China - China-Hong Kong Border Crossing - Dual Passports

I apologize if this question has been asked before. I've done a search, but I can't find an answer.

My daughter was born in China and has a Chinese passport. We just got a US passport for her as well. We are in China, which doesn't recognize dual nationality. We, however, want to try to keep her Chinese passport, which means the only way to try and do this is to transit to a middle country on our way into and out of China.

If I wanted to travel to Hong Kong as my middle country how would that work? Does my daughter need a permit to go to HK for a transit, because she would be showing the Chinese agents her Chinese passport which wouldn't have a visa to go to the US.

Am I correct in that the process to do this is this:
1. Exit out of Shenzhen at the Luohu Border Crossing and show my daughter's Chinese passport. Again, does she need a visa because her Chinese passport doesn't have a US visa in it?
2. Enter into Hong Kong at the Lo wu Border Crossing and show my daughter's US passport (will they care that the passport is blank and there is no exit stamp from China?)
3. Fly out of Hong Kong to the US with her US passport.

Is it that simple?

Thanks in advance

I apologize if this question has been asked before. I've done a search, but I can't find an answer.

My daughter was born in China and has a Chinese passport. We just got a US passport for her as well. We are in China, which doesn't recognize dual nationality. We, however, want to try to keep her Chinese passport, which means the only way to try and do this is to transit to a middle country on our way into and out of China.

If I wanted to travel to Hong Kong as my middle country how would that work? Does my daughter need a permit to go to HK for a transit, because she would be showing the Chinese agents her Chinese passport which wouldn't have a visa to go to the US.

Am I correct in that the process to do this is this:
1. Exit out of Shenzhen at the Luohu Border Crossing and show my daughter's Chinese passport. Again, does she need a visa because her Chinese passport doesn't have a US visa in it?
2. Enter into Hong Kong at the Lo wu Border Crossing and show my daughter's US passport (will they care that the passport is blank and there is no exit stamp from China?)
3. Fly out of Hong Kong to the US with her US passport.

Is it that simple?

Thanks in advance

HK is officially a SAR of China.

A better transit COUNTRY might be Japan or Korea.

To leave the PRC mainland on a PRC passport, she will need a visa for the country she intends to visit, whether that is HK or the US or Japan.

If you tell PRC exit immigration that she is going to HK, then she will need an HK Entry Permit, which is not available to all mainland residents. If you tell them she is going to the US via HK, then they need to see a US visa. HK immigration may not care so much, but she won't be allowed to leave the mainland without one.

Furthermore, she must enter and exit HK using the same document.

Thanks for the advice. Maybe I should post in the Japan or South Korea forum.

I'm not sure what your starting point in china is, is going to mongolia by railway an option?

I have crossed the china mongolia border using 2 different passports. Each containing visas for different countries. Chinese immigration were not interested in seeing the visa for Mongolia and visa versa.

Therefore you could exit China with your chinese passports and enter Mongolia on your US passports (no visa required I believe).

No, you should ask again in the China Forum. Not Japan or Korea or anywhere else. Hong Kong, Japan, Korea will all let an American in without question or issue. The issue is for exiting China with a Chinese passport but without permit or visas from other countries. Or maybe it is not an issue. I have no idea, so ask in the China forum.

You will find many threads/posts regarding this topic, though pay attention to the fact that you are dealing with a country that does not permit dual-national. This is an important difference.

Do the Chinese immigration officials verify appropriate visas for destination? If they do, then you will always have to make it look like you are going to travel on the Chinese passport the whole way. If they do not check, then you issue would be the airline, which is solved by showing the passport necessary for the destination.

Show non-Chinese airline (come on, don't tempt fate by doing this with a domestic airline) the passport necessary for the destination (i.e. US passport for the trip to the US) and then show the Chinese passport when passing immigration on the way out.

the passport necessary for the destination (i.e. US passport for the trip to the US) and then show the Chinese passport when passing immigration on the way out.

But the U.S. passport will not have a China visa and Chinese immigration entry stamp!

China does not allow dual nationality with the only exception being holders of the HKSAR passport. Those holding a HKSAR passport as well as a foreign nationality mean that they forfeit their entitlements to consular assistance and protection of the foreign country whilst in HK, Macau and mainland China, or whenever they use the HKSAR passport to travel outside of these three places.

But the U.S. passport will not have a China visa and Chinese immigration entry stamp!

The airline is not interested in this. They have to make sure you have a valid visa for the destination. This is really a non-issue EXCEPT that we are talking about a country that does not permit dual-nationality. In any other country you would even show both (if requested), but the minute you move into illegal activities.......

As for the forfeiture part of your post. This is the same for any dual national, so not specific to HKSAR.

The airline is not interested in this. They have to make sure you have a valid visa for the destination. This is really a non-issue EXCEPT that we are talking about a country that does not permit dual-nationality. In any other country you would even show both (if requested), but the minute you move into illegal activities.......

As for the forfeiture part of your post. This is the same for any dual national, so not specific to HKSAR.

You do not appear to understand the immigration embarkation process in China.

It is the leaving China that is the issue. If you are found to be in procession of a foreign passport you can and will lose PRC citizenship and your passport taken on the spot.

Hint: Why do most Malaysians go back via a SIN transit when there are many direct flights into KUL?

You do not appear to understand the immigration embarkation process in China.

How about providing some actual information in your post please.

Moved to China Forum, as it is China border crossings from Hong Kong SAR that is under discussion.

JDiver, Senior Moderator/Moderator: American AAdvantage, iDine, and Talkboard Topics

Show non-Chinese airline (come on, don't tempt fate by doing this with a domestic airline) the passport necessary for the destination (i.e. US passport for the trip to the US) and then show the Chinese passport when passing immigration on the way out.

Not in OP's situation, but I doubt this will work. When one checks in with any airline they will require a passport. That is entered into your flight information. I am fairly certain that when you proceed to security, your flight information and passport number are bundled together, and if you switch at that point alarm bells will go off.

For the OP - Why can't your daughter get a US visa in her Chinese passport for her entry into the U.S.? Once she's in the US she can travel lots of places on her US passport, but just use the Chinese passport for trips to/from China.

Not exactly the same challenges, but OP may want to take time reading these two existing discussion threads on dual citizens involving a nation that does not allow dual nationals:

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/travelbuzz/983494-us-born-living-india-indian-passport.html

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/travelbuzz/1055069-besides-taiwan-do-other-countries-stamp-both-us-foreign-passports-dual-nationals.html

Whatever you decide to do on your daughter's behalf, just be very careful and keep in mind the consequences (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/13401289-post39.html).

For the OP - Why can't your daughter get a US visa in her Chinese passport for her entry into the U.S.?

Putting aside the extra cost, maybe because US don't issue US visas to US citizens?

And what kind of visa do you think OP's daughter should apply for? Could you think of a country that would issue such type of (visitor) visa to its own citizens? :confused:

I have a few friends that are in a similar situation. The game they play is:

1) enter China using their HKIDs
2) leave with their US passports
3) never, under any circumstances, show the officials the second ID
-one of my best friends slipped up in this area a few years ago, and ended up being deported to HK (from SH)
-he lived to tell the tale, but lost 3 days from work, and spent a small fortune in order to set things straight

1) enter China using their HKIDs

Please elaborate...

I have a few friends that are in a similar situation. The game they play is:

1) enter China using their HKIDs
2) leave with their US passports
3) never, under any circumstances, show the officials the second ID
-one of my best friends slipped up in this area a few years ago, and ended up being deported to HK (from SH)
-he lived to tell the tale, but lost 3 days from work, and spent a small fortune in order to set things straight

How does this work?

How does this work?

I feel compelled to disclaim the fact that I don't have any Chinese blood. As such, my reports are based on the experiences of others. But, the short of it is that HKIDs (with the home return permit) are sufficient to gain entry into China, while foreign passports make leaving possible. Being born in HK is a good thing for those who aspire to game the system.

I feel compelled to disclaim the fact that I don't have any Chinese blood. As such, my reports are based on the experiences of others. But, the short of it is that HKIDs (with the home return permit) are sufficient to gain entry into China, while foreign passports make leaving possible. Being born in HK is a good thing for those who aspire to game the system.

I am dual Australian and Hong Kong national. My wife is from Guangzhou (CAN). So sometimes we fly to CAN without going via HKG. Sometimes I do SYD-SIN-CAN on SQ, or SYD-BKK-CAN on TG, skipping HKG altogether.

So what I do is:

1) Leave SYD: Show Australian Passport
2) Leave SIN/BKK: Show HKSAR Passport and HK Return Permit to prove I can go to CAN without visa.
3) Enter CAN: Show my HK Return Permit only, HKSAR Passport if asked
4) Leave CAN to SIN/BKK: Show HK Return Permit and HKSAR Passport if asked
5) Leave SIN/BKK to SYD: Show Australian Passport

Just to elaborate further on point 3), since I fly CAN-SIN/BKK-SYD in 1 hit, I would have 2 boarding passes, and the luggage tag all the way to SYD. The check-in person would ask me for Australian visa which I show them my AU passport. But at immigration I only show CAN-SIN/BKK boarding pass and HK Return Permit and HKSAR passport only. No question asked.

However, this only ever works if you are HK national with HK return permit. My wife who is now an Australian, applies for Chinese visa everytime she goes to China as she is not going to renew the PRC passport. And no, we are not going to live in HKG for 7 years so she can get a HKPID and then HK Return Permit, housing is too expensive and also prefer Australian lifestyle.

3) Enter CAN: Show my HK Return Permit only, HKSAR Passport if asked
4) Leave CAN to SIN/BKK: Show HK Return Permit and HKSAR Passport if asked
5) Leave SIN/BKK to SYD: Show Australian Passport


So long as you are leaving CAN to a country where you do not need an entry visa for your HKSAR passport and meeting all other entry requirements to that country.

You will have problem if you try to fly from CAN to the U.S.A. and your HKSAR passport does not bear U.S. entry visa. You cannot pull out your Australian passport to tell the check-in agent that you have an ESTA.

1) enter China using their HKIDs

HKID ≠ Return Home Permit. One cannot enter China with a HKID card.

2) leave with their US passports

Ah.... there is no Chinese immigration entry stamp on the U.S. passport.

One cannot use the U.S. passport to leave China if that person has not used the U.S. passport to enter. That person must use the RHP to exit China. In that case, only if travelling to Hong Kong or a country that does not require an entry visa for the HKSAR passport and that person meets all other entry requirements to that country with a HKSAR passport.

Your friend probably was flying to a country (not Hong Kong) that requires an entry visa for the HKSAR passport, e.g., the U.S.A. He/she did not have one but pulled out his/her U.S. passport .........

My Canadian Chinese friends go via Japan.

Leave China to Japan (no visa necessary for short term visit) using China Passport.

Leave Japan to Canada using Canadian passport.

When he leaves Canada, he always uses his Canadian passport

Goes to Japan then enters China using his Chinese passport.

He wants to protect his Chinese citizenship until his parents pass away. Parents live in China and he is in fear that they will need elder care.

When his inlaws had medical issues, he and his wife was able to make it back to China, lived there until they were better and come back to Canada.

HKID ≠ Return Home Permit. One cannot enter China with a HKID card.


I'm not sure exactly how he plays it, but the man has never had to procure a Chinese visa, and has been able to move freely around the globe using a combination of his HRP and a US passport. His parents are ABCs; they flew to HK shortly before he was born in the mid 70s... and, brought him to NYC immediately thereafter. He is my best friend; we do both SH and HK in style!

And what kind of visa do you think OP's daughter should apply for? Could you think of a country that would issue such type of (visitor) visa to its own citizens? :confused:

The UK will issue a Certificate of Entitlement to the Right of Abode, which is a sticker in a foreign passport, to someone who has (or is entitled to) British citizenship but has never applied for a passport. So if OP was a British citizen otherwise than by descent, he could get his daughter a PRC passport and then the UK embassy will stick a CoE inside it (for a fee).

The experiences of HKSAR passport holders are irrelevant to the OP, as most of them are basically permitted to have multiple citizenships, as long as only Chinese citizenship is used in PRC territory.

Leave China to Japan (no visa necessary for short term visit) using China Passport.


Huh? I thought Chinese nationals were still required to have visas for Japan?

Huh? I thought Chinese nationals were still required to have visas for Japan?

There's a 72 hour transit "shore pass" that can be offered to Chinese nationals upon arrival at the discretion of the Japanese immigration officer upon presentation of an onward ticket and proof of funds for your stay. It's not really something that should be relied on, and you'll often get admonished if you try to use it (e.g. sucking-air-through-teeth-noise plus "next time, you really should get a transit visa").

In any case, it's in TIMATIC, so it should work in theory, but in my experience, only ANA/JAL really know about this, and if you ask them before you show up to check in, they too will advise getting an actual transit visa. For residents of first-tier cities, though, all Japanese visas have gotten much easier to come by in recent years, and, at least in the case of several of my (very well-off) friends from Shanghai, pretty much a rubber-stamp application now for a 30-day tourist visa.

So long as you are leaving CAN to a country where you do not need an entry visa for your HKSAR passport and meeting all other entry requirements to that country.

You will have problem if you try to fly from CAN to the U.S.A. and your HKSAR passport does not bear U.S. entry visa. You cannot pull out your Australian passport to tell the check-in agent that you have an ESTA.

Which for me would never be a problem as I have no intention to travel direct from China to USA anytime soon .....

Also I always prefer to fly out to other countries via HKG as it is my home town. From time to time I want to save transit time (and award availability) and travel direct to CAN instead.

My Canadian Chinese friends go via Japan.

Leave China to Japan (no visa necessary for short term visit) using China Passport.

Leave Japan to Canada using Canadian passport.

When he leaves Canada, he always uses his Canadian passport

Goes to Japan then enters China using his Chinese passport.

He wants to protect his Chinese citizenship until his parents pass away. Parents live in China and he is in fear that they will need elder care.

When his inlaws had medical issues, he and his wife was able to make it back to China, lived there until they were better and come back to Canada.

Having said that though, once his Chinese passport needs renewal, then the Chinese embassy/consulate would ask whether he lives on another country, and then need a letter from the immigration dept of that country to issue a letter stating that he has not received the citizenship of that country. This has been happening in Chinese consulates/embassies in Australia for the last 2 years.

So long as you are leaving CAN to a country where you do not need an entry visa for your HKSAR passport and meeting all other entry requirements to that country.

You will have problem if you try to fly from CAN to the U.S.A. and your HKSAR passport does not bear U.S. entry visa. You cannot pull out your Australian passport to tell the check-in agent that you have an ESTA.

i.e. Japan/South Korea

Having said that though, once his Chinese passport needs renewal, then the Chinese embassy/consulate would ask whether he lives on another country, and then need a letter from the immigration dept of that country to issue a letter stating that he has not received the citizenship of that country. This has been happening in Chinese consulates/embassies in Australia for the last 2 years.

Interesting, he just renewed his Chinese passport this past spring. He didn't mention he had any problems... I will ask him.

Taiwaned, this sounds similar to my situation. So, he leaves China with his Chinese passport, but does he enter Japan with his Chinese or his Canadian passport? Also, does he have to exit the immigration area and then re-check in for his flight to Canada?

Thanks so much.



Originally Posted by Taiwaned
My Canadian Chinese friends go via Japan.

Leave China to Japan (no visa necessary for short term visit) using China Passport.

Leave Japan to Canada using Canadian passport.

When he leaves Canada, he always uses his Canadian passport

Goes to Japan then enters China using his Chinese passport.

He wants to protect his Chinese citizenship until his parents pass away. Parents live in China and he is in fear that they will need elder care.

When his inlaws had medical issues, he and his wife was able to make it back to China, lived there until they were better and come back to Canada.

Enter Japan from Canada, he uses his Chinese passport.

He said he needs a Japanese entry stamp to prove he came in from Japan to get back into China without hassle.

He did not mention anything about what he uses to LEAVE China.

Does this make sense?

Hong Koners are allowed to have multipule citizenship, although they will only be considered as a Chinese National in HKSAR and Mainland China.

However, this does not apply to OP's situation as I believe the OP's daughter is born in Mainland China and holds a PRC passport, not HK passport.


I am dual Australian and Hong Kong national. My wife is from Guangzhou (CAN). So sometimes we fly to CAN without going via HKG. Sometimes I do SYD-SIN-CAN on SQ, or SYD-BKK-CAN on TG, skipping HKG altogether.

So what I do is:

1) Leave SYD: Show Australian Passport
2) Leave SIN/BKK: Show HKSAR Passport and HK Return Permit to prove I can go to CAN without visa.
3) Enter CAN: Show my HK Return Permit only, HKSAR Passport if asked
4) Leave CAN to SIN/BKK: Show HK Return Permit and HKSAR Passport if asked
5) Leave SIN/BKK to SYD: Show Australian Passport




Edison, you shouldn't even have to go through all these.

Even if you fly SYD-CAN direct,

When you board in SYD, you just need to show the airline your Home Return Permit to prove that you can enter China and show SYD immigration your Australian passport.

When you enter CAN you will show your Home Return Permit.
When you leave CAN for SYD ( direct ) you will show the airline your Australian passport ( to show that you can enter Australian ) and immigration your Home Return Permit.

So long as you are leaving CAN to a country where you do not need an entry visa for your HKSAR passport and meeting all other entry requirements to that country.

You will have problem if you try to fly from CAN to the U.S.A. and your HKSAR passport does not bear U.S. entry visa. You cannot pull out your Australian passport to tell the check-in agent that you have an ESTA.

What's the problem?

You will present the check in agent the Australian passport with ESTA to check in with the airline.

And present to the PRC Immigration agent the Home Return Permit to leave.

Bottom line is, to the PRC Immigration agents, a Hong Konger's travel document for entering and leaving Mainland China is the Home Return Permit.

No, Hong Kong's government does not recognize dual citizenship although they don't tend to question if you enter on one passport and leave on another.

No, Hong Kong's government does not recognize dual citizenship although they don't tend to question if you enter on one passport and leave on another.

Appointees' dual citizenship sparks debate (http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/hkedition/2008-05/28/content_6716181.htm)

"Following the government appointment of eight deputy directors last week, there are media reports that three of the deputy directors are holding a foreign passport.

"On Monday, Chief Secretary for Administration Henry Tang also commented that there is no nationality restriction in the Basic Law on deputy directors and political assistants."

What's the problem?

You will present the check in agent the Australian passport with ESTA to check in with the airline.

And present to the PRC Immigration agent the Home Return Permit to leave.

Bottom line is, to the PRC Immigration agents, a Hong Konger's travel document for entering and leaving Mainland China is the Home Return Permit.

How can one legally hold both Chinese and Australian passports at the same time?

How can one legally hold both Chinese and Australian passports at the same time?

Again, Regular PRC Passport? No.

Hong Kong SAR Passport + Australian Passport ? Yes, you can. You won't enjoy consular protection in HK or in Mainland China, but you can use the Australian Passport to travel.

http://www.gov.hk/en/residents/immigration/chinese/faqnationality.htm#/q2

"Chinese nationals of the HKSAR with right of abode in foreign countries may, for the purpose of travelling, use the relevant documents issued by the foreign governments. However, they will not be entitled to consular protection in the HKSAR and other parts of the People's Republic of China on account of holding the above mentioned documents."

^ Well, that effectively means Hong Kong does not recognize dual citizenship because if a foreign passport is used to enter a 3rd country, Hong Kong and China will not exercise its duty to provide consular assistance, meaning that person is no longer a Hong Kong citizen.

^ Well, that effectively means Hong Kong does not recognize dual citizenship because if a foreign passport is used to enter a 3rd country, Hong Kong and China will not exercise its duty to provide consular assistance, meaning that person is no longer a Hong Kong citizen.

However, they will not be entitled to consular protection in the HKSAR and other parts

Relevant part bolded. Not a third country, HK or the mainland itself. In such a case, the other government can't help you if things go wrong. Which is standard practice as far as I know.

But there is no such thing as domestic consular protection. The language sounds very odd. You wouldn't go to your own country's consulate at home for help in anything, right? In fact, I doubt I'd even find a consulate of my own country within my own country.

There's another blurb further down that may shed some light : http://www.gov.hk/en/residents/immigration/chinese/faqnationality.htm#/q2

Unless you have renounced your Chinese nationality, you are a Chinese national in the HKSAR. If you choose to be treated as a foreign national in the HKSAR, you may with valid documents in support, make a declaration of change of nationality to the HKSAR Immigration Department. Upon approval, you will no longer be regarded as a Chinese national and can enjoy consular protection from the country of your declared nationality.

You are supposed to renounce your HK citizenship if you enter Hong Kong on a foreign passport. Whether you do it or not is another question. Technically, the two citizenships cannot co-exist together.

Interesting, he just renewed his Chinese passport this past spring. He didn't mention he had any problems... I will ask him.

This is interesting as the PRC Embassy/Consulates in Canada will only renew passports for people who are either PR in Canada or otherwise legally present on some sort of visa. How did he manage to convince them of this?

Letter from immigration though that edison mentions doesn't seem to apply to Canada for now.

This is interesting as the PRC Embassy/Consulates in Canada will only renew passports for people who are either PR in Canada or otherwise legally present on some sort of visa. How did he manage to convince them of this?

Letter from immigration though that edison mentions doesn't seem to apply to Canada for now.

He renewed his PRC Passport in his home town near Beijing when he went back.

He says you cannot renew your PRC passport in Canada without them finding out you are a Canadian citizen. Which confirms what you just stated.

He says it is becoming more and more of a pain to maintain both passports but as I mentioned in a previous thread, purpose is to maintain it until elder care is no longer necessary.

I do the same. It is pretty common. The hard part is getting your first Visa to China as they require you to turn in your current passport (if it is your first time). I (US and Canadian citizen as well) maintain my Chinese passport for travel within China.

I apologize if this question has been asked before. I've done a search, but I can't find an answer.

My daughter was born in China and has a Chinese passport. We just got a US passport for her as well. We are in China, which doesn't recognize dual nationality. We, however, want to try to keep her Chinese passport, which means the only way to try and do this is to transit to a middle country on our way into and out of China.

If I wanted to travel to Hong Kong as my middle country how would that work? Does my daughter need a permit to go to HK for a transit, because she would be showing the Chinese agents her Chinese passport which wouldn't have a visa to go to the US.

Am I correct in that the process to do this is this:
1. Exit out of Shenzhen at the Luohu Border Crossing and show my daughter's Chinese passport. Again, does she need a visa because her Chinese passport doesn't have a US visa in it?
2. Enter into Hong Kong at the Lo wu Border Crossing and show my daughter's US passport (will they care that the passport is blank and there is no exit stamp from China?)
3. Fly out of Hong Kong to the US with her US passport.

Is it that simple?

Thanks in advance

you should ask this question in chinese site, people there should know better

Been through this drill in China

US Embassy
Beijing PSB
US State Dept

If you have a blue passport, just chuck the red one.

You can't double dip.

China doesn't recognize dual, but there are criteria for gaining and losing Chinese nationality. The OP's child is Chinese because of a Chinese parent and birth on Chinese soil. A Mainland Chinese loses Chinese nationality if he/she voluntarily obtains/get naturalized in another country. Being American by birth to a qualified American parent does not cause you to lose Chinese nationality. This is not India.

This non-HK/Macau related Chinese dual nationality works the other way too. Birth tourist moms enter the US to give birth. They are not "settled" (US Green Card), and therefore the child is both American and Chinese. And unlike birth in HK, I believe these US born kids may even get hukou registration.