Macao talent visa (talent recruitment programmes)

High-end talents are people with exceptional skills who have achieved globally recognised results or made significant contributions in their field; applicants must hold an achievement or title listed in the high-end talents recognition standard. Outstanding talents have professional experience and technical skills, have performed outstandingly in their profession and can support Macao's economic diversification, especially in its key industries; they do not need a local employer.

Advanced professionals have experience and skills in short-supply professions listed in the programme, and must be employed, or have a promise of employment, by a local employer in a specialised role, with a salary that reaches a set level. For the outstanding and advanced programmes, each programme also fixes the required knowledge, qualifications or experience, the age and the language skills.

You open an account on the platform and apply in Chinese, Portuguese or English within the round's period; documents in other languages need a certified Chinese or Portuguese translation. For the outstanding and advanced programmes, task forces of the Talent Development Committee review applications and draw up a preliminary list; the Talent Review and Recruitment Committee then prepares a compiled recommended talent list. High-end applications go directly to the Review and Recruitment Committee.

People on the recommended list submit originals to the PSP within the set period and apply for a resident identity card. The PSP verifies identity and gives its opinion, and the Chief Executive decides on residence; the decision is discretionary. An exclusion from the preliminary list can be challenged within 10 working days, and after a final exclusion or refusal the same programme cannot be applied for again for one year.

Programmes are launched and published on the designated electronic platform with the start and end dates, documents, evaluation criteria and priority sectors. The third round runs from 2 December 2025 to 1 December 2026 and includes one high-end talents programme, four outstanding talents programmes and four advanced professionals programmes, aligned with big health, high technology, modern finance, and culture, sports and other industries.

You can include your spouse or an unmarried partner meeting Article 1472 of the Civil Code, and your or your partner's children or adopted children under 18, either with the application or later while your residence is valid. Their renewal depends on yours. No fee is charged for granting, renewing or issuing the residence authorisation, except for late renewal, and the usual repatriation guarantee is waived. Talents and companies they control may also apply to the Financial Services Bureau for limited tax reliefs in priority sectors.

Keeping and renewing the residence of high-end and outstanding talents does not depend on habitual residence in Macao. Advanced professionals must meet the habitual residence requirement. All main applicants must keep the situation on which approval was based; outstanding talents and advanced professionals must work in a role matching their qualifications. Changes, such as a new employer or a change in a family relationship, must be reported on the platform within 30 days, and an advanced professional who does not start with the promised employer within the set period must report it.