Frequently asked questions
What does the MOP$2,000-per-person service fee include?
It includes quota-document preparation and submission, review tracking, stay-permit and Blue Card guidance, and onboarding follow-up. Quota assessment is free; the service fee arises only after contract.
Besides the service fee, what must the employer pay each month?
The employer pays the MOP$200 monthly levy for each worker, provides accommodation or at least MOP$500 per month as an allowance, and purchases employee insurance as required by law.
What happens if the employment levy is paid late?
The employment fee is calculated monthly and paid quarterly. Late payment may incur penalties and affect later applications. Zhiao helps employers track payment deadlines.
Fee table (Macao foreign-worker quota)
| Item | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Quota assessment | Free | Tell us the roles and headcount; a consultant will explain the assessment by stage. |
| Government application fee | MOP$0 | Employer quota-application stage; later permits and other costs are excluded. |
| Zhiao service fee | MOP$2,000 per worker | One-time service fee paid by the employer to Zhiao when the agreement starts. |
| Non-resident-worker levy | MOP$200 / month | Calculated monthly; paid quarterly by the employer to the Social Security Fund. |
| Blue Card fee | MOP$100 / person(government fee, official fee basis） | The bearer follows the signed contract, stated in writing before signing; Zhiao's quotation lists it as employer-paid, settled at the document stage against the authority's notice and receipts |
| Accommodation | Employer responsibility | Under Chief Executive Dispatch 88/2010: provide qualifying accommodation, or a monthly allowance of at least MOP$500 per worker |
| Employee insurance | Quoted by occupation | Macao law requires the employer to purchase work insurance |
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These are the published standard terms. An itemised quote is issued for the actual roles and headcount, with no hidden fees.
Payment timeline
- Assessment (free): confirm roles, headcount and quota feasibility, then issue an assessment and quote.
- Contract launch: The employer pays Zhiao a one-time MOP$2,000 service fee per worker, and Zhiao starts preparing and filing the quota-application documents.
- Quota approval: Approval timing is case-specific; no additional service charge arises during this stage.
- Stay permit and Blue Card: settled after substantive approval — the MOP$100-per-card blue-card fee is a government charge; the bearer follows the contract
- After onboarding: The employment fee is MOP$200 per worker per month, paid quarterly. Housing and insurance are additional employer obligations.
Scope: non-domestic imported workers hired by Macau employers. Amounts are in MOP per worker. The calculator uses the entered headcount; recurring costs use a 12-month example.
Employer payments: MOP$2,000 per worker to Zhiao when the service agreement starts, once only. The existing MOP$100 per worker card-processing quote is retained, with the amount and payment checked against the authority's notice and receipt at processing.
Recurring cost: the employment fee is generally MOP$200 per worker per month, paid by the employer to the Social Security Fund quarterly. January, April, July and October payments cover the previous quarter. Exempt or reduced-rate categories require separate calculation. The 12-month example is MOP$2,400 per worker and is excluded from the one-time subtotal.
Excluded: wages, housing or allowance, insurance, transport, medical checks and optional services. Unknown amounts are not treated as zero. Commercial fees follow the written agreement. The one-time subtotal is not the total cost of employment.
Macau hiring involves recruitment and document preparation, DSAL employment authorization, PSP stay authorization and the non-resident worker card, then entry and onboarding arrangements. Employment-authorization processing runs from receipt of complete documents to the decision; additional documents can affect progress. Follow each authority's case-specific notice. The 5-working-day response standard for written procedural enquiries is not a quota-approval deadline. Recruitment, approval and arrival are separate stages; indicative timing is not a fixed delivery commitment.
Official basis: the DSAL Employer FAQ (accommodation rights & probation) and the Macao government services page for the Non-resident Worker Card (blue-card fee) | Last verified: 2026-10-04
Further reading
Macao quota ratio rules (2026)
Macao permit document checklist
Get a free itemised fee sheet
Provide the roles and headcount; receive a written quote covering every fee item within one business day.
Online enquiry: go to the consultant form