Eligible non-resident workers employed in Macau and eligible non-resident students enrolled at Macau’s higher education institutions now have access to the iris automated clearance service, a move that will further enhance immigration efficiency and the overall clearance experience, according to a press release jointly issued by the Public Security Police Force and Public Security Forces Affairs Bureau.
The new policy officially began on 11 June.
Since its official launch in October 2023, the iris automated clearance was initially available only to Macau residents. Currently, there are a total of 152 second-generation iris automated channels at Macau’s six immigration checkpoints, namely the Border Gate, the Hong Kong-Macau Passenger Inspection Hall of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge (HZMB), Outer Harbour Ferry Terminal, Inner Harbour Ferry Terminal, Taipa Ferry Terminal, as well as the Macau International Airport.
These automated channels are capable of rapid iris localisation and offer enhanced prompting function.
Until 31 May 2026, more than 340,000 Macau residents have completed registration for the iris automated clearance, and the total number of crossings made by Macau residents via iris automated clearance exceeded 35 million, according to the press release.
Recent figures show that among the Macau residents using the traditional two-gate automated channels, nearly half now opt for the iris automated clearance.
Clearing immigration via iris recognition not only solves the problem faced by people with unclear fingerprints when using automated clearance, but also, when used together with a clearance QR code, enables a speedy, hygienic and touchless immigration clearance process from start to finish. This type of immigration clearance improves overall processing efficiency by about 1 to 2 seconds compared with fingerprint verification.
On 11 June last year, the Public Security Police Force and the Public Security Forces Affairs Bureau expanded the scope of iris automated clearance in a joint effort to Hong Kong permanent residents who have registered for Macau’s automated immigration clearance service, thereby improving the ease of travel to Macau for Hong Kong residents.
Up to May this year, a cumulative total of nearly 590,000 Hong Kong permanent residents have registered for iris automated clearance, accounting for about one quarter of all Hong Kong residents registered for Macau’s automated passenger clearance. The usage volume by these residents has reached 3.05 million crossings.
Also by May this year, 53.1 per cent of Hong Kong permanent residents using the traditional two-gate automated channels for immigration clearance have utilised iris automated clearance, according to the press release.
Meanwhile, non-resident workers and non-resident students enrolled in Macau’s higher education institutions can register for iris automated clearance if they meet any of the following criteria:
●Mainland Residents: Mainland residents holding a valid Exit-entry Permit for Travelling to and from Hong Kong and Macau, who have already authorised the Macau competent authorities to access their fingerprint information when applying for this document in mainland China.
●Other Individuals: Other individuals who have completed registration for Macau’s automated immigration clearance service.
Registration can be done at the iris automated channels with registration function. Passengers aged 18 or above may complete registration during their first use of the iris automated channel. The entire process normally takes around 25 seconds to complete.
Registration can also be done at designated manned counters. Passengers under the age of 18, or those who are unable to complete registration at the iris automated channels, may visit designated locations in Macau, where police officers will assist them with manual registration.
Furthermore, minors must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian when completing manual registration for iris automated clearance. Both the applicant and the accompanying parent or guardian are required to present their identity documents, as well as proof of their relationship, such as a birth certificate. More details can be found via this link.
Source and Photo: Public Security Police Force/Public Security Forces Affairs Bureau
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