Cross-border family travel within the Greater Bay Area just became easier. From 19 January 2026, permanent residents of either Hong Kong or Macao as young as seven may use each other’s automated immigration gates, lowering the previous minimum age of eleven. The upgrade, announced jointly by Hong Kong’s Immigration Department and Macao’s Public Security Police Force, also lets certain non-permanent residents complete self-service enrolment at new kiosks situated at control points on both sides of the boundary.(macaonews.org)
For Hong Kong families, the change eliminates a frequent choke-point on weekend trips when parents sped through e-Channels only to queue for manual stamps for younger children. Authorities estimate the policy will divert at least 4,000 manual inspections per peak day during Lunar New Year, freeing officers to focus on foreigners requiring closer scrutiny.(macaonews.org)
![Automated immigration clearance extended to children aged 7–10 on Hong Kong–Macao route]()
Families eyeing these quicker getaways—and any future adventures farther afield—can also shave minutes off their planning with VisaHQ. The online service’s Hong Kong portal (https://www.visahq.com/hong-kong/) helps travellers check entry requirements worldwide, complete visa applications, and arrange courier pick-ups, ensuring all paperwork is squared away before hitting the e-Channel.
Businesses stand to benefit too. Macau’s gaming and convention operators can move youth-oriented tour groups more quickly, while Hong Kong retailers near ferry and bridge terminals expect higher footfall from family visitors. Logistics companies say courier staff under 18 can now transit faster to deliver high-value items such as jewellery and time-critical medical samples.(macaonews.org)
Practical tips: children must carry their own biometric ID cards and complete a one-time enrolment (performed by a parent or guardian) before using the gates. Both SARs warn that travellers with damaged chips or outstanding overstays will be redirected to conventional counters. Further enhancements—such as facial-recognition lanes for elderly passengers—are being studied for rollout before the 2027 Asian Games in the region.(macaonews.org)
For Hong Kong families, the change eliminates a frequent choke-point on weekend trips when parents sped through e-Channels only to queue for manual stamps for younger children. Authorities estimate the policy will divert at least 4,000 manual inspections per peak day during Lunar New Year, freeing officers to focus on foreigners requiring closer scrutiny.(macaonews.org)
Families eyeing these quicker getaways—and any future adventures farther afield—can also shave minutes off their planning with VisaHQ. The online service’s Hong Kong portal (https://www.visahq.com/hong-kong/) helps travellers check entry requirements worldwide, complete visa applications, and arrange courier pick-ups, ensuring all paperwork is squared away before hitting the e-Channel.
Businesses stand to benefit too. Macau’s gaming and convention operators can move youth-oriented tour groups more quickly, while Hong Kong retailers near ferry and bridge terminals expect higher footfall from family visitors. Logistics companies say courier staff under 18 can now transit faster to deliver high-value items such as jewellery and time-critical medical samples.(macaonews.org)
Practical tips: children must carry their own biometric ID cards and complete a one-time enrolment (performed by a parent or guardian) before using the gates. Both SARs warn that travellers with damaged chips or outstanding overstays will be redirected to conventional counters. Further enhancements—such as facial-recognition lanes for elderly passengers—are being studied for rollout before the 2027 Asian Games in the region.(macaonews.org)
