Macao family reunion visa

According to the PSP, any person who marries a Macao resident and holds a valid passport of another country may apply for Residence Authorization on the basis of family reunion at the Residence and Stay Affairs Department, provided the application meets Law No. 16/2021 and Administrative Regulation No. 38/2021. Family members of Macao resident identity card holders can alternatively apply for a Special Authorization to Stay for family reunion, which is handled by the Stay Subdivision.

A child born in Macao is eligible for a Macao resident identity card if either parent holds a valid Residence Authorization or Macao resident identity card at the time of birth.

The application includes the Residence Authorization form (format 4), the kindred information form (format 8) if family members are included, a copy of the passport and the slip of Authorization to Stay from the current entry, one photo, a birth certificate, a declaration under oath to obey Macao law (DARP/SR M-1) for applicants aged 18 or over, and proof of means of subsistence. Applicants aged 16 or over need a Macao criminal record certificate no older than 90 days and a criminal record certificate from each country lived in during the past ten years.

A guarantee covering repatriation costs is required, for example the Guarantee Form (DARP/SR M-2) signed by a Macao permanent resident who lives in Macao. You also submit a copy of the resident spouse's identity card, with the spouse present, and a recent utility bill showing the Macao address. Spouses use the declaration of conjugal relation (DARP/DARP M-4).

The service charge is MOP 200. The MOP 20,000 Residence Authorization fee does not apply to family members of Macao residents applying for family reunion. Processing time depends on the case. The PSP rejects applications outright if the passport has less than 90 days of validity, or if the application is not in an official language or easily understandable English. Missing documents are listed on the acceptance receipt and must be supplied within 60 days, or the file is archived.

While the application is pending you may apply, with the acceptance receipt, to extend your Authorization to Stay one or more times. If approved, you must submit the guarantee within 20 non-extendable days of notification; otherwise the grant has no effect.

You are notified to collect the Residence Authorization Certificate, which is valid for 90 days. If you do not collect it in time, the authorisation is treated as renounced and you cannot reapply for two years. Within 90 days of the certificate's issue you must apply to the Identification Services Bureau for a resident identity card; missing that deadline brings a fine of MOP 300 to 500 plus MOP 50 per day, up to MOP 15,000.

Residence Authorization holders must habitually reside in Macao: make it the centre of their life, stay at least 183 days a year counted from the effective date, and not be away for more than half a year at a time. In a spouse reunion both spouses must reside habitually; otherwise the authorisation can be revoked or not renewed. Renew within the first 60 days of the 120-day period before expiry; renewal in the last 60 days costs a late fee of MOP 2,000 or MOP 5,000. Entering a sham marriage to obtain residence is punishable by two to eight years in prison.