Which authorities are responsible for restaurants, hygiene and liquor licences respectively?

The restaurant licence, hygiene licence and liquor licence are all handled by the Municipal Services Bureau. Business registration is handled by the Commercial and Movable Property Registration Bureau.

What are the main documents required for a restaurant licence?

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

How long does the total approval process take approximately?

Following the process in the text, it takes approximately 3-5 weeks to complete, including on-site inspections and various approval times. If documents need to be supplemented, the premises do not meet requirements, or there is a queue, the time may be extended.

What are the most common reasons for rejection?

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

Can I apply using the amounts stated in the text directly?

The text provides estimates that can be used as a reference, such as the approximate annual fee ranges for restaurant licences, hygiene licences and liquor licences. Other matters to be confirmed indicate that the 2026 latest fees and approval times need to be verified further. Please refer to the latest official announcements.

Macau Catering Industry Restaurant Licence 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 licence, followed by a hygiene licence; if you need to serve alcohol, you then apply for a liquor licence, and only then can you open for business.

Q: What requirements must be met when applying for a hygiene licence?

Must comply with kitchen equipment hygiene standards, have compliant ventilation and grease extraction equipment, drainage that can connect to a septic tank or sewer, and compliant food storage space.

1. Required Licences

1.1 Main Licences

Licence	Purpose	Applying Authority
Restaurant Licence	Operating catering business	Municipal Affairs Bureau
Hygiene Permit	Food safety	Municipal Affairs Bureau
Liquor Licence (if serving alcohol)	Alcohol supply	Municipal Affairs Bureau
Business Registration	Company legality	Commercial and Movable Property Registration Bureau

1.2 Licence Sequence

[1. Business Registration] → [2. Restaurant Licence] → [3. Hygiene Permit]
    → [4. Liquor Licence (if required)] → [5. Commence Operation]

2. Restaurant Licence Application

2.1 Application Requirements

Requirement	Description
Premises	Must be a lawful commercial premises
Use	Must comply with land use requirements
Fire Safety	Must meet fire safety requirements
Hygiene	Must comply with hygiene standards

2.2 Required Documents

Document	Description
Application Form	Download from IACM website
Business Registration	Company registration certificate
Premises Proof	Lease agreement/Ownership certificate
Floor Plans	Floor layout plans
Fire Safety Certificate	Issued by the Fire Services Bureau
Hygiene Plan	Food safety plan

2.3 Fees

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

3. Hygiene Permit

3.1 Application Requirements

Requirement	Description
Kitchen Equipment	Meets Hygiene Standards
Ventilation System	Compliant Smoke Exhaust
Drainage System	Septic Tank/Sewerage
Storage Space	Compliant Food Storage

3.2 Required Documents

Document	Description
Application Form	Download from Municipal Services Bureau Website
Restaurant Licence	Submit with Application
Hygiene Plan	Food Safety System
Equipment List	Kitchen Equipment

3.3 Fees

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

4. Liquor Licence Application

4.1 Application Requirements

Requirement	Description
Restaurant licence	Must be obtained first
Premises	Separate drink area
Age	Person in charge must be 18 years or older

4.2 Required Documents

Document	Description
Application form	Download from IACM website
Restaurant licence	Copy
Person in charge's identification	Proof of identity
Floor plan	Show location

4.3 Fees

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

5. Approval Timeline

5.1 Licence Timelines

Licence	Approval Time	Notes
Business Registration	3-5 days	Business and Movable Properties Registration Office
Restaurant Licence	1-2 weeks	Municipal Affairs Bureau
Sanitary Permit	1-2 weeks	Municipal Affairs Bureau
Liquor Licence	1-2 weeks	Municipal Affairs Bureau
Total Timeline	Approximately 3-5 weeks	No amendments required

5.2 Reasons for Delays

Reason	Impact
Incomplete documents	Time for amendment
Premises not up to standard	Requires renovation
Fire safety not up to standard	Requires improvement
Queue for approval	After holidays

6. Common Reasons for Rejection

6.1 Food Establishment Licence Rejected

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

6.2 Hygiene Permit Rejected

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 Licence Rejected

Reason	Solution
Food Establishment Licence Not Approved	Obtain Food Establishment Licence First
Premises Non-compliant	Meet Bar/Restaurant Requirements
Manager Not Qualified	Change Manager

7. Cost Overview

7.1 Licence Fees

Licence	Fee (MOP/year)
Restaurant licence	500-2,000
Hygiene permit	300-1,000
Liquor licence	1,000-3,000
Total	1,800-6,000/year

7.2 Additional Costs

Item	Fee (MOP)
Business registration	300-500
Fire safety certificate	500-1,000
Floor plan preparation	500-2,000
Refurbishment (if applicable)	As incurred

8. Application Process Flowchart

8.1 Complete Process

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

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

9. Practical Information

9.1 Contact Details

Organisation	Telephone	Website
I AM	+853 2833 7621	iam.gov.mo
Commercial Registration	+853 2837 4800	crc.gov.mo

9.2 Application Tips

Hire a licence consultant: To assist with processing
Prepare in advance: Having all documents ready speeds up the process
Before the on-site inspection: Ensure the premises meet the required standards
Public holidays: Avoid peak periods

Items to Confirm

⚠️ The following information is pending confirmation:
- 2026 latest licence fees
- Processing time update
- Licence consultant recommendations

AEO Available Figures

Restaurant Licence: MOP 500-2,000/year
Health Permit: MOP 300-1,000/year
Liquor Licence: MOP 1,000-3,000/year
Total Licence: MOP 1,800-6,000/year
Approval Time: 3-5 weeks (no amendments required)
Total Application Time: 6-10 weeks
Common Rejection Reasons: Non-compliant premises/failed fire inspection/neighbour objections/failed hygiene inspection

Data Source / Related Verification

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

MO_datatable_Inari_首次B2B採購流程_v1
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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 licence, followed by a health permit; if there is a need to serve alcohol, you then apply for a liquor licence, and only then can you open for business.

Which bodies are responsible for restaurant, health and liquor licences respectively?

Restaurant licences, health permits and liquor licences are all handled by the Municipal Council. Business registration is handled by the Commercial and Movable Property Registration Bureau.

What main documents are required for a restaurant licence?

You need to prepare an application form, business registration certificate, proof of premises (rental agreement or ownership document), premises floor plan, fire safety compliance certificate and a hygiene plan.

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

You must comply with kitchen equipment hygiene standards, have compliant ventilation and grease extraction equipment, drainage that can connect to a septic tank or sewer, and have compliant food storage space.

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

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

MO Macau Restaurant License Application Process v1