Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge face-scan clearance: mainland lanes are live, Hong Kong is piloting in 2026

The most important thing for travellers is to work out which authority and which side of the trip they are dealing with: mainland border inspection, Hong Kong Immigration, or the Zhuhai-Macao/Macao joint-inspection arrangements.

The three situations at a glance

Mainland / Zhuhai side: face-scan fast lanes added from November 2025

China’s National Immigration Administration said the expanded smart-clearance measure built on earlier facial-recognition trials at Shenzhen Bay Port and Zhuhai’s Gongbei Port, and was then extended to other ports including Hengqin and the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge.

Under the notice, eligible people who agree to the collection and verification of facial images, fingerprints and other information may choose to use smart fast lanes at border inspection sites for facial-recognition clearance.

The main eligible groups listed are:

• Mainland residents aged 14 or above who hold a valid Exit-Entry Permit for Travelling to and from Hong Kong and Macao, plus multiple valid endorsements for stay, family visit, business, talent or other eligible Hong Kong/Macao purposes.
• Hong Kong and Macao residents who hold a valid Mainland Travel Permit for Hong Kong and Macao Residents, including non-Chinese Hong Kong and Macao residents covered by the notice.
• Taiwan residents who hold a five-year valid Taiwan Residents Mainland Travel Permit.

This does not mean travellers can leave their documents at home. A Shenzhen port notice about the same rollout says that although users can clear by face scan, they still need to carry their own valid exit-entry documents. It also says eligible travellers who have not yet completed authorisation can apply at border-inspection fast-lane information collection points and provide facial-image and fingerprint data as required.

How fingerprints fit in

For the mainland-side system, the official language is clear: using the smart fast lane requires consent to collect and verify “facial image, fingerprints and other information” for border inspection checks. Port guidance similarly says eligible travellers who still need authorisation may have facial and fingerprint data collected before using the service.

That does not necessarily mean every traveller presses a finger every time at every HZMB-related channel. Publicly available information does not support that broad conclusion.

A Wen Wei Po on-site report from Hengqin recorded a traveller using a joint smart fast lane who said they pressed a fingerprint and completed the process in just over ten seconds. That shows fingerprints may still be part of verification in some channels or circumstances, but it should not be read as proof that every HZMB direction and every biometric lane uses the same step.

Hong Kong Port: “seamless clearance” is a separate pilot

The Hong Kong side is not simply an extension of the mainland fast-lane system. Its key project is Hong Kong Immigration’s “seamless clearance” pilot at the HZMB Hong Kong Port.

Hong Kong China News Agency reported that the Immigration Department planned to launch the pilot in the second quarter of 2026, with the HZMB Hong Kong Port as the first trial location. Eligible residents would register first, then have their identity verified by facial-recognition technology, with the procedure expected to take about five seconds.

According to the report, two “seamless e-Channels” will be installed in the departure hall at the HZMB Hong Kong Port. They are described as open-gate channels about five metres long, fitted with five cameras at different heights and angles. The system captures the traveller’s face and compares it with the Immigration Department database in real time.

If the system detects an abnormal situation, the gate will close automatically and Immigration Department staff will intervene.

Hong Kong Security Secretary Chris Tang has also been reported as saying that the HZMB Hong Kong Port pilot would use facial-recognition technology to allow non-stop clearance, first for eligible Hong Kong residents in the second quarter of 2026, with possible expansion depending on the pilot’s results. The same report said this model would not require fingerprint scanning.

Zhuhai-Macao / Macao side: joint-inspection channels are being upgraded

Macao’s Public Security Forces Affairs Bureau said 20 joint-inspection self-service channels at the HZMB Zhuhai-Macao port, along with 50 channels at Qingmao Port, were undergoing smart upgrades. As of its February 2026 update, the hardware had been installed and system integration tests were to follow, with the aim of being ready for use in the second quarter of 2026.

In April 2026, the bureau said it had carried out special testing for face-scan smart clearance at Qingmao Port and the HZMB port from April 22 to 24. The tests were used to verify business-process compatibility and system load capacity, and the results were described as stable.

Vehicle-lane arrangements need to be kept separate. Macao authorities also described a “joint one-stop” vehicle-lane system at Hengqin in which drivers can complete Macao-Hengqin border checks through dual biometric comparison using fingerprints and facial images, without showing a physical document. That description is about the Macao-Hengqin/Hengqin vehicle-lane setting, not proof that all HZMB vehicle lanes have adopted the same model.

What to check before you travel

If you plan to use smart clearance at HZMB-related ports, run through these questions first:

1. Which side are you clearing? Mainland border inspection, the HZMB Hong Kong Port and Zhuhai-Macao/Macao joint-inspection channels have different systems, launch timelines and eligibility rules.
2. Are you eligible? Mainland face-scan clearance mainly covers specified mainland residents aged 14 or above, Hong Kong and Macao residents with eligible mainland travel permits, and Taiwan residents with a five-year valid Taiwan Residents Mainland Travel Permit. Hong Kong’s seamless-clearance pilot is reported to open first to eligible Hong Kong residents.
3. Do you need prior authorisation or registration? For the mainland-side rollout, eligible travellers who have not completed authorisation may need to provide facial and fingerprint data at designated collection points. Hong Kong’s pilot requires eligible residents to register before use.
4. Carry your document anyway. Official port guidance says face-scan clearance users should still carry valid exit-entry documents.
5. Check guardian requirements for minors or people lacking full civil capacity. The National Immigration Administration notice says people with limited or no civil capacity should be accompanied by a legal guardian when using smart fast lanes.

FAQ

Is HZMB now fully document-free?

No. On the mainland side, eligible travellers may use face-scan smart fast lanes, but official guidance still says users should carry valid exit-entry documents. Hong Kong’s seamless-clearance arrangement is also a pilot, not a universal service for all travellers.

Does “face-scan clearance” mean no fingerprints at all?

Not necessarily. The mainland notice requires users to agree to the collection and verification of facial images and fingerprints. On-site reporting from Hengqin has also recorded a traveller pressing a fingerprint during a face-scan smart-clearance process. Hong Kong’s seamless-clearance pilot, however, has been reported as facial-recognition based and not requiring fingerprint scanning.

What is the bottom line?

The Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge is moving toward more biometric clearance, but the rollout is fragmented by jurisdiction and use case. “Mainland face-scan fast lanes are live,” “Hong Kong is piloting seamless clearance,” and “Zhuhai-Macao joint-inspection channels are being upgraded” are three related but separate developments. Travellers should check the direction of travel, their eligibility and on-site instructions before assuming they can use a biometric lane.