Reissued with updates to COVID-19 information.
Reconsider travel to the People’s Republic of China (PRC), including the Special Administrative Regions (SARs) of Hong Kong and Macau due to arbitrary enforcement of local laws. See specific risks and conditions in each jurisdiction below. Commercial transportation options for international departure and arrival are available. Exercise increased caution in the PRC due to wrongful detentions.
Country Summary: The PRC government arbitrarily enforces local laws, including issuing exit bans on U.S. citizens and citizens of other countries without fair and transparent process under the law.
The Department has determined the risk of wrongful detention of U.S. nationals by the PRC government exists in mainland China.
U.S. citizens traveling or residing in the PRC, including the Hong Kong SAR and the Macau SAR, may be detained without access to U.S. consular services or information about their alleged crime. U.S. citizens in the PRC may be subjected to prolonged interrogations and extended detention without due process of law.
Foreigners in the PRC and the Hong Kong SAR, including but not limited to businesspeople, former foreign government personnel, and journalists have been unjustly interrogated and detained by PRC officials for alleged violations of PRC national security laws. The PRC has also interrogated, detained, and expelled U.S. citizens living and working in the PRC.
Security personnel may detain and/or deport U.S. citizens for sending private electronic messages critical of the PRC, Hong Kong SAR, or Macau SAR governments.
In addition, the PRC government has used restrictions on travel or departure from the PRC, or so-called exit bans, to:
In most cases, U.S. citizens only become aware of an exit ban when they attempt to depart the PRC, and there is no reliable mechanism or legal process to find out how long the ban might continue or to contest it in a court of law. Relatives, including minor children, of those under investigation in the PRC may become subject to an exit ban.
The PRC, Hong Kong SAR, and Macau SAR governments do not recognize dual nationality. U.S.-PRC citizens and U.S. citizens of Chinese descent may be subject to additional scrutiny and harassment, and the PRC, Hong Kong SAR, and Macau SAR governments may prevent the U.S. Embassy or U.S. Consulate General from providing consular services.
Check with the PRC Embassy in the United States for the most updated information on travel to the PRC. In some limited circumstances travelers to mainland China may face additional testing requirements to enter some facilities or events.
The Department of State does not provide or coordinate direct medical care to private U.S. citizens abroad. U.S. citizens overseas may receive PRC-approved COVID vaccine doses where they are eligible.
The PRC government has not authorized for general use in mainland China many COVID vaccines commonly available in the United States and Europe, including AstraZeneca, Pfizer/BioNTech, Moderna, and Johnson and Johnson products. It has conditionally authorized thirteen PRC-made vaccines; these are available to anyone residing in China. The FDA has not approved the two most commonly available, Sinopharm and Sinovac. Sinopharm and Sinovac have received approval for emergency use by the World Health Organization (WHO).
In Hong Kong SAR and Macau SAR, BioNTech mRNA COVID vaccines including the bivalent option are available. Please contact local health authorities for information on available vaccines.
Visit the FDA’s website to learn more about FDA-approved vaccines in the United States.
XINJIANG UYGHUR AUTONOMOUS REGION and TIBET AUTONOMOUS REGION
Extra security measures, such as security checks and increased levels of police presence, are common in the Xinjiang Uyghur and Tibet Autonomous Regions. Authorities may impose curfews and travel restrictions on short notice.
HONG KONG SPECIAL ADMINISTRATIVE REGION
Since the imposition of the National Security Law on June 30, 2020, the PRC unilaterally and arbitrarily exercises police and security power in the Hong Kong SAR. The PRC has demonstrated an intent to use this authority to target a broad range of activities it defines as acts of secession, subversion, terrorism, and collusion with foreign entities. The National Security Law also covers offenses committed by non-Hong Kong residents or organizations outside of Hong Kong, which could subject U.S. citizens who have been publicly critical of the PRC to a heightened risk of arrest, detention, expulsion, or prosecution. PRC security forces, including the new Office for Safeguarding National Security, now operate in the Hong Kong SAR and are not subject to oversight by the Hong Kong judiciary.
Demonstrations: Participating in demonstrations or any other activities that authorities interpret as constituting an act of secession, subversion, terrorism, or collusion with a foreign country could result in criminal charges. U.S. citizens are strongly cautioned to be aware of their surroundings and avoid demonstrations.
Propaganda: A PRC propaganda campaign has falsely accused individuals, including U.S. citizens, of fomenting unrest in the Hong Kong SAR. In some cases, the campaign has published their personal information, resulting in threats of violence on social media.
Read the country information page for the PRC, the information page for the Hong Kong SAR, and the information page for the Macau SAR for additional information on travel.
If you decide to travel to the PRC, including the Hong Kong SAR and the Macau SAR:
Passport Validity:
At least 90 days beyond the intended period of stay
Blank Passport Pages:
One page required for entry stamp
Tourist Visa Required:
Not required for stays under 30 days
Vaccinations:
None
Currency Restrictions for Entry:
None
Currency Restrictions for Exit:
None
26 Garden Road, Central,
Hong Kong
Telephone: +(852) 2841-2211, +(852) 2841-2225, +(852) 2841-2323
Emergency After-Hours Telephone: +(852) 2523-9011
Fax: +(852) 2845-4845
Email: acshk@state.gov
To enter Macau, you need:
You only need a visa if:
You must possess a valid passport and Chinese visa to enter the People’s Republic of China (PRC) from Macau. Further information on travel to and around the PRC is available in our China country information page.
Visit the Macau Immigration Services of the Public Security Police Force or the Embassy of the People's Republic of China website for the most current visa information.
The U.S. Department of State is unaware of any HIV/AIDS entry restrictions for visitors to or foreign residents of Macau SAR.
Find information on dual nationality, prevention of international child abduction and customs regulations on our websites.
Please note that the official languages of Macau are Chinese and Portuguese. Some websites have no English translation.
Macau has a low crime rate. Even so, you should exercise caution when in congested areas and pay particular attention to personal belongings while in crowded areas and while traveling on public transportation. Petty street crime, including pick-pocketing, occurs in tourist areas, including in and around casinos and at the airport. Violent crime, though rare, does occur. Protect your personal belongings and travel documents at all times.
See the Department of State and the FBI web pages for information on scams.
Victims of Crime: Report crimes to the local police at “999” and contact the U.S. Consulate General at +(825) 2523-9011.
Remember that local authorities are responsible for investigating and prosecuting the crime.
See our webpage on help for U.S. victims of crime overseas.
We can:
Macau offers some support to victims of crime. You will find more resources for victims of crime in Macau in our Help for U.S. Victims of Crime in Macau information sheet. In addition, the Macau Government Tourism Office maintains a tourism hotline (Tel: +853-2833-3000, for visitors to Macau who encounter emergency situations.
Domestic Violence: U.S. citizen victims of domestic violence may contact the U.S. Consulate General for assistance.
Tourism: The tourism industry is generally regulated and rules with regard to best practices and safety inspections are regularly enforced. Hazardous areas/activities are identified with appropriate signage and professional staff is typically on hand in support of organized activities. In the event of an injury, appropriate medical treatment is widely available throughout the Special Administrative Region. Outside of a major metropolitan center, it may take more time for first responders and medical professionals to stabilize a patient and provide life-saving assistance. U.S. citizens are encouraged to purchase medical evacuation insurance. See our webpage for more information on insurance providers for overseas coverage.
Criminal Penalties: You are subject to local laws. If you violate local laws, even unknowingly, you may be expelled, arrested, or imprisoned.
Drugs: Penalties for possessing, using, or trafficking in illegal drugs in Macau are severe.
ID: Police have the right to take you in for questioning if you are not carrying your passport.
Photography: You may be detained if you take pictures of certain buildings (please pay attention to “no photography” signs in casinos in particular).
DUI: Driving under the influence of alcohol or other drugs could land you immediately in jail.
Furthermore, some laws are also prosecutable in the U.S., regardless of local law. For examples, see our website on crimes against minors abroad and the Department of Justice website.
Arrest Notification: If you are arrested or detained, ask police or prison officials to notify the U.S. Consulate General immediately. Macau authorities regularly notify the Consulate if they know that a U.S. citizen has been detained or arrested. See our webpage for further information.
SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES:
Currency: There are no currency restrictions for tourists in Macau. Pataca is the official currency in Macau. Hong Kong currency is commonly used and widely accepted in transactions. 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. Please see the Macau Customs Service website for further information.
Macau customs authorities enforce strict regulations concerning controlled items you might be carrying while transiting or entering Macau. If you bring controlled items into Macau without the necessary Macau documents, you may be prosecuted and the goods may be seized. The penalty for trafficking in dangerous drugs can be life imprisonment and a heavy fine.
The following is a non-exhaustive list of controlled and/or prohibited items:
For more information on bringing controlled items into Macau please contact the Macau Customs Service at +(853) 2855-9944 or info@customs.gov.mo.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection encourages the use of an ATA (Admission Temporaire/Temporary Admission) carnet for the temporary admission of professional equipment, commercial samples, and/or goods for exhibitions and fair purposes.
For additional information, please visit the U.S. Council for International Business website and the U.S. Customs and Border Protection web page on Traveling with Samples.
Please see our U.S. Customs Information sheet for general information.
Importation into the United States of counterfeit items is prohibited by U.S. law. Please see our U.S. Customs Information sheet.
Dual Nationality: Dual nationality is not recognized under PRC nationality law. Be mindful of the following special circumstances for dual nationals when traveling in the region.
Enter Macau on your U.S. passport to ensure the U.S. Consulate General can provide consular assistance in case of arrest or other emergency.
Your child will be considered a PRC citizen if one or both of the parents are Chinese nationals regardless of U.S. citizenship.
If traveling onward to mainland China, enter China on your U.S. passport to ensure U.S. consular protection. See China Country Specific Information for more information.
For further information on consular protection and dual nationality, please refer to our website.
Faith-Based Travelers: See our following webpages for details:
LGBTI Travelers: There are no legal restrictions on same-sex sexual relations or the organization of LGBTI events in Macau. See our LGBTI Travel Information page and section 6 of our Human Rights report for further details.
Pets: You must have a permit to bring dogs and cats into Macau. Additional information on importing pets is available directly from the Macau Customs Service at +(853) 2855-9944 or info@customs.gov.mo.
Typhoons: During the typhoon season (July through September), the Macau Meteorological and Geophysical Bureau issues typhoon warnings an average of six times a year. The Bureau has a good notification and monitoring system. General information about natural disaster preparedness is available from the U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
Travelers Who Require Accessibility Assistance: Macau law prohibits discrimination against persons with physical, sensory, intellectual, and mental disabilities in employment, education, access to health care, or the provision of other state services. The government generally enforces these provisions. The law mandates access to public buildings, usually in the form of a ramp, for persons with physical disabilities. Crosswalks are also required in Macau, and they generally include audible signals for hearing-impaired and raised-treading for visually-impaired pedestrians. Handicap-accessible parking is mandated in publically-owned parking lots. The Social Welfare Bureau is primarily responsible for coordinating and funding public assistance programs to persons with disabilities.
For Macau residents who are mobility impaired, the Social Welfare Bureau offers free transportation to medical appointments by accessible van through the Caritas or the Red Cross’ Medical Transfer Service. Accessible van rental and Macau tours for the mobility impaired are available through Viagens Acessiveis (tel. +(853) 2840-3315, email: barrierfreemacau@gmail.com.
Students: See our Students Abroad page and FBI travel tips.
Women Travelers: See our travel tips for Women Travelers.
Several major hospitals in Macau have adequate medical facilities, and Kiang Wu and Conde de Sao Januario hospitals are able to provide emergency medical care. The U.S. Consulate General in Hong Kong maintains a list of medical providers in Macau on the consulate website. Highly-developed medical facilities and trained personnel are available in Hong Kong, which is about an hour by jetfoil and 20 minutes by helicopter from Macau.
We do not pay medical bills. Be aware that U.S. Medicare does not apply overseas.
Medical Insurance: Make sure your health insurance plan provides coverage overseas. Most care providers overseas only accept cash payments. See our webpage for more information on insurance providers for overseas coverage.
We strongly recommend supplemental insurance to cover medical evacuation.
Air Quality: Air pollution is an increasing concern in Macau. Congested vehicle traffic and mainland factories pump out ozone, sulfur, and nitrogen oxides, leading to a visible haze in the atmosphere on most days of the year. Average roadside pollution levels exceed WHO guidelines and may cause health risks for those with allergies, asthma, or cardiac problems.
Disease: Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, Typhoid, Chikungunya (via mosquitoes), Avian Influenza, and Hand, Foot, and Mouth disease.
Vaccinations: Be up-to-date on all vaccinations recommended by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Further health information:
Road Conditions and Safety: Road conditions differ significantly from those in the United States. Traffic moves on the left and you can expect heavy congestion.
Public Transportation: Taxis are inexpensive and plentiful at the airport, ferry terminal, and gaming venues. Large hotel/casino complexes operate shuttles to ferries and border crossing points. Public buses are also inexpensive and frequent, but you may have difficulty finding them outside major tourist areas.
For specific information concerning Macau driving permits, vehicle inspection, road tax, and mandatory insurance, email the Public Security Police Force, or contact them by telephone +(853) 2837 4214 or fax +(853) 2852 3407 or the the Macau Transport Department, 762-804 Avenida da Praia Grande, China Plaza Bldg., 2nd floor; telephone +(853) 8866-6363; fax +(853) 2875 0626. (Note: This website is available only in Chinese and Portuguese).
See our Road Safety page for more information. You can also visit the website of Macau’s official tourist office and national authority responsible for road safety.
Aviation Safety Oversight: As there is no direct commercial air service to the United States by carriers registered in Macau, the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has not assessed the government of Macau’s Civil Aviation Authority for compliance with International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) aviation safety standards. Further information may be found on the FAA’s safety assessment page.
Subscribe to get up-to-date safety and security information and help us reach you in an emergency abroad.
Recommended Web Browsers: Microsoft Edge or Google Chrome.
Make two copies of all of your travel documents in case of emergency, and leave one with a trusted friend or relative.
You are about to leave travel.state.gov for an external website that is not maintained by the U.S. Department of State.
Links to external websites are provided as a convenience and should not be construed as an endorsement by the U.S. Department of State of the views or products contained therein. If you wish to remain on travel.state.gov, click the "cancel" message.
You are about to visit:
