Final real estate residency requests handled

In 2015 a total of 482 applications for temporary residency for managerial, personnel, technical and professional qualifications holders were received by the Macau Trade and Investment Promotion Institute (IPIM), the organization says. This marks an increase of 46 applications over the previous year. At the same time 79 applications were submitted for temporary residency for major investments, representing a decrease of one compared with 2014. Approved cases for managerial personnel, technical and professional qualification holders amounted to 81 (an annual decrease of 196), while approved applications for major investments totaled seven (a decrease of 38 over 2014). Temporary residency applications for investment in real estate have been suspended since April 4, 2007, with the final applications having been processed by July 17, 2015. Over 4,000 cases were registered before the suspension.

Oman confirms visa-free entry

The Macau government has received confirmation from the Embassy of the Sultanate of Oman in Beijing that Macau SAR passport holders can obtain visas on arrival in Oman for a maximum stay of 30 days, according to a statement released by the Identification Department. Oman marks the 121st country to grant visa-free access or visa-on-arrival access to Macau SAR passport holders. In addition, twelve countries have agreed to grant visa-free access or visa-on-arrival access to Macau SAR travel permit holders. The news notches Macau up one spot in the recently published Henley & Partners Visa Restrictions Index 2016 for relative passport strength, putting it on par with Grenada based upon the number of territories that grant MSAR passport holders visa-free access.

Deaf photographers take on Macau’s heritage

The Macau Deaf Association and the Guangdong Association of the Deaf are collaborating on a joint photography exhibition featuring photos of Macau’s heritage sites. The 161 photos taken by members of both associations are on display at the Mount Fortress Corridor. The exhibition opened last Saturday and will continue until March 4. The images framed through the lenses of the deaf artists are on display every day from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., at the affiliated galleries of the Macau Museum.