Outstanding Talents Programme - Cultural, Sports and Other Industries - Third Round

2) "Outstanding talents": refer to individuals with professional experience and technical skills who have demonstrated outstanding performance in their profession or industry and capable of facilitating adequate economic diversification of the Macao Special Administrative Region in response to its economic and social development needs, particularly in the promoting the development of the key industries;

Outstanding Talents: refer to those who can facilitate Macao’s economic diversification. They should possess professional experience and technical skills necessary for the development of the city’s key industries.

The Macao Special Administrative Region Government has launched the 3 rd Round of Talent Recruitment Programmes, which runs from 2 December 2025 to 1 December 2026. This round continues to accept applications globally under nine programmes targeting three talent categories, namely: the High-End Talents Programme, four Outstanding Talent Programmes and four Advanced Professionals Programmes. These programmes are aligned with the following key industries: Big Health, High-Tech, Modern Finance, as well as Cultural, Sports and Other Industries.

2) "Outstanding talents": refer to individuals with professional experience and technical skills who have demonstrated outstanding performance in their profession or industry and capable of facilitating adequate economic diversification of the Macao Special Administrative Region in response to its economic and social development needs, particularly in the promoting the development of the key industries;

2. Applicants participating in the outstanding talents programme or advanced professionals programme must meet all the following requirements: 1) Possess the professional knowledge, qualifications, or experience specified in the applicable talent recruitment programme; 2) Attain the age and language skills specified in the respective programme; 3) Fulfil the basic requirements specified in the applicable evaluation criteria.

The launching of the talent recruitment programme must be announced on a designated electronic platform, and such announcement shall specifically include: 1) The start and end dates for the participation in the programme; 2) Documents and information required for the participation in the programme; 3) Evaluation criteria applicable to the programme;

They are not required to be locally employed.

2) Establish task forces to review applications for participation in the outstanding talents programme and the advanced professionals programme, in accordance with established evaluation criteria;

1. Depending on the applicable talent recruitment programme, the Talent Review and Recruitment Committee shall assess, based on the actual needs of the economic and social development of the Macao Special Administrative Region, the profiles and qualifications of the individuals included in the list referred to in the preceding article, and prepare a compiled recommended talent list.

3. The approval or refusal of a residence authorisation under this Law is discretionary.

They are not required to be locally employed.

They should engage in work or professions that match their qualifications and the programme’s evaluation criteria.

2. Regarding extinction or change of the legal situation referred to in paragraph 1 of the preceding article, especially change in the relationship between the main applicant and the family member who has been granted a residence authorisation, or termination or change of the main applicant’s employment status with the local employer, or significant change in the main applicant’s development plan in the Macao Special Administrative Region, the main applicant must notify the Talent Development Committee through the Electronic Platform within 30 days from the date of extinction or change of the legal situation.

1. Individuals or legal persons who have completed commercial registration may benefit from the tax reliefs provided for in paragraph 3, provided that they meet the all the following requirements: 1) In the case of an individual, he / she is a talent recruited under the terms of this Law and has a valid residence authorisation; and in the case of a legal person, it is a commercial company with more than 50% of the share capital held directly by the talent; 2) The activity carried out pertains to the industry sectors considered as priority for the purposes of the recruitment of the talent;

1. An applicant may apply for a residence authorisation in the Macao Special Administrative Region for the following family members when submitting the application referred to in article 10, or during the validity period of the residence authorisation granted: 1) Applicant’s spouse or unmarried partner who meets the conditions specified in Article 1472 of the Civil Code; 2) Applicant’s children under the age of eighteen with his/ her spouse or unmarried partner; 3) A person under the age of eighteen adopted by the applicant, his / her spouse, or his / her unmarried partner.

Maintenance and renewal of residence authorisation does not depend on habitual residence in Macao.

The maintenance and renewal of the residence authorisations of the main applicant who have been granted a residence authorisation under the high-end talents programme or the outstanding talents programme and his / her family members, if any, shall not be conditional upon their habitual residence to be in the Macao Special Administrative Region.

1. The main applicant who has been granted a residence authorisation under the talent recruitment programmes, as well as his / her family members, if any, must keep with the legal situation relevant for the approval of the application during the validity period of the residence authorisation, and the main applicant who has been granted a residence authorisation under the outstanding talents programme or the advanced professionals programme must also engage in work that matches his / her qualifications.

2. The renewal of the residence authorisations of family members shall be requested by the main applicant and will depend on the renewal of the main applicant's residence authorisation. However, if the main applicant died or has obtained permanent resident identity in the Macao Special Administrative Region, the residence authorisations of his / her family members may also be renewed when the legal requirements are satisfied.

1. No fee is payable for the granting and renewal or issuing of the residence authorisation under this Law, except for late renewal as specified in supplementary regulations.