New QR code measure for Hong Kong and Macau residents in immigration clearance

Residents in Hong Kong and Macau will be able to use QR codes for automated immigration clearance when traveling to and from the two SARs starting Friday, the Immigration Department announced on Thursday. 

In collaboration with relevant Macau authorities, the Mutual Use of QR Code between HKSAR and Macau SAR Clearance Service will be launched on Friday. 

Under the new measure, eligible Hong Kong residents can activate the service with the “Contactless e-Channel” mobile application to generate an encrypted QR code to complete the automated immigration clearance in Macau. 

The measure applies to residents aged 11 or above; holding a valid Hong Kong permanent identity card or a Hong Kong identity card containing ‘*’, ‘***’ or ‘R’ symbol; and having successfully registered *for the Automated Immigration Clearance Service in Macau. 

Meanwhile, eligible Macau permanent residents can generate an encrypted QR code through the “Macao One Account” mobile application for using the e-Channels to complete the automated immigration clearance. 

Director of Immigration Benson Kwok Joon-fung said over 2.5 million eligible Hong Kong residents have registered for the automated immigration clearance service in Macau since 2009. The service was also used by over 3 million citizens in the first half of this year alone, he added. 

Kwok expects the new QR code measure can bring a better traveling experience to residents in Hong Kong and Macau using the automated immigration service and align it with the development of the Greater Bay Area as part of the national strategy.