Starting Friday, eligible residents from the Hong Kong and Macao special administrative regions will be able to use QR codes for self-service immigration clearance when traveling from one SAR to the other, immigration authorities from the two cities announced on Thursday.

The new Mutual Use of QR Code between HKSAR and Macao SAR Clearance Service is aimed at providing a faster and more convenient experience to travelers between the two cities, and allows eligible Hong Kong residents to use an encrypted QR code generated by the city’s Contactless e-Channel mobile app, instead of having to present their Hong Kong Identity Card to pass through automated immigration clearance in Macao.

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To enjoy the QR code service, travelers must be aged 11 or older, hold a valid Hong Kong permanent resident identity card containing an asterisk (*), triple asterisk (***) or an R code, and be successfully registered to use Macao's self-service border crossing clearance in advance.

The three asterisks (***) displayed on Hong Kong ID cards representing eligibility for a Hong Kong SAR Re-entry Permit for individuals aged 18-plus, while the one asterisk (*) indicating eligibility for a holder aged 11-17. The R code signifies that the holder has the right to land in the HKSAR.

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Similarly, eligible Macao residents — aged 11 or above, holding a valid Macao permanent identity card, who have successfully registered to use Hong Kong’s self-help immigration clearance system — can use their border-crossing QR code, generated using the Macao One Account mobile app, to finish automated immigration clearance in Hong Kong upon their arrival, without having to show their Macao ID card at the border.

To launch the service, Hong Kong people should enroll for both SARs’ e-channels as well as Hong Kong’s QR code immigration clearance service - which will record users’ biometric data, and activate the Mutual Use of QR Code on the “Contactless e-Channel” mobile application.

Hong Kong and Macao introduced QR codes for self-service immigration clearance in 2021 and 2023, respectively. Both cities determined that the QR code arrangements save each passenger two to three seconds on average.

Speaking at the launch ceremony for the new QR codes service on Thursday morning, Benson Kwok Joon-fung, director of the Hong Kong Immigration Department, said nearly 2.5 million Hong Kong residents have registered to utilize Macao’s self-service immigration clearance channel for frequent exchanges between Hong Kong and Macao. 

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Kwok said he believes the new service will further enhance the travel experience for residents of both Hong Kong and Macao and improve the quality of immigration services between the two regions, aligning with the strategic development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.

“When the measure is officially implemented, I look forward to seeing more Macao friends visiting Hong Kong. See you in Hong Kong!” Kwok said.

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Chao Wai-leng, director of the Identification Services Bureau of Macao, said the new service is an “important initiative” to further enhance the flow of people between Hong Kong and Macao.

The new measures will create convenient clearance conditions for personal interactions, economic and trade exchanges, and the development of Macao’s cultural, tourism, convention and exhibition sectors, Chao said.

In the future, Hong Kong and Macao will continue to explore and optimize measures to enhance the convenience and quality of life for residents in both regions, Chao added.

Contact the writer at stephyzhang@chinadailyhk.com