The Macau government announced yesterday that from tomorrow non-resident foreigners who hold a temporary residency permit or a special permit to stay in Macau issued by the Public Security Police (PSP) can enter Macau directly from the mainland, without the need to apply to the Health Bureau (SSM).

The Novel Coronavirus Response and Coordination Centre announced the further relaxations in the local government’s entry restrictions on non-resident foreigners in a statement yesterday.

The new measure will take effect at 00:00 tomorrow.

“The respective non-resident foreigners can enter Macau from the mainland without prior authorisation by the health authorities, provided that they comply with all other entry requirements,” the statement said.

Those travelling between Macau and the mainland only have to present a nucleic acid test (NAT) certificate confirming a negative COVID-19 result valid for seven days, without having to quarantine.

The statement said that the new measure will principally benefit foreign students enrolled in Macau’s higher education institutions and other non-resident foreigners who need to commute frequently between the mainland and Macau.

From yesterday, foreign non-resident workers (NRWs), prospective foreign NRWs, and professional NRWs’ family members who have obtained a special permit to stay in Macau, can enter Macau directly from the mainland without having to apply for entry beforehand.