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Dual Nationality

What is dual nationality?

Answer: It is a way that allows a citizen to have two nationalities of both his motherland and another country at the same time.

Is dual nationality admitted in the world?

Answer: Many countries and regions in the world admit and respect it, including the United States, United Kingdom, France, Canada and Australia. Most countries do not think that a citizen will lose his nationality of his homeland if he succeeds in gaining another country's nationality.

Does China admit dual nationality?

Answer: China does not recognize dual nationality. The Article 3 of China Nationality Law holds that the country will not admit the dual nationality of a Chinese citizen. Moreover, the Article 9 of that law declares that as soon as a Chinese takes a foreign citizenship, he will automatically lose his Chinese citizenship.

Why does China refuse to recognize dual nationality？

Answer: There are mainly two reasons to set up a nationality regulation that is totally different from that of many other countries in the world.
First, Chinese Nationality Law has its special historical background. After 1949, many doubts and troubles were caused in some countries especially those in Southeast Asia by a lot of overseas Chinese with dual citizenship. It was a misunderstanding but did harm to the ties between China and some countries.
Second, unique nationality is in consideration of the loyalty of a citizen to his country and the administration of citizens. And it is easier for precise judgment in law cases.

Who can be regarded as a Chinese citizen?

Answer: Anyone having any of the following characteristics is regarded as a citizen of China:
1. Persons belonging to any of the nationalities in China;
2. Any person born in China whose parents are both Chinese nationals or one of whose parents is a Chinese national;
3. Any person born abroad whose parents are both Chinese nationals, or one parent who is a Chinese national;
4. Any person born in China whose parents are stateless, or of uncertain nationality, and have settled in China.

Is it easy to apply for a Chinese citizenship?

Answer: To be honest, it is quite hard. However, if you want to stay in China for a long time, you can try to apply for an Aliens' Permanent Residence. As for the details about its requirements, please refer to our Permanent Residence Permit page.

- Last updated on Jun. 17, 2024 -

Questions & Answers on Dual Nationality

Asked by Bobby from CHINA | Nov. 19, 2024 06:08

Exit and return to China

I'm British. My daughter was born in China with a Chinese mum. She has a British passport now but no Chinese I.D, apart from her birth certificate. I want to take her to England for a few weeks and return to China. Can she leave China alright and will I need to get a visa to return?

Answers (4)

Answered by Keith | Nov. 19, 2024 22:08

She need a China travel document which should be got in China embassies in foreign countries OR an exit and entry permit issued by local exit and entry administration, AND her British passport to exit and enter China.

Answered by Bobby | Nov. 26, 2024 07:07

Ok, thanks. I saw this message to late and already get rejected at the airport haha. Now, I'm getting her the enter-exit permit and we'll go next week. The next question is, how can she come back into China and still get a hukou and insurance etc? They said not to get a visa because that will make her a full British citizenship. They said I need to get some document from the Chinese embassy in the UK. But I don't understand what it is.

Answered by Keith | Nov. 26, 2024 17:31

From others' share I learned that to get a Hukou, the documents are her birth certificate (in Chinese with her Chinese name), Hukou, marriage certificate and ID card of her Chinese parent. In some places a declaration of alienage may be needed. I'm not sure about the document from China Embassy in the UK.

Answered by Bobby | Nov. 27, 2024 21:37

Ok, thanks. She doesn't have a hukou yet, she just has a British passport so far. We were going to get her Chinese ID next but my grandmother suddenly passed away so we need to go back quick. My daughter can exit China with her entry-exit permit but I'm not sure how to get her back into China and keep her citizenship. They said to ask the Chinese embassy in the UK but they are being very slow to reply. I'll keep trying with them though 👍

Asked by Ari from MEXICO | Jan. 18, 2024 20:22

Mexico and Spain

Hello

I born in mexico, live in mexico. i have mexican passport and new spain pasaport feb 2024, I will travel May 2024,

What passport i can use ?? I want to use the spain ?? It is posible ??

Answers (1)

Answered by Kina | Jan. 18, 2024 22:45

It is suggested to use the Spanish passport as it enable you to visit China visa-free for at most 15 days.

Asked by Ali from PAKISTAN | Oct. 14, 2023 13:09

Dual national Canadian and pakistani

I am dual national of Canada and Pakistan. I have my chinese visa on pakistani passport. While travelling to China can i carry both of my passports.

Answers (1)

Answered by Anne | Oct. 16, 2023 01:26

Yes, you can.

Asked by Frank from USA | Sep. 30, 2023 14:03

A question of nationality while traveling to China

I was born in China but hold an US passport. I am also a citizen of Hong Kong. How do I declare my nationality while travelling to Hong Kong and China?

Answers (2)

Answered by Scott | Oct. 08, 2023 00:02

Both are fine. To travel to HK, you don't need a visa. To the mainland, you need a visa if travel with US passport and a Home Return Permit if with HK passport.

Answered by yam | Jun. 17, 2024 08:36

you don’t have a chinese passport right?,,, so then your a US citizen passport holder need a visa to travel china

Asked by Tim from CHINA/UK | Jul. 21, 2023 00:31

Leaving China on Chinese passport, enter UK on British passport?

My daughter has a Chinese and a British passport. I am planning to take her to the UK this Christmas. I have heard that it is possible to leave China using her Chinese passport and enter the UK with her British passport and vice versa. Meaning that I would not need to apply for a British visa to visit the UK.

Do you know if this is realistic?

Answers (6)

Answered by Emily | Jul. 21, 2023 01:50

As China doesn't admit the dual nationality, so it is impossible to do like this.

Answered by Tom | Oct. 01, 2023 20:13

have you worked out how to do this?

Answered by Mark | Dec. 17, 2023 18:59

Dual passports are allowed for Chinese under 18. I am also curious if this could work.

Answered by Dan | Jan. 31, 2024 09:48

It's not impossible to do this Emily, you just need to go through a 3rd country. Don't spread false information.

Answered by richard | May. 12, 2024 17:43

did you find a solution. I was told can go via HK, but you have to make sure the trip is less that 14 days or you end up with an overstay in HK

Answered by Ann | Jun. 17, 2024 08:39

good luck if china immigration know your daughter is dual citizenship, china citizenship passport automatically cancel ….