Acquiring Chinese Citizenship by Descent

Eligibility Criteria (2026)

✅ Individuals born anywhere to at least one parent who is a Chinese citizen at the time of birth are eligible for citizenship by descent.
✅ Children born abroad to Chinese parents who have not settled abroad and acquired foreign citizenship retain Chinese nationality.
✅ Exception: Per Article 5 of the Nationality Law, if both parents (or one parent) are Chinese nationals settled abroad and the child acquires foreign nationality at birth, Chinese citizenship is not granted.

✅ Applicant’s birth certificate (legalized/apostilled and translated into Chinese if necessary).
✅ Chinese parent’s birth certificate or citizenship documentation (e.g., Chinese passport or ID card issued by the Ministry of Public Security).
✅ Valid identification of the Chinese parent (e.g., current Chinese passport or national ID).
✅ Applicant’s valid passport or identification document, if applicable.

📍 Citizenship by descent is automatic at birth if eligibility is met; no formal application is required unless registering abroad.
📍 Gather required documents and submit them to a Chinese embassy/consulate (if abroad) or local Public Security Bureau (if in China) to register citizenship.
📍 Await verification of documents by the Ministry of Public Security, which oversees citizenship matters.
📍 Upon confirmation, receive a Chinese passport or national ID card.

📌 China does **not recognize dual citizenship** (Article 3, Nationality Law). Individuals with foreign citizenship must renounce it to claim Chinese nationality.
📌 Per Article 9, Chinese nationals who settle abroad and voluntarily acquire foreign citizenship automatically lose Chinese nationality.
📌 More details can be found in the Nationality Law of the People's Republic of China (official government reference).