Hong Kong–Macao mutual QR code clearance: eligibility and activation in 2026
Hong Kong residents can clear immigration in both Hong Kong and Macao with a single QR code, but only if four conditions are met: you are aged 11 or above, you hold a valid Hong Kong permanent identity card or a Hong Kong identity card carrying the "", "**" or "R" symbol, you have already enrolled for the Automated Immigration Clearance Service in the Macao SAR, and you use the "Hong Kong e-Channel" mobile application. That list comes from the Immigration Department's "Immigration Clearance" FAQ page as of October 2026, and it is what the rest of this article unpacks.
This is a general summary of published official information, not advice about your own status or travel documents; where your situation is unclear, go by the Immigration Department's current published information or a qualified professional.
Who qualifies for the Hong Kong–Macao mutual QR code?
All four conditions must hold at the same time.
| Condition | What to check |
|---|---|
| Age | You are aged 11 or above. |
| Identity card | You hold a valid Hong Kong permanent identity card, or a Hong Kong identity card containing the "", "**" or "R" symbol. |
| Macao enrolment | You have enrolled for the Automated Immigration Clearance Service in the Macao SAR. |
| App | You use the "Hong Kong e-Channel" mobile application. |
Two details about the identity card matter in practice. Holders of Hong Kong permanent identity cards issued in Hong Kong, or Hong Kong identity cards bearing the asterisk or the "R" code, aged 11 or over, can travel in and out of Hong Kong without presenting a travel document; an invalidated or defaced card, or the acknowledgement form of application for an identity card (form no. ROP140 and ROP140A), is not accepted for travel, and the holder must produce a valid travel document at Hong Kong immigration control points.
Enrolment in "Contactless e-Channel" also carries a standing condition: under the service's terms of use, an enrolled resident must carry a valid Hong Kong identity card and a valid travel document, where one applies.
Do you have to enrol for "Contactless e-Channel" first?
No separate earlier enrolment is needed. The Immigration Department states that a Hong Kong resident can activate the mutual-use service at the same time as enrolling for "Contactless e-Channel", because the mutual QR code sits inside the same app and the same enrolment flow.
Enrolment has to be done by the resident personally; you cannot authorise someone else to enrol on your behalf. Your phone also has to meet the app's requirements: biometric authentication, with iOS 12.0 or above supporting Face ID or Touch ID, or Android 8.0 or above supporting fingerprint authentication. The app runs on phones only, not tablets, since "iAM Smart" is a phone-only app, and it is free to download from the Apple App Store, Google Play or Huawei AppGallery.
How do you activate the mutual QR code?
The route depends on whether you already use "Contactless e-Channel".
If you have not enrolled yet:
- Install the "iAM Smart" mobile app and register it on your phone.
- Install the "Hong Kong e-Channel" mobile app.
- Complete identity verification through "iAM Smart".
- Enrol for the "Contactless e-Channel" service.
- Activate "Mutual Use of QR Code between HKSAR and Macao SAR Clearance".
If you are already using "Contactless e-Channel":
- Update the "Hong Kong e-Channel" mobile app.
- Activate "Mutual Use of QR Code between HKSAR and Macao SAR Clearance" in the app.
How can you confirm the activation worked?
Open the "Hong Kong e-Channel" app and look at the QR code: a specific symbol appears on it once the mutual-use service is live. The same indication shows under "My border crossing" in the "Macao One Account" mobile app. That pair of markers is the check the Immigration Department gives, so it is worth doing at home rather than at the gate.
Where can you use the QR code, and does it need mobile data?
Enrolled users can use the service at designated e-Channels of all control points between the HKSAR and the Macao SAR, not at every channel. Mobile network is required for the first activation only; afterwards, generating the encrypted QR code does not require a mobile network. The service works on one mobile device at any time, and the QR code is encrypted, so personal particulars and movement records are not disclosed in it.
What if your details change, you switch phones, or you want to cancel?
A change of personal particulars does not require re-activating the mutual-use service. You do have to re-enrol for Macao automated immigration clearance with the updated particulars, at enrolment offices or enrolment kiosks.
For a new phone, install "iAM Smart" first, then use the "Activate/Transfer e-Channel QR code" function in the "Hong Kong e-Channel" app and verify through "iAM Smart"; after a successful transfer, the code on the old phone stops working. If the phone is lost rather than replaced, the code can be deactivated at an e-Channel Enrolment Office by cancelling the enrolment, or invalidated by transferring it to a new phone. Cancelling the mutual-use enrolment itself is done through the "Hong Kong e-Channel" app.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to be a Hong Kong permanent resident?
No. A Hong Kong identity card containing the "", "**" or "R" symbol also meets the card condition. What matters is that the card is valid and carries one of those symbols, or is a Hong Kong permanent identity card.
Can a child under 11 use the mutual QR code?
No. The minimum age for enrolment is 11. Children under 11 with Hong Kong permanent identity cards should produce their own valid travel documents bearing photographs; children included in their parents' travel documents may use those travel documents only when travelling with the principal holder.
I already enrolled for Macao automated clearance. What else do I need?
You need to be aged 11 or above, hold a qualifying Hong Kong identity card, and use the "Hong Kong e-Channel" app. Once those are in place, activate the mutual-use service inside the app, or at the same time as enrolling for "Contactless e-Channel".
Can I keep the QR code active on two phones?
No. The service runs on one mobile device at any one time. Transferring the code to a new phone through the app invalidates the code on the old one.
Will the QR code work if I have no signal at the border?
Yes, after activation. A mobile network is needed for the first activation, but generating the encrypted QR code afterwards does not require one.
Do I still need to carry my identity card?
Yes. Under the terms of use for "Contactless e-Channel", an enrolled resident must carry a valid Hong Kong identity card and a valid travel document, where one applies, even when using the QR code.
Is my travel history visible in the QR code?
No. The QR code is encrypted, and the Immigration Department states that personal particulars and movement records are not disclosed in it.
What happens if I change my name after activating?
You do not need to re-activate the mutual-use service. You do need to re-enrol for Macao automated immigration clearance with your updated particulars, at enrolment offices or enrolment kiosks.