By law, you are required to hold a work permit or “blue card” in order to work in Macau and you must be working full time to be eligible. The company that hires you will apply for a permit on your behalf. You’ll need to provide a variety of documents such as passports, birth certificates, marriage certificate etc. The process takes about 2-3 months and involves having your fingerprints taken at the Immigration building in Taipa.
The Immigration Department will issue a receipt which indicates your blue card is pending. This allows you to start work while you wait for your blue card to be processed. You are only permitted to work for the employer who applied for the blue card on your behalf. It is not transferable to other companies. For more information about work permits, call the Human Resources Department at 2833 6960
The process of applying for a Macau resident card can differ depending on your profession and other variables. Generally speaking, your application is reviewed by IPIM, the department that administers Macao resident card applications. If your application is approved, you will be issued a certificate or letter of approval to take to the Immigration Department, where you will apply for the actual resident card. The card is then issued by the Identification Department. In most cases, your employer can help you navigate through this process.
Many foreigners receive Non Permanent Resident status, which provides the same rights and privileges as a Permanent resident, however, you are required to live in Macau for seven years before receiving permanent residency status.
For more information about Macau residency cards, call 2871 0300.
