In a move set to deepen Greater Bay Area integration, Macao’s Transport Bureau on 23 September announced that 5,500 new “regular quotas” will be made available for Macao-registered private cars wishing to access Hong Kong via the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge (HZMB). The permits – valid for five years – comprise 4,950 individual quotas and 550 corporate quotas. Applications open at 09:00 on 24 September and close at 18:00 on 23 October, with results to be drawn by lottery and published on 30 October. All paperwork will be processed entirely online through Macao’s “One-Account” (for individuals) and “Biz-Account” (for companies) digital portals. Successful applicants will also be able to pay Hong Kong licence-plate fees (HKD 744) online, eliminating the need to secure cashier’s orders – an administrative hurdle that previously deterred many drivers. Quota holders must still apply separately for Hong Kong Closed Road Permits and mainland electronic vehicle licences. The monthly-allocation mechanism replaces the old first-come, first-served model, which often crashed booking systems within minutes. By spreading approvals across 12 instalments per year, authorities hope to smooth demand and cut average processing time. The reforms follow similar quota liberalisations on the Hong Kong side, most notably the “Northbound Travel for Hong Kong Vehicles” scheme that lets Hong Kong cars enter Guangdong without quotas. Cross-boundary motoring is increasingly attractive for Macao residents who commute to Hong Kong for work or who own property there. From a business-mobility perspective, the expanded quotas allow regional companies to deploy staff across the Pearl River Delta more flexibly and to move high-value equipment without relying on commercial freight services. Applicants should note that quota and lottery fees (MOP 500 for entry, MOP 1,500 on award) are non-refundable and that permits can be revoked for traffic offences or customs violations. Companies managing fleet vehicles should diarise annual compliance checks and build the four-week application window into assignment timelines.
