The Standing Committee of the National People's Congress


NATIONALITY LAW OF THE PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA

(Adopted at the Third Session of the Fifth National People's
Congress, promulgated by Order No. 8 of the Chairman of the Standing
Committee of the National People's Congress on and effective as of
September 10, 1980)

Article 1
This Law is applicable to the acquisition, loss and restoration of
nationality of the People's Republic of China.
Article 2
The People's Republic of China is a unitary multinational state; persons
belonging to any of the nationalities in China shall have Chinese
nationality.
Article 3
The People's Republic of China does not recognize dual nationality for any
Chinese national.
Article 4
Any person born in China whose parents are both Chinese nationals or one
of whose parents is a Chinese national shall have Chinese nationality.
Article 5
Any person born abroad whose parents are both Chinese nationals or one of
whose parents is a Chinese national shall have Chinese nationality. But a
person whose parents are both Chinese nationals and have both settled
abroad, or one of whose parents is a Chinese national and has settled
abroad, and who has acquired foreign nationality at birth shall not have
Chinese nationality.
Article 6
Any person born in China whose parents are stateless or of uncertain
nationality and have settled in China shall have Chinese nationality.
Article 7
Foreign nationals or stateless persons who are willing to abide by China's
Constitution and laws and who meet one of the following conditions may be
naturalized upon approval of their applications:
(1) they are near relatives of Chinese nationals;
(2) they have settled in China; or
(3) they have other legitimate reasons.
Article 8
Any person who applies for naturalization as a Chinese national shall
acquire Chinese nationality upon approval of his application; a person
whose application for naturalization as a Chinese national has been
approved shall not retain foreign nationality.
Article 9
Any Chinese national who has settled abroad and who has been naturalized
as a foreign national or has acquired foreign nationality of his own free
will shall automatically lose Chinese nationality.
Article 10
Chinese nationals who meet one of the following conditions may renounce
Chinese nationality upon approval of their applications:
(1) they are near relatives of foreign nationals;
(2) they have settled abroad; or
(3) they have other legitimate reasons.
Article 11
Any person who applies for renunciation of Chinese nationality shall lose
Chinese nationality upon approval of his application.
Article 12
State functionaries and military personnel on active service shall not
renounce Chinese nationality.
Article 13
Foreign nationals who once held Chinese nationality may apply for
restoration of Chinese nationality if they have legitimate reasons; those
whose applications for restoration of Chinese nationality have been
approved shall not retain foreign nationality.
Article 14
Persons who wish to acquire, renounce or restore Chinese nationality, with
the exception of the cases provided for in Article 9, shall go through the
formalities of application. Applications of persons under the age of 18
may be filed on their behalf by their parents or other legal
representatives.
Article 15
Nationality applications at home shall be handled by the public security
bureaus of the municipalities or counties where the applicants reside;
nationality applications abroad shall be handled by China's diplomatic
representative agencies and consular offices.
Article 16
Applications for naturalization as Chinese nationals and for renunciation
or restoration of Chinese nationality are subject to examination and
approval by the Ministry of Public Security of the People's Republic of
China. The Ministry of Public Security shall issue a certificate to any
person whose application has been approved.
Article 17
The nationality status of persons who have acquired or lost Chinese
nationality before the promulgation of this Law shall remain valid.
Article 18
This Law shall come into force on the day of its promulgation.


Important Notice:
This English document is coming from "LAWS AND REGULATIONS OF THE
PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA GOVERNING FOREIGN-RELATED MATTERS" (1991.7)
which is compiled by the Brueau of Legislative Affairs of the State
Council of the People's Republic of China, and is published by the China
Legal System Publishing House.
In case of discrepancy, the original version in Chinese shall prevail.