Fire and rescue, medical, and police
Call any number for all emergency services:
-
999
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110
-
112
We advise:
Exercise a high degree of caution in Macau.
Call any number for all emergency services:
999
110
112
We advise:
Exercise a high degree of caution in Macau.
Exercise a high degree of caution in Macau.
Exercise a high degree of caution in Macau.
Full travel advice: Safety
Full travel advice: Health
Full travel advice: Local laws
Full travel advice: Travel
Full travel advice: Local contacts
Violent crime is low in Macau.
Pickpocketing and bag snatching happens.
Petty thieves are most active in:
To avoid petty crime:
Drink spiking happens.
To avoid drink spiking:
More information:
Take care withdrawing money from an ATM:
You may be at risk of cyber-based threats during overseas travel to any country. Digital identity theft is a growing concern. Your devices and personal data can be compromised, especially if you’re connecting to Wi-Fi, using or connecting to shared or public computers, or to Bluetooth.
Social media can also be risky in destinations where there are social or political tensions, or laws that may seem unreasonable by Australian standards. Travellers have been arrested for things they have said on social media. Don't comment on local or political events on your social media.
More information:
Public protests and events that draw large groups of people can turn violent.
To avoid the risk of violent unrest:
More information:
Macau experiences typhoons and severe weather.
Severe weather may cause:
If there's a natural disaster:
Typhoon season is between May and October.
The path and strength of a typhoon can change quickly.
If authorities issue a signal for a typhoon level 8 (T8) or above in Hong Kong:
During a typhoon:
Contact your travel operator or airline for the latest information.
For weather updates, monitor:
Get comprehensive travel insurance before you leave.
Your policy needs to cover all overseas medical costs, including medical evacuation. The Australian Government won't pay for these costs.
If you can't afford travel insurance, you can't afford to travel. This applies to everyone, no matter how healthy and fit you are.
If you're not insured, you may have to pay many 1000s of dollars up-front for medical care.
Confirm:
Consider your physical and mental health before you travel, especially if you have an existing medical condition.
See your doctor or travel clinic to:
Do this at least 8 weeks before you leave.
If you have immediate concerns for your welfare or the welfare of another Australian, call the 24-hour Consular Emergency Centre on +61 2 6261 3305 or contact your nearest Australian Embassy, High Commission or Consulate to discuss counselling hotlines and services available in your location.
More information:
Not all medication available over the counter or by prescription in Australia is available in other countries. Some may even be considered illegal or a controlled substance, even if prescribed by an Australian doctor.
If you plan to bring medication, check if it's legal in Macau. Take enough legal medicine for your trip.
Carry a copy of your prescription or a letter from your doctor stating:
More information:
COVID-19 remains a risk in Macau and measures have been introduced to prevent the spread. See Travel for details.
Contact Macau’s Centre for Disease Control and Prevention’s 24 hour hotline on +853 2870 0800 or the Macau Special webpage against Epidemics for the latest information.
For information on Macau’s COVID-19 vaccination program, refer to the SSM (Health Services Macau). You should consult your local health professional for advice on vaccine options, including assistance that may be available locally. The Australian Government cannot provide advice on the safety, quality and efficacy of vaccines that have been approved for use outside of Australia’s regulatory process.
More information:
The air pollution in Macau may worsen breathing, sinus or asthma conditions.
If you have a heart or breathing illness, and pollution levels are high:
For up-to-date air quality reports, visit the Macau Bureau of Meteorology.
Outbreaks of dengue occur sometimes.
You're also at risk of Japanese encephalitis.
To protect yourself from illness:
Get medical advice if you have a fever, muscle pain, rash or severe headache.
Hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) is common in Macau. Serious outbreaks sometimes occur.
Outbreaks usually:
HFMD mostly affects children aged younger than 10 years. It can also occur in adults, particularly young adults.
You can get HFMD by direct contact with discharges of infected people.
Practise good hygiene. Wash your hands carefully and frequently.
Waterborne, foodborne and other infectious diseases may occur, including:
Avoid eating raw or undercooked food, such as salads.
Get medical help if you have a fever or diarrhoea.
The standard of medical facilities in Macau is adequate.
Private hospitals will ask to see proof of your travel insurance before treating you. They may ask you to guarantee payment or pay a deposit up-front.
If you become seriously ill or injured, you may need to be evacuated to Hong Kong. Medical evacuation can be very expensive.
You're subject to all local laws and penalties, including those that may appear harsh by Australian standards. Research local laws before travelling.
If you're arrested or jailed, the Australian Government will do what it can to help you under our Consular Services Charter. But we can't get you out of trouble or out of jail.
You face severe penalties for carrying or using illegal drugs, including marijuana. Penalties include heavy fines and jail sentences.
More information:
Macau has strict laws around importing and possessing weapons. This includes items that look like weapons, such as:
You must have a permit to import, possess or buy these items. This includes items sold in local markets. Apply in advance for a permit from local authorities.
Macau has strict laws for owning stun guns and tasers.
In Macau, it's illegal to:
Always stay in licensed accommodation. If you don't, authorities may fine you.
More information:
Macau Government Tourism Office — Accommodation
Some Australian criminal laws still apply when you're overseas. If you break these laws, you may face prosecution in Australia.
More information:
If you're a dual national of Chinese descent, you can register your Australian citizenship with the Macau Identification Bureau.
Macau Identification Bureau
Largo do Senado No. 18
Edificio Comercial China 2.0-5.0 Andares, Macau
Phone: (+853) 2837 0777
Website: dsi.gov.mo
If you plan to enter mainland China from Macau, use your Australian passport.
China doesn't recognise dual nationality.
If you're a former Chinese citizen, Chinese authorities may:
continue to treat you as a Chinese citizen
not allow you access to Australian consular services, even if you enter China on a foreign passport
More information:
Every country or territory decides who can enter or leave through its borders. For specific information about the evidence you'll need to enter a foreign destination, check with the nearest embassy, consulate or immigration department of the destination you're entering.
If you're visiting for tourism for less than 30 days, you generally won't need a visa. In other situations, you will.
Macau is a Special Administrative Region (SAR) of the People's Republic of China. It has separate visa and entry administration to Hong Kong and mainland China.
If you need a visa, apply for it through your nearest PRC embassy or consulate.
Entry and exit conditions can change at short notice. For details about visas, currency, customs and quarantine rules, contact or visit:
You may need to show proof of a negative COVID-19 test or Macau Health Code prior to departure. For the latest entry requirements, refer to the Macau Government Tourism Board or contact your airline or travel agent.
If you're in Macau take care to protect yourself from exposure to COVID-19. Follow the advice of local authorities. New measures may be introduced at short notice. Monitor local media and follow the advice of local authorities. See Macau Special webpage against Epidemics for the latest update.
Travelling to Australia
You're no longer required to undertake a pre-departure COVID-19 test if you arrive in Australia from Macau.
See the Department of Health and Aged Care for more information on these measures.
You must have a visa to travel between Macau and mainland China.
To return to mainland China after visiting Macau, get a multiple-entry visa for China. Apply before leaving Australia. If not, you need to apply for a new visa for China.
If you have previously visited China and plan to apply for a Chinese visa at the border of Zhuhai and Macau, carry your previous Chinese visa with you even if it's in a recently replaced passport.
Border authorities may refuse to issue you with a new Chinese visa if you have a previous one but can't show it to them.
More information:
Some countries won't let you enter unless your passport is valid for 6 months after you plan to leave that country. This can apply even if you're just transiting or stopping over.
Some foreign governments and airlines apply the rule inconsistently. Travellers can receive conflicting advice from different sources.
You can end up stranded if your passport is not valid for more than 6 months.
The Australian Government does not set these rules. Check your passport's expiry date before you travel. If you're not sure it'll be valid for long enough, consider getting a new passport.
Your passport is a valuable document. It's attractive to people who may try to use your identity to commit crimes.
Some people may try to trick you into giving them your passport. Always keep it in a safe place.
If your passport is lost or stolen, tell the Australian Government as soon as possible:
In Australia, contact the Australian Passport Information Service.
If you're overseas, contact the nearest Australian embassy or consulate.
Although Australian passports comply with international standards for sex and gender, we can’t guarantee that a passport showing 'X' in the sex field will be accepted for entry or transit by another country. Contact the nearest embassy, high commission or consulate of your destination before you arrive at the border to confirm if authorities will accept passports with 'X' gender markers.
More information:
The currency in Macau is the Macanese Pataca (MOP).
Some shops also accept Hong Kong dollars and Chinese yuan.
You must declare in writing if you arrive or depart with MOP120,000, or equivalent. This includes all forms of currency, not just cash.
Credit cards are widely accepted in Macau.
Take care using ATMs as thefts happen. See Safety
More information:
Industrial relations disputes can disrupt transport and essential services.
Monitor local media and plan accordingly.
To drive in Macau, you need both:
a valid international driving permit (IDP)
your current Australian driver's licence
Get your IDP in Australia before you leave.
You may not be covered by your travel and vehicle insurances if you drive without an IDP.
The road network is mostly well-developed but congested during the day.
Before driving:
check your insurance cover
get to know local road rules
More information:
Check if your travel insurance policy covers you when riding a motorbike.
To remain covered by your insurance, you may have to follow local laws.
Always wear a helmet.
Only use licensed taxis or reputable limousine services. Try to book through your hotel. Insist on using the meter. You may need to pay cash for taxis. Many taxis don't have seatbelts available for use in the back seat.
Rideshare services are illegal in Macau. Police have issued fines to drivers and passengers of unlicensed taxi services.
Public buses are inexpensive and frequent. However, you may have difficulty finding them outside major tourist areas. Drivers generally have limited English.
More information:
Ferries are a common mode of transport between:
Macau
Hong Kong
the Chinese mainland
Ferries sometimes have accidents, including where people have died.
Some cruise lines visit Macau.
More information:
DFAT doesn't provide information on the safety of individual commercial airlines or flight paths.
Check Macau's air safety profile with the Aviation Safety Network.
More information:
Depending on what you need, contact your:
Call any number for all emergency services:
Always get a police report when reporting a crime.
Your insurer should have a 24-hour emergency number.
Contact your provider with any complaints about tourist services or products.
Read the Consular Services Charter for what the Australian Government can and can't do to help you overseas.
Australia doesn't have an embassy in Macau.
For consular assistance, contact the Australian Consulate-General in Hong Kong.
23/F Harbour Centre, 25 Harbour Road
Wanchai, Hong Kong
Phone: (+852) 2827 8881
Fax: (+852) 2585 4457
Website: hongkong.china.embassy.gov.au
Facebook: Australia in Hong Kong and Macau
Check the Consulate-General website for details about opening hours and any temporary closures.
In a consular emergency, if you can't contact an embassy, call the 24-hour Consular Emergency Centre on:
Be the first to know official government advice when travelling.