Just Landed in Macau? Your First 7 Days

Coverage is excellent across the peninsula, Taipa and Cotai, with 5G on all major networks and free public Wi-Fi (WiFiGO) at many government buildings and tourist spots. Prepaid SIMs require passport registration and are sold at the airport, operator shops and convenience stores, so you can be connected within an hour of landing. Home fibre from CTM is the standard for flats, with plans commonly bundling landline and TV.

Typical cost: Around MOP 100 to 200 per month for a prepaid plan with generous local data; tourist SIMs from MOP 50; home fibre broadband roughly MOP 200 to 400 per month depending on speed and bundle.

The pataca is pegged to the Hong Kong dollar (roughly HKD 1 = MOP 1.03), and HKD is accepted almost everywhere at par, though you will usually receive change in MOP. Cards and mobile wallets are common, but cash still rules small vendors, buses and taxis, so never leave home without some patacas.

Opening an account: BNU (Banco Nacional Ultramarino), Bank of China Macau and ICBC (Macau) are the main choices, with BNU historically popular with the Portuguese-speaking community. Opening an account typically needs your Resident ID or Blue Card, passport and proof of a local address or employment; some banks ask for a minimum opening balance, and non-residents may face extra checks.

Cash: Carry cash for wet markets, older restaurants, buses and taxis. MPay (Macau Pass), Alipay and WeChat Pay QR codes are widely accepted, and UnionPay dominates physical card terminals. Foreign Visa and Mastercard work reliably only at hotels, larger retailers and casinos, so do not rely on them for everyday spending.

Tipping: Tipping is not expected. Upscale restaurants and hotels add a 10 percent service charge automatically; taxi fares are commonly rounded up rather than tipped by percentage, and there is no obligation to tip in casual eateries or cafes.

New residents must obtain a Macau Resident Identity Card, and non-resident workers must hold a Blue Card tied to their specific employer and permit. Address and status are recorded through the Identification Services Bureau (DSI) and Immigration rather than a separate town-hall registration, so there is no European-style residence registration but the ID process serves the same purpose. Children must be registered on arrival, and any change of address or employer should be reported so your records stay accurate.

Deadline: Apply promptly once your residence permit or work permit is approved. The Blue Card is arranged by your employer within the permit process and is normally issued within the permit timeline, while dependents and children should be registered without delay after entry. Do not let the entry permit lapse while waiting, and confirm exact dates with DSI or your employer's HR.

Where: Identification Services Bureau (Direcção dos Serviços de Identificação, DSI) in the NAPE district handles Resident ID Cards; employers handle Blue Card issuance via the Labour Affairs Bureau (DSAL) and the Immigration Department of the Public Security Police.

Macau is small enough to cross by bus, taxi and the Light Rapid Transit (LRT), whose Taipa Line now links Barra on the peninsula through Taipa and Cotai down to Seac Pai Van, plus a cross-border Hengqin Line into mainland China. Public buses are cheap and frequent, while the free casino shuttles connecting the airport, ferry terminals and major resorts are heavily used by locals for getting around at no cost.

From the airport: From Macau International Airport on Taipa, take a taxi (roughly MOP 60 to 100 to the peninsula, including bridge and luggage surcharges), a public bus such as MT1, MT4 or AP1, walk to the nearby LRT and ride into Cotai or across to Barra, or hop on a free casino shuttle to your resort and continue from there. Late arrivals are best served by taxi as bus frequency drops.

Housing is expensive and flats are famously small; most residents rent in older peninsula districts such as the northern areas around Areia Preta and Fai Chi Kei, or in newer, pricier Taipa buildings near the University and Cotai. Licensed agents dominate the market and charge commission, so budget for that on top of rent, and expect to move quickly as good units let fast.

Typical rent: A one-bedroom flat runs roughly MOP 9,000 to 15,000 per month in central areas, cheaper in older northern peninsula blocks and higher in modern Taipa developments; larger family flats in Taipa or Nova City can exceed MOP 20,000 to 30,000 per month.

Deposit norm: Usually two months' rent as deposit plus the first month in advance, with agency commission often around half a month to a full month's rent. Get a written, stamped tenancy agreement, confirm whether management fees and utilities are included, and keep receipts for everything.

Public healthcare centres and the government Conde de S. Januario Hospital provide subsidised or free primary care to residents, while the non-profit Kiang Wu Hospital and the newer Macau Union Hospital (Islands District Medical Complex) add specialist and hospital options. Waiting times and language at public facilities push many expats towards private clinics and Kiang Wu for faster, English-friendlier care.

How to access it: Register at your local government health centre with your Resident ID for subsidised primary care and vaccinations. For anything urgent, go directly to a hospital emergency department at Conde de S. Januario or Kiang Wu, or dial 999 for an ambulance. Keep records of any chronic prescriptions from home, as brands and availability differ.

Insurance: There is no universal social-insurance health scheme, so residents pay out of pocket at private facilities or rely on employer and private plans. Expats commonly hold international or private health insurance to guarantee prompt private-hospital access and to cover treatment across the border or in Hong Kong if needed.

• Greet with a light handshake or a nod, and offer or receive business cards and gifts with both hands as a sign of respect.
• Learn a few Cantonese phrases such as 'm goi' (thank you or excuse me) and 'jo san' (good morning); the effort is warmly received in markets and clinics.
• Queue patiently, let people exit lifts and trains before boarding, and keep your voice down on public transport.
• Remove your shoes when entering someone's home unless the host tells you otherwise, and bring a small gift such as fruit or pastries when invited.
• Respect temples and churches: dress modestly, avoid loud talk, and ask before photographing worshippers or altars.
• Accept and pour tea for others at meals, and expect the host to insist on paying rather than splitting the bill.
• During Chinese festivals such as Lunar New Year, red envelopes (lai see) are given by married people to juniors and staff; small crisp notes are the norm.

• Casinos are ordinary workplaces here, but photography inside is restricted and gambling is strictly limited to those aged 21 and over.
• Some older shops and taxis dislike large notes or refuse cards, so always keep small cash ready.
• Public criticism of mainland Chinese politics is best avoided in a Chinese SAR, both in person and online.
• The number four sounds like 'death' in Cantonese and is considered unlucky, so avoid giving four of anything as a gift.
• Do not stick chopsticks upright in a bowl of rice, as it resembles funeral incense and is considered a bad omen.