Macao investor visa (IPIM temporary residency)

IPIM assists non-local individuals who hold a major investment plan beneficial to Macao that is being assessed by the authorities, or who hold a major investment in Macao. The law sets no nationality restriction and no annual quota. Two older categories are closed to new applicants: investment in real estate has not been accepted since 4 April 2007, and the category for management or technical personnel with special qualifications was abolished by Article 38 of Law No. 7/2023, which moved skilled people to the talent programmes. Renewals and family extensions under those categories continue.

IPIM's published criteria, which it describes as non-exhaustive, cover six areas: whether the project is in a sector the government is developing or that diversifies the economy, such as finance, traditional Chinese medicine, conventions and exhibitions, cultural and creative industries, e-commerce and information technology; its technical level and originality; its contribution to the local labour market, including the number of local residents employed; international certifications or recognised brands; sustainability, including capital and premises; and the size of the investment, with a reference of MOP 15 million or more.

Only capital actually held by the applicant counts, calculated by shareholding, and it can include fixed assets, operating expenditure and fees; stock is excluded. The number of shareholders does not affect the assessment.

You can first upload the application form (Form REQ) and documents to IPIM's Online Document Submission System, which checks completeness and arranges a date for the formal filing. The formal application is made in person at IPIM, by the applicant or an authorised representative with a signed letter of authorisation, after booking through the Online Appointment Booking System. IPIM notifies the result in writing.

Documents must be in Chinese or Portuguese; English is generally accepted. Documents in other languages must be translated into Chinese or Portuguese by a recognised authority of the place of origin, such as an embassy or consulate, and notarised or certified. Each applicant and dependant submits a criminal record certificate from the countries recently lived in, and a guarantee for possible repatriation costs, such as a bank guarantee or surety from a Macao permanent resident or a legal person headquartered in Macao.

Seven years of temporary residency do not convert automatically into permanent residence. Before the permit expires you apply in person at IPIM for a confirmation declaration, with a commercial registration certificate issued after the seven-year mark, the last year's audited financial statement, the annual income declaration and, where relevant, marital status documents. The Identification Services Bureau then uses IPIM's confirmation declaration in the application for a permanent resident identity card.

Qualified applicants and their qualified family dependants normally receive renewable temporary residency valid for three years. Holders of major investment plans and their families receive 18 months, renewable once. A permit never runs beyond 30 days before the passport expires. Each year you submit financial statements audited by a Macao-accredited auditor and the annual income declaration filed with the Financial Services Bureau, and any change or end of the legal situation on which approval was based must be reported to IPIM within 30 days, or the residency may be revoked.