The Macao Identification Services (MIS) is prepared for issuing the passports and travel permits of the Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR) and will soon receive applications from local residents, MIS director Lai Ieng Kit said in Macao Friday.

Lai said at a press conference that models of the SAR passport and travel permit had been explained on August 30 by Chen Ziying, deputy-director of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of China's State Council.

Over the past months, the MIS managed to produce the finished examples of the credentials, he said. "The Macao Identification Services will receive applications from local residents beginning

from December 6," he added.

Applicants for the SAR passport must be Chinese citizens who are permanent residents of Macao and hold local identification cards, Lai explained.

On the other hand, applicants for the SAR travel permit shall be Chinese citizens who are not permanent residents of the region, but they likely should hold local identification cards. In addition, they cannot have other types of travel credentials.

The definitions of permanent residence and Chinese citizenship can be found in the Macao Basic Law and some other regulations, Lai Ieng Kit said.

The passports and travel permits will be actually issued after the establishment of the Macao SAR on December 20 this year.

It is estimated that 380,000 Macao residents are qualified for applying for the passport, and 50,000 residents are qualified for the SAR travel permit.