Macao residents and Hong Kong permanent residents can now use a single document — the Mainland Travel Permit for Hong Kong and Macao Residents (including non-Chinese citizens) — to complete automated immigration clearance when both departing from and arriving at three ports linking Guangdong province and the Macao Special Administrative Region.

The new measures are part of refinements to the "joint inspection, one-time release" model, which was officially implemented on Tuesday at three major land checkpoints — the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge, Hengqin and Qingmao ports — between Guangdong and Macao.

Previously, Hong Kong and Macao residents were required to present different documents depending on the direction of their travel when using the joint-inspection automated channels. When traveling from Macao to the mainland, they had to present their Mainland Travel Permit for Hong Kong and Macao Residents. When returning to Macao from the mainland, they were required to present either a Macao resident identity card or a Hong Kong permanent identity card.

"In the past, I had to bring two types of documents when traveling, and sometimes I forgot to bring them. Now this method is flexible and convenient, so you don't have to worry about forgetting to bring your certificate, and you won't get confused when passing customs," said a Macao resident.

The measures, approved by the National Immigration Administration, aim to further enhance travelers' exit-entry clearance experience and facilitate the movement of people in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, according to a statement released on Monday by the Zhuhai General Station of Immigration Inspection. They are expected to further accelerate integration among the three regions, the statement said.

At Qingmao Port, a frequent cross-border commuter between Zhuhai and Macao surnamed Lin praised the smooth process after experiencing the optimized joint-inspection and one-time-release immigration service on Tuesday.

Located south of Zhuhai Railway Station on the Guangzhou-Zhuhai Intercity Railway, Qingmao Port is a 24-hour passenger-only port for pedestrians.

Besides optimizing the submission and verification of documents for Hong Kong and Macao residents, the new measures also increase the number of people eligible to use the cooperative fast-inspection channel and the joint-inspection lane for vehicles entering and leaving Macao.

Under the new measures, eligible foreigners and Taiwan residents who have completed registration for expedited customs clearance with authorities in both the mainland and Macao can use the "One-stop Joint Services Lanes" at Hengqin Port.

"The measures represent not only an upgrade in inspection methods, but also a vivid practice of the Greater Bay Area's 'hard-connectivity' development," said He Caigen, director of the border inspection division of the Zhuhai general station of immigration inspection.

Real-time dynamic monitoring of lane operation data will be conducted to continuously optimize the systems and publicize user-friendly policies, while every effort will be made to ensure smooth port clearance in the weeks to come, He said.

"Under the premise of 'effective regulation', we will further deliver liberalized access and efficient clearance," he said.

The Zhuhai General Station of Immigration Inspection first rolled out its "joint inspection, one-time release" model in 2018. The model has served as a national benchmark and represents a novel approach to immigration clearance under the "one country, two systems" framework. It has undergone continuous upgrades and expanded coverage in recent years.

According to a statement released on the official website of the Macao SAR government, the cumulative inbound and outbound passenger flow through the three cooperative inspection ports reached 42 million in the first half of this year, with an average daily passenger flow of 235,000, an increase of 12.8 percent compared with the same period in 2025. Macao residents accounted for 43.8 percent of the total, up 12.4 percent year-on-year, while Hong Kong residents accounted for 2.2 percent, up 12.2 percent year-on-year.

zhengcaixiong@chinadaily.com.cn