Hong Kong residents who cross the Pearl River Estuary for work, study or leisure will soon clear immigration much faster. The Hong Kong Immigration Department (ImmD) announced on 16 January that, in partnership with Macao’s Public Security Police Force and related agencies, the minimum age for using each side’s automated passenger-clearance lanes (e-Channels in Hong Kong and automated gates in Macao) will drop from 11 to 7 as of Monday, 19 January 2026. The move means that school-age children who hold permanent identity cards will be able to enrol once and use facial-recognition gates on either side without queueing for manual inspection.(info.gov.hk)
Immigration officials say the change is part of a broader Greater Bay Area strategy to create a “one-hour living circle”, making it easier for families to live in one city and commute to another for work or education. According to ImmD statistics, more than 43 million passenger trips were recorded through the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge and maritime terminals in 2025, with nearly one-fifth involving travellers under 18. Reducing the age threshold is expected to shave an average of five minutes off each family’s clearance time during peak periods and cut congestion at the three busiest control points.
Travellers who still need visas or travel permits for neighbouring jurisdictions can save additional time by using VisaHQ’s online processing service (https://www.visahq.com/hong-kong/). The platform guides Hong Kong residents and visitors through every step—from digital forms to courier pick-up—so that passports and permits are ready well before the journey, complementing the faster e-Channel experience at the border.
The upgraded arrangement also relaxes enrolment rules for non-permanent residents. Hong Kong ID card holders aged 18 or above who use the Document of Identity for Visa Purposes with at least 90 days’ validity can now register at new self-service kiosks located at major border crossings or at any Registration-of-Persons Office. Macao will offer the same convenience to its non-permanent residents travelling to Hong Kong. Officials stress that biometric data collected are stored separately by each jurisdiction and used only for clearance, addressing privacy concerns raised when e-Channel first launched a decade ago.
For businesses, the change removes a pain-point for cross-border commuters and international assignees whose children previously required manual processing, making day-to-day travel more predictable. HR teams should update travel policies and briefing notes for staff relocating to either city and remind families to schedule early enrolment, as kiosks are expected to be busy in the first few weeks. Travel managers should also adjust time allowances in itineraries for Macao meetings or leisure side-trips now that clearance times will be shorter.
In a statement, ImmD reiterated its commitment to “continuous service enhancement through technology” and hinted at further integration with Mainland e-Gates in the coming year, signalling deeper regional connectivity that will benefit multinational companies operating across Hong Kong, Macao and Guangdong.
