.S.
citizens may encounter road conditions that differ significantly from
those in the United States. The information below concerning Macau is
provided for general reference only, and may not be totally accurate in
a particular location or circumstance.
Traffic moves on the left in Macau and roads are narrow and winding.
Traffic is generally congested throughout the day. Taxis are plentiful
and inexpensive by the airport, ferry terminal, and gaming venues.
Public buses are also inexpensive and frequent.

For specific information concerning Macau driving permits, vehicle
inspection, road tax and mandatory insurance, contact the Macau Tourist
Information Bureau’s U.S. representative office at 5757 W. Century
Boulevard, Suite 660, Los Angeles, California 90045-6407; telephone
(310) 568-0009; fax (310) 338-0708), or the Macau Transport Department
(Comissariado de Transito de Macau), Ave Sidonio Pais, Macau; telephone
(853) 374-214; fax (853) 522-966; web site http://www.iacm.gov.mo
(please note: web site is only available in Chinese and Portuguese).

Please refer to our Road Safety page for more information. Visit the
website of Macau’s tourist office and national authority responsible for
road safety at http://www.iacm.gov.mo (please note: web site is only
available in Chinese and Portuguese).

AVIATION SAFETY OVERSIGHT:  As there is no direct commercial air service
between the United States and Macau, the U.S. Federal Aviation
Administration (FAA) has not assessed Macau’s Civil Aviation Authority
for compliance with ICAO international aviation safety standards. For
more information, travelers may visit the FAA’s Internet web site at
http://www.faa.gov/safety/programs_initiatives/oversight/iasa.

SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES:
Language:  The official languages in the Macau SAR are Chinese and
Portuguese. English, however, is spoken in tourist areas.

Currency:  There are no currency restrictions for tourists in Macau.
Although the pataca is the official currency in Macau, Hong Kong
currency is commonly used in transactions, especially in tourist areas.
Travelers visiting Macau from Hong Kong may wish to bring sufficient
Hong Kong dollars to cover their expenses. Credit cards and ATM network
debit cards are widely accepted in Macau. Banks and major hotels accept
traveler’s checks.

Customs Regulations:  Macau customs authorities may enforce strict
regulations concerning temporary importation into or export from Macau
of items such as firearms, ivory, certain categories of medications, and
other goods. There is a 5% duty levied on electrical appliances and
equipment imported into Macau. It is advisable to contact the Embassy of
the People’s Republic of China in Washington D.C. or one of the PRC’s
Consulates in the United States at the addresses noted above, or the
Macau Customs Service, Rua S. Tiago da Barra, Doca D. Carlos I, SW,
Barra-Macau, telephone (853) 559-944 or fax (853) 371-136 for specific
information regarding customs requirements. Please see
http://www.customs.gov.mo for further information.

In many countries around the world, counterfeit and pirated goods are
widely available. Transactions involving these products, such as
watches, compact discs, computer software and clothing, are illegal and
bringing them back to the United States may result in forfeitures and/or
fines. For a current list of those countries with serious problems in
this regard, as well as more information on related topics, please see
our information page on customs regulations.

Dual Nationality:  Under the nationality law of the PRC, persons of
Chinese descent who were born in the PRC, including Macau, are PRC
citizens. However, under an agreement between the United States and the
People’s Republic of China, all U.S. citizens entering Macau on their
U.S. passports, including such persons as may be considered PRC
nationals by the PRC authorities, are considered U.S. citizens by the
Macau SAR authorities for purposes of ensuring U.S. consular access and
protection during their initial legal stay of up to 30 days in Macau.

Dual national residents or former residents of Macau who wish to ensure
U.S. consular access and protection after the initial 30-day period of
visa-free admission into Macau should declare their U.S. nationality to
the Macau Immigration Department upon arrival. Dual-national residents
of Macau who enter Macau on travel documents other than their U.S.
passports and who desire U.S. consular protection should declare their
U.S. nationality as soon as possible after entry. This “declaration of
change of nationality” will ensure U.S. consular protection. It may also
result in loss of one’s PRC nationality (but not necessarily one’s right
of abode). Whereas failure to declare U.S. nationality may jeopardize
U.S. consular protection, such failure will not jeopardize one’s U.S.
citizenship.

Dual nationals contemplating onward travel into mainland China should be
attentive to use of their U.S. passports. Dual nationals who enter or
depart mainland China using a U.S. passport and a valid PRC visa retain
the right of U.S. consular access and protection under the U.S.-PRC
Consular Convention. The ability of the U.S. Embassy or Consulates
General to provide normal consular services would be extremely limited
should a dual national enter mainland China on a Macau SAR or other
non-U.S. passport.

In addition to being subject to all Macau SAR laws affecting U.S.
citizens, dual nationals may be subject to laws of Macau that impose
special obligations on Macau citizens. For additional information on
dual nationality, see our flyer.

Typhoons:  During the storm season (July through September), the Macau
Observatory (Direccao dos Servicos Meteorologicos e Geofisicos) issues
typhoon warnings on an average of six times a year. The Macau
Observatory has a good notification and monitoring system in place.
Please consult the Macau Observatory’s web site at http://www.smg.gov.mo
for further information. General information about natural disaster
preparedness is available via the Internet from the U.S. Federal
Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) at http://www.fema.gov/.
Please see our information on customs information.

CRIMINAL PENALTIES:  While in a foreign country, a U.S. citizen is
subject to that country’s laws and regulations, which sometimes differ
significantly from those in the United States and may not afford the
protections available to the individual under U.S. law. Penalties for
breaking the law can be more severe than in the United States for
similar offenses. Persons violating Macau’s laws, even unknowingly, may
be expelled, arrested or imprisoned. Penalties for possession, use, or
trafficking in illegal drugs in Macau are severe, and convicted
offenders can expect long jail sentences and heavy fines. Engaging in
illicit sexual conduct with children or using or disseminating child
pornography in a foreign country is a crime, prosecutable in the United
States. Please see our information on Criminal Penalties.

CHILDREN’S ISSUES:  For information see our Office of Children’s Issues
web pages on intercountry adoption and international parental child
abduction.

REGISTRATION / EMBASSY LOCATION:  Americans living or traveling in Macau
are encouraged to register with the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate
through the State Department’s travel registration web site so that they
can obtain updated information on travel and security within Macau.
Americans without Internet access may register directly with the nearest
U.S. Embassy or Consulate. By registering, American citizens make it
easier for the Embassy or Consulate to contact them in case of
emergency.

There is no U.S. diplomatic or consular presence in Macau. Consular
assistance for U.S. citizens is provided by the U.S. Consulate General
in Hong Kong, 26 Garden Road, Central, Hong Kong; telephone (852)
2523-9011 or (852) 2841-2211; fax (852) 2845-4845; e-mail
questions@hongkongacs.com; website http://hongkong.usconsulate.gov. The
mailing address (from the U.S.) of the Consulate General in Hong Kong is
PSC 461, Box 5, FPO AP 96521-0006. U.S. citizens living in or visiting
Macau are encouraged to register at the Consular Section of the U.S.
Consulate General in Hong Kong and obtain updated information on travel
and security within Macau.
* * *
This replaces the consular information sheet dated October 31, 2006 to update sections on Aviation Safety Oversight.