Frequently asked questions
- Does an applicant need to renounce his/her foreign nationality before lodging the application for naturalization as a Chinese national or restoration of Chinese nationality?
- For the nationality application of minors, can the application be signed by one of his/her parents?
- Can Macao SAR non-permanent residents of foreign nationality apply for naturalization as a Chinese national?
- Can applicants apply for naturalization as a Chinese national if they do not have a near relative who is a Chinese national?
- Who are considered as the near relatives in the nationality application?
- Under what circumstances should the persons who are applying for naturalization as a Chinese national submit a certificate of criminal record issued by the competent authority in the place of origin of the applicant?
- Can Macao SAR non-permanent residents of foreign nationality apply for restoration of Chinese nationality if they once held Chinese nationality?
- When applying for renunciation of Chinese nationality, can the applicants only submit proof of having applied for naturalization as a national of another country?
- After the application for renunciation of Chinese nationality is approved, can the applicant retain his/her Macao SAR Passport?
- What persons can make choose between Chinese nationality and Portuguese nationality?
- May the Macao SAR residents who are of both Chinese and Portuguese descents retain their Portuguese passport if they have chosen Chinese nationality?
- Following to the previous question, may the applicants apply for the Macao SAR Passport if they have chosen Portuguese nationality?
- Who can apply for changing nationality?
1. Does an applicant need to renounce his/her foreign nationality before lodging the application for naturalization as a Chinese national or restoration of Chinese nationality?
To avoid becoming a stateless person, the applicant does not need to renounce his/her original foreign nationality in advance. If the application for naturalization as a Chinese national or restoration of Chinese nationality is approved, the applicant has to submit proof of renouncing the foreign nationality within 6 months upon the receipt of notification from this Bureau.
2. For the nationality application of minors, can the application be signed by one of his/her parents?
Due to the reason that nationality application concerns the minor’s significant interest, both parents must sign the application for their underage children.
3. Can Macao SAR non-permanent residents of foreign nationality apply for naturalization as a Chinese national?
No, they cannot. Only Macao SAR permanent resident who is a person of foreign nationality or who is a stateless person can apply for naturalization as a Chinese national.
4. Can applicants apply for naturalization as a Chinese national if they do not have a near relative who is a Chinese national?
If applicants do not have a near relative who is a Chinese national, they should have legitimate reasons to apply for naturalization as a Chinese national. Legitimate reasons include whether they have resided in Macao for a long time, whether they grew up in Macao, whether they have connection with China, whether they have the knowledge of the Chinese language, whether they are fond of Chinese culture and so on.
5. Who are considered as the near relatives in the nationality application?
Near relatives includes spouse, parents, children and siblings of the applicant.
6. Under what circumstances should the persons who are applying for naturalization as a Chinese national submit a certificate of criminal record issued by the competent authority in the place of origin of the applicant?
For the applicant who had lived in other country or territory for 6 months or longer before settling in Macao and who had reached the age of 16 or above when living there, he/she has to submit a certificate of criminal record which is issued within 90 days from its issuance date by the competent authority in the place of his/her origin.
7. Can Macao SAR non-permanent residents of foreign nationality apply for restoration of Chinese nationality if they once held Chinese nationality?
Yes, they can. Applicants should provide proof that they once held Chinese nationality, such as a birth certificate, Chinese passport or certificate of renunciation of Chinese nationality.
8. When applying for renunciation of Chinese nationality, can the applicants only submit proof of having applied for naturalization as a national of another country?
When applying for renunciation of Chinese nationality, the applicants should submit proof of having acquired other nationality or proof of the need to renounce his/her Chinese nationality.
9. After the application for renunciation of Chinese nationality is approved, can the applicant retain his/her Macao SAR Passport?
No, the applicant shall lose his/her Chinese nationality upon approval of the application for renunciation of Chinese nationality. Therefore, he/she is no longer eligible to apply for the Macao SAR Passport and must return his/her Macao SAR Passport to the Identification Services Bureau for cancellation.
10. What persons can make choose between Chinese nationality and Portuguese nationality?
According to Paragraph 2 of Article 1 of Explanations of Some Questions by the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress Concerning the Implementation of the Nationality Law of the People’s Republic of China in the Macao Special Administrative Region, a Macao SAR resident who is of both Chinese and Portuguese descents may select Chinese nationality or Portuguese nationality based on his/her wish. When lodging the application for selecting Chinese nationality or Portuguese nationality, applicants are required to provide a declaration of having both Chinese and Portuguese descents.
11. May the Macao SAR residents who are of both Chinese and Portuguese descents retain their Portuguese passport if they have chosen Chinese nationality?
Yes, they can. These residents may retain their Portuguese passport as travel documents after they have chosen Chinese nationality. However, they will not be entitled to Portuguese consular protection in the Macao Special Administrative Region and other parts of the People’s Republic of China.
12. Following to the previous question, may the applicants apply for the Macao SAR Passport if they have chosen Portuguese nationality?
No, they cannot. Applicants who have chosen Portuguese nationality no longer possess Chinese nationality. Therefore, they are not eligible to apply for the Macao SAR Passport.
13. Who can apply for changing nationality?
For original Chinese nationals of the Macao SAR who returned to Macao from abroad before or after the establishment of the Macao SAR and who possess other foreign nationality, they can request to change their nationality to other foreign nationality. However, they will no longer possess Chinese nationality once they have made such change.