China: Documents required to obtain or renew a passport within China and abroad, including whether all embassies require proof of status when applications are submitted abroad; whether Chinese embassies issue passports to individuals with no status abroad; circumstances under which an individual's Resident Identity Card (RIC) number would not appear in a passport
According to Chinese law and regulations, a Chinese citizen applying for a regular passport is required to provide his or her Resident Identity Card (RIC) and residence booklet and at least one photo (China 15 Dec. 2007, Art. 3; ibid. 1 Jan. 2007, Art. 6; China Daily 30 Dec. 2006). According to the 2007 Passport Law of the People's Republic of China, the individual must also provide "the materials related to his reasons for application" (China 1 Jan. 2007, Art. 6). The Administrative Measures for the Issuance of the Regular Passport and the Entry-Exit Pass of the People's Republic of China also state that an applicant must submit additional material, as requested by the provincial entry-exit administrative body, without specifying the nature of this other material (ibid. 15 Dec. 2007, Art. 5).
According to the Administrative Measures, when applying to replace a passport, the applicant must submit the old passport and a photocopy of it (ibid., Art. 9). In addition, a Chinese citizen who resides abroad, but who applies to replace or renew a passport while in China, needs to present a certificate showing that he or she has settled in a foreign country, as well as a temporary residence certificate issued by local Chinese authorities (ibid.). The Passport Law also specifies that an applicant must apply in person for a new passport or for the renewal or reissue of a passport (ibid. 1 Jan. 2007, Art. 5, Art. 11).
In a 24 March 2011 telephone interview with the Research Directorate, the Consul General of the Embassy of the People's Republic of China in Canada provided details on the documents Chinese citizens who wish to replace or renew their passports outside China need to submit while abroad (China 24 Mar. 2011). The Consul General stated that individuals must provide completed application forms, their old passport, proof of identity and proof of their status within the country in which they are residing (ibid.). The Consul General added that the application had to be made in person at Chinese embassies and consulates in order for an interview to be conducted (ibid.).
In 30 March 2011 correspondence with the Research Directorate, an official at the Canadian Embassy in Beijing stated that "[d]ocument requirements are consistent for all Chinese passport issuing authorities" (Canada 30 Mar. 2011). The Canadian official added that "[i]n general … a valid certificate of residence issued by the foreign government or other identity certificate of the applicant's lawful status is a required document" when attempting to replace or renew a passport (ibid.). The Consul General corroborated that proof of status is a standard requirement for receiving a new passport from all Chinese embassies; however, he also indicated that in certain special circumstances when such proof is not available, such as when an applicant claims a loss or theft, the Embassy may still issue a passport after checking with local authorities in China to verify details about the individual (China 24 Mar. 2011). The Consul General also added that a travel permit may also be issued as an alternative to a passport for an individual who needs to return to China (ibid.).
The official at the Canadian embassy also stated the following regarding proof of status:
If an applicant does not have status abroad but still wants to apply for a Chinese passport, information such as the identification of the issuance authority of his/her previous passport/travel document shall be provided to relevant Chinese embassy or consulate or other authorized institutions where he/she attempts to apply. The Chinese embassy or consulate or other authorized institutions will then need to verify and confirm such information with relevant domestic authorities. Whether or not a new passport/ travel document can be issued will be determined on case-by-case basis. (Canada 30 Mar. 2011)
Since 1 January 2007, RIC numbers no longer appear in passports issued by China (Canada 30 Mar. 2011; China 24 Mar. 2011). In addition, in 29 March 2011 correspondence with the Research Directorate, an official with the Document Integrity Unit of the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) stated that, according to their information, even for previous versions of passports, "some genuine passports may not contain an RIC number" (Canada 29 Mar. 2011). The CBSA official added that
in our opinion, the absence of a RIC number does not necessarily indicate that a passport is fraudulent. More information would be required in regards to the absence vs presence of a RIC number in a Chinese passport to make such a determination. (ibid.)
Sample biographic information pages from three different Chinese passport versions, provided by the CBSA Document Integrity Unit, are attached to this Response (China n.d.a; ibid. n.d.b; ibid. n.d.c). Two of the passport samples (versions 92 and 97-1) have five-year validity periods and include spaces to indicate the holder's identity card number (ibid n.d.a; ibid. n.d.b). The third sample is of a passport with a ten-year validity period; it does not reserve a space for an identity card number (ibid. n.d.c).
This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim for refugee protection. Please find below the list of sources consulted in researching this Information Request.
References
Canada. 30 March 2011. Canadian Embassy in Beijing. Correspondence with an official.
_____. 29 March 2011. Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA). Correspondence with an official.
China. 24 March 2011. Embassy of the People's Republic of China in Canada, Ottawa. Telephone interview with the Consul General.
_____. 15 December 2007. Ministry of Public Security. "Administrative Measures for the Issuance of the Regular Passport and the Entry-Exit Pass of the People's Republic of China. Order of the Ministry of Public Security (No. 96)." (The People's Government of Shaanxi Province) <http://english.shaanxi.gov.cn/articleAboutgov/aboutgov/govannouncement/200901/ 7887_1.html> [Accessed 31 Mar. 2011]
_____. 1 January 2007. "Passport Law of the People's Republic of China. Order of the President of the People's Republic of China No.50." <http://en.cnci.gov.cn/Law/LawDetails.aspx?ID=6100> [Accessed 31 Mar 2011]
_____. N.d.a. "People's Republic of China Passport (92 Version)." Provided by the Document Integrity Unit of the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA).
_____. N.d.b. "People's Republic of China Passport (97-1 Version)." Provided by the Document Integrity Unit of the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA).
_____. N.d.c. "People's Republic of China Passport (97-2 Version)." Provided by the Document Integrity Unit of the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA).
China Daily [Beijing]. 30 December 2006. Guan Xiaofeng. "New Rules Require More from Passport Applicants." <http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/cndy/2006-12/30/content_771417.htm> [Accessed 31 Mar. 2011]
Additional Sources Consulted
Oral sources: The Embassy of the People's Republic of China in the United States did not provide informaion for this Response. Attempts to contact the Department of Consular Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China, the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in London and the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in Paris were unsuccessful within the time constraints of this Response.
Internet sites, including: Ambassade de la République populaire de Chine en République Française, Australia - Refugee Review Tribunal (RRT), China - Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China, China - Ministry of Public Security of the People's Republic of China, Documentchecker.com, Embassy of the People's Republic of China in the United States, Embassy of the People's Republic of China in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, European Country of Origin Information Network (ecoi.net), Factiva, United Nations (UN) Refworld, United Kingdom (UK) Home Office, Xinhua News Agency.
Attachments
China. N.d.a "92." Provided by the Document Integrity Unit of the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA). 1 page.
_____. N.d.b "97-1." Provided by the Document Integrity Unit of the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA). 1 page.
_____. N.d.c "97-2." Provided by the Document Integrity Unit of the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA). 1 page.