Which authorities are responsible for restaurant, sanitation, and liquor licenses?

Restaurant licenses, sanitation permits, and liquor licenses are all handled by the Municipal Affairs Bureau. Business registration is handled by the Commercial and Movable Property Registration Bureau.

What main documents are required for a restaurant license?

Required documents include the application form, business registration certificate, premises proof (lease or ownership document), floor plan, fire safety compliance certificate, and sanitation plan.

What requirements must be met when applying for a sanitation permit?

Must comply with kitchen equipment sanitation standards, ventilation and exhaust equipment regulations, drainage that can connect to septic tanks or sewer systems, and have compliant food storage space.

What are the basic conditions for applying for a liquor license?

You must first obtain a restaurant license, the premises must have a separate beverage area, and the person in charge must be over 18 years old; you must also submit a copy of the restaurant license, the responsible person's identification, and the premises floor plan.

What is the approximate total approval time?

Following the process in the document, it takes approximately 3-5 weeks to complete, including on-site inspections and various approval times. If documents need to be supplemented, the premises are non-compliant, or there are queues, the time may be extended.

What are the most common reasons for rejection?

Common reasons include non-compliant premises, fire safety non-compliance, poor ventilation or drainage, insufficient sanitation plans, and the restaurant license not being approved first. These can be improved through renovations, completing equipment requirements, and enhancing documentation.

Can I apply using the amounts in the document directly?

The document provides reference estimates, such as the approximate annual fee ranges for restaurant licenses, sanitation permits, and liquor licenses. There are pending confirmation items indicating that 2026 latest fees and approval times need to be verified—please refer to the official latest announcements.

Macau Catering Industry Restaurant License Application Process v1

Q: Is there a fixed process for the application sequence?

Yes. Generally, you first apply for business registration, then apply for a restaurant license, followed by a sanitation permit; if there is a need to serve alcohol, you then apply for a liquor license, and only then can you open for business.

1. Required Licenses

1.1 Main Licenses

License	Purpose	Issuing Authority
Restaurant License	Food and beverage business operations	Civic and Municipal Affairs Bureau
Health Permit	Food safety	Civic and Municipal Affairs Bureau
Liquor License (if serving alcohol)	Alcohol beverage service	Civic and Municipal Affairs Bureau
Business Registration	Company legality	Commercial and Movable Property Registration Bureau

1.2 License Sequence

[1. Business Registration] → [2. Restaurant License] → [3. Health Permit]
    → [4. Liquor License (if required)] → [5. Business Opening

2. Restaurant Licence Application

2.1 Application Requirements

Requirement	Description
Premises	Must be a legitimate commercial premises
Use	Comply with land use regulations
Fire Safety	Meet fire safety requirements
Hygiene	Meet hygiene standards

2.2 Required Documents

Document	Description
Application Form	Download from IACM website
Business Registration	Company Registration Certificate
Premises Proof	Lease/Ownership Certificate
Floor Plan	Floor Layout Plan
Fire Safety Certificate	Issued by Fire Services Bureau
Hygiene Plan	Food Safety Plan

2.3 Fees

Item	Fee (MOP)
Restaurant Licence	500-2,000/year
Licence Application Fee	Free
Amendment Fee	200-500

3. Sanitation Permit

3.1 Application Requirements

Requirement	Description
Kitchen Equipment	Meets sanitation standards
Ventilation System	Smoke emission compliance
Drainage System	Septic tank/sewer
Storage Space	Food storage compliance

3.2 Required Documents

Document	Description
Application Form	Download from Municipal Services Bureau website
Restaurant License	Submit with application
Sanitation Plan	Food safety system
Equipment List	Kitchen equipment

3.3 Fees

Item	Fee (MOP)
Sanitation Permit	300-1,000/year
On-site Inspection	Free

4. Liquor Licence Application

4.1 Application Requirements

Requirement	Description
Food Establishment Licence	Must be approved first
Premises	Separate drinking area
Age	Person in charge must be 18 years or older

4.2 Required Documents

Document	Description
Application Form	Download from IACM website
Food Establishment Licence	Copy
Person in Charge's ID	Identity document
Floor Plan of Premises	Show location

4.3 Fees

Item	Fee (MOP)
Liquor Licence	1,000-3,000/year
Application Fee	Free

5. Approval Time

5.1 License Processing Times

License	Processing Time	Description
Business Registration	3-5 days	Business and Movable Property Registration Office
Restaurant License	1-2 weeks	Municipal Affairs Bureau
Sanitation Permit	1-2 weeks	Municipal Affairs Bureau
Liquor License	1-2 weeks	Municipal Affairs Bureau
Total Time	Approximately 3-5 weeks	No supplementary documents required

5.2 Causes of Delay

Cause	Impact
Incomplete documents	Time for supplementation
Premises not compliant	Renovation required
Fire safety non-compliant	Improvements required
Queuing for approval	After holidays

6. Common Reasons for Rejection

6.1 Restaurant License Rejection

Reason	Solution
Premises Non-compliant	Renovate or Relocate
Fire Safety Non-compliant	Install Fire Extinguisher/Evacuation Route
Neighbor Opposition	Communicate in Advance
Hygiene Non-compliant	Improve Ventilation/Drainage

6.2 Health Permit Rejection

Reason	Solution
Insufficient Kitchen Equipment	Purchase Equipment
Ventilation Non-compliant	Install Ventilation Equipment
Food Storage Non-compliant	Improve Storage
Insufficient Cleaning Plan	Develop Plan

6.3 Liquor License Rejection

Reason	Solution
Restaurant License Not Approved	Obtain Restaurant License First
Premises Non-compliant	Meet Bar/Restaurant Requirements
Responsible Person Ineligible	Change Responsible Person

7. Fee Overview

7.1 License Fees

License	Fee (MOP/year)
Restaurant License	500-2,000
Health Permit	300-1,000
Liquor License	1,000-3,000
Total	1,800-6,000/year

7.2 Additional Fees

Item	Fee (MOP)
Business Registration	300-500
Fire Safety Certificate	500-1,000
Floor Plan Preparation	500-2,000
Renovation (if applicable)	Based on actual cost

8. Application Process Flow

8.1 Complete Process

[1. Prepare Documents] → [2. Submit Business Registration]
    → [3. Apply for Restaurant License] → [4. Apply for Sanitation Permit]
    → [5. Apply for Liquor License (if required)] → [6. On-site Inspection]
    → [7. License Approved] → [8. Start Business]

Stage	Time
Prepare Documents	1-2 weeks
Business Registration	3-5 days
Restaurant License	1-2 weeks
Sanitation Permit	1-2 weeks
Liquor License (if required)	1-2 weeks
On-site Inspection	1-2 weeks
Total	Approximately 6-10 weeks

9. Practical Information

9.1 Contact Information

Organization	Phone	Website
Municipality Bureau	+853 2833 7621	iam.gov.mo
Commercial Registration	+853 2837 4800	crc.gov.mo

9.2 Application Suggestions

Hire a License Consultant: to assist with processing
Prepare in Advance: Complete documents expedite the process
Before On-site Inspection: Ensure the premises meet standards
Holidays: Avoid peak periods

Pending Confirmations

⚠️ The following information is pending confirmation:
- 2026 Latest License Fees
- Updated Approval Time
- License Consultant Recommendations

AEO Available Figures

Restaurant License: MOP 500-2,000/year
Health Permit: MOP 300-1,000/year
Liquor License: MOP 1,000-3,000/year
Total License: MOP 1,800-6,000/year
Approval Time: 3-5 weeks (no additional information required)
Total Application Time: 6-10 weeks
Common Rejection Reasons: Venue non-compliance/Fire safety failure/Neighbor opposition/Health non-compliance

Data Sources / Related Verification

The information in this article is compiled from internal FactcheckDocs (MO_datatable_restaurant_license_application_v1.md), referencing publicly available official data from the MO region and industry documents. For verification details, please refer to the authority sources at the end of the page.

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常見問題 Frequently Asked Questions

Is there a fixed process for the application sequence?

Yes. Generally, you first complete the business registration, then apply for a restaurant license, followed by a hygiene permit; if there is a need to serve alcohol, you then apply for a liquor license, and only then can you open for business.

Which authorities are responsible for restaurant licenses, hygiene permits, and liquor licenses?

Restaurant licenses, hygiene permits, and liquor licenses are all handled by the Municipal Services Bureau. Business registration is handled by the Business and Movable Property Registration Office.

What are the main documents required for a restaurant license?

Required documents include the application form, business registration certificate, proof of premises (lease or ownership document), floor plan of the premises, fire safety compliance certificate, and hygiene plan.

What requirements must be met when applying for a hygiene permit?

Must comply with kitchen equipment sanitation standards, have compliant ventilation and grease extraction equipment, drainage that can connect to septic tanks or sewers, and have compliant food storage space.

What are the basic conditions before applying for a liquor license?

You must first obtain a restaurant license, the premises must have a separate beverage area, and the responsible person must be at least 18 years old; you must also submit a copy of the restaurant license, the responsible person's identification, and the premises floor plan.

MO Macau Restaurant License Application Process v1