Applying for a Dutch passport or identity card if you live in China
If you want to apply for a Dutch passport or ID card and you live in China, follow this step-by-step plan.
Step 1: Create your personal checklist
Creating a personal checklist will show you what documents you need in order to apply for a passport or ID card. Create a separate checklist for each application. This means one for you and one for your child, for instance.
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When you have created your checklist, go to step 2.
Step 2: Check the additional requirements
Your personal checklist (see step 1) will show you that you also need documents from China in order to apply for a Dutch passport or ID card. You can also see whether your documents need to be legalised and translated.
You must prove that you are legally resident in China. You can do this by providing one of the following documents:
- a valid visa and supporting documents
- a valid residence permit
- if you also have Chinese nationality: a valid Chinese passport or ID card.
If you are applying for a Dutch passport or ID card for your child for the first time, use their birth certificate as proof of legal residence. If your child was born in China, you can use their Medical Birth Certificate (MBC) for this purpose. This document is issued by the hospital or midwife.
If, according to your personal checklist (step 1), you need to provide a birth certificate, and you were born in China after 1996, you can provide your Medical Birth Certificate (MBC). This document is issued by the hospital or midwife. You must have the document legalised and translated.
If you have a birth certificate or marriage certificate from China, you must have it legalised. Find out more about having documents from China legalised.
If you have documents from another country, find out if you need to have them legalised.
You can submit documents written in Dutch, English, German or French. If you have documents in Mandarin you should have them translated by a sworn translator.
Step 3: Make an appointment
Once you know which documents you need, you can make an appointment in China or the Netherlands. Make a separate appointment for every application you wish to submit.
- Make an appointment online with the embassy in Beijing
- Make an appointment online with the consulate-general in Shanghai
- Make an appointment online with the consulate-general in Guangzhou
Changing or cancelling your appointment
After making an appointment it will be confirmed by email. The email will contain a link you can use to change or cancel your appointment.
You can also submit your passport or ID card application at a border municipality in the Netherlands or at Amsterdam Schiphol Airport. If you wish to do this, you can skip steps 4 and 5
Step 4: Go to your appointment
You must submit your passport or ID card application in person. Even applicants under 18 must appear in person.
Bring all the documents on your personal checklist. For every document the checklist will show you whether you need to provide the original and/or a photocopy.
If you needed to have documents legalised and/or translated, bring the legalised and translated versions with you as well.
The overview of consular fees in China tells you how much you will have to pay for a passport or ID card and which payment methods are accepted.
No. If you need your current passport or ID card while your application is being processed, you can retain it for the time being.
When do I have to hand in my old passport or ID card?
If you are collecting your new passport or ID card in person, you should hand in your old one when you come to collect it.
If you are having your passport or ID card sent to you, you will need to first send your old one to the embassy or consulate-general. Only then will your new passport or ID card be sent to you. This means that there will be a period when you have no passport or ID card. If you want your old passport or ID card back, inform the embassy or consulate-general.
I have a residence permit or visa in my old passport, what should I do?
If your passport contains visas or a residence permit and you want to keep those pages intact, inform staff of this when you submit your old passport.
After you submit your application you will receive a track & trace code to track the status of your application. You will receive an email when your new passport or ID card is ready.
Step 5: Collect your passport or ID card or have it sent to you
It usually takes 4 weeks until your passport or ID card is ready. If you submit your application to the consulate-general in Guangzhou, you will normally need to wait 6 to 8 weeks. You will be contacted if there are documents missing from your application. In this case, it will take longer until your passport or ID card is ready. You must collect your new passport or ID card within three months; after three months it will be destroyed.
You can collect your new passport or ID card from the embassy in Beijing from Monday to Friday at the following times:
- 09:00 – 12:00
- 14:00 – 16:00
You can collect your new passport or ID card from the consulate-general in Shanghai from Monday to Friday at the following times:
- 09:30 – 11:30
You do not need to make an appointment but first check which days our offices are closed.
You can collect your new passport or ID card from the consulate-general in Guangzhou from Monday to Friday at the following time:
- 10:30 - 12:00
Please send an e-mail to gnz-ca@minbuza.nl to make an appointment. Check which days our offices are closed.
You can have your new passport sent to you. To do this, you should provide your postal address in Chinese characters when you submit your application. You will need to pay the postage costs to the courier when you receive your new passport.
It is normally not possible to have your new ID card sent to you. But double check this when you submit your application.
Contact
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us.