Government of Canada services and information in Shanghai, China

Refer to:

• Adopt a child from abroad
• Basic procedures for foreigners to adopt from China
• China Center for Children’s Welfare and Adoption (in Mandarin only)

Chinese laws state adopted children must leave China with their Chinese passport. The Embassy issues facilitation visas to enable children to travel to Canada on Chinese passports.

The adoptive parent(s) must bring the following documents to the Embassy to process the child’s immigration form:

• approved sponsorship form
• application form (IMM 0008) in the name of the child
• 4 passport-size photos of the child
• original Chinese passport for the child
• copy of the child's Chinese passport
• copy of the child's adoption certificate
• copy of "Notice of Travelling to China for adoption" issued to the parent(s) by CCCWA
• notarized birth certificate of the child
• notarized adoption Certificate of the child
• completed "Change of Name form" listing the child's birth name and name the child will have in Canada
• Quebec cases: copies of “Certificat de Sélection", “Demande de Parrainage” and “Formulaire d'Engagement”

Surrogacy is illegal in China.

Refer to Children born outside of Canada.

If your child is born outside of Canada, you do not need to register the birth in Canada.

• Refer to Canadian citizenship
• How to apply for a proof of Citizenship
• Renounce your Canadian Citizenship

Proof of Citizenship

If applying for a proof of Citizenship for yourself or your child, we encourage you to use this self-assessment tool to determine if you are eligible to apply online.

If you are not eligible, please complete your application and pay your fee online before booking an appointment to present your documents in person. Bring your online payment receipt to your appointment.

Applications can also be mailed in or dropped off at:

中国上海市静安区南京西路1788号 1788国际中心8楼 200040

Attention: Consular Section

When mailing in or dropping off an application, please ensure that your application is duly completed, required documents are included, applicable fees have been paid online, and the receipt is included. It is also essential that your phone number, email address and mailing address are accurate.

Applications for citizenship certificates are pre-screened at the Embassy before being sent to the Case Processing Center in Sydney, Nova Scotia for processing and decision. To check current processing times for proof of Citizenship applications please visit Check processing times.

IRCC will send you an acknowledgement of receipt (AOR) letter by email once they receive your application. If you have received the AOR letter at the email address that you provided in your application, you can check the status of your paper file through the electronic Client Application Status tool.

To replace a Canadian birth certificate, send requests to the appropriate provincial vital statistics office.

Renunciation of Citizenship

If you want to apply for Renunciation of Citizenship, please complete an application and pay your fee online before booking an appointment to present your documents in person. Bring your online payment receipt to your appointment.

Refer to Death abroad.

Refer to Marriage outside Canada.

Canadians wanting to marry in China must present a completed statutory declaration. The Canadian consular offices carry blank forms. The form indicates that you are single and eligible to marry. Bring your divorce decree or the death certificate of your former spouse if married before. The consular officer must view your Canadian passport before witnessing your signature.

Contact the Marriage Registration Office in the area where you plan to marry. Procedures and document requirements differ between areas.

Chinese civil authorities cannot marry foreigners unless one person is a Chinese citizen or has Hong Kong, Taiwan or Macau identification.

A Can$50 fee is charged for this service.

Consular officials do not provide any legal advice or represent a person in court. Limited in-person consular and notarial services are available to Canadian citizens by booking an appointment online.

The Consulate provides the following services:

• Statutory Declaration of Marriage Eligibility (required: valid Canadian passport. If previously married, original or certified true copy of divorce certificate or final judgment of divorce. If widowed, original or certified true copy of death certificate. English translation of Chinese documents is required.)
• Facilitation letter to confirm Canadian passport history (required: current Canadian passport and original or copy of previous passport)
• Affirmations and declarations to submit documents to Chinese local authorities (required: valid Canadian photo identification with signature)
• Certified true copies of eligible original Canadian documents in English or French for submitting to Chinese local authorities (required: original Canadian document)

Chinese authorities occasionally require authenticated documents. Refer to Authentication of Documents about how to get Canadian documents authenticated in China. If possible, have your documents authenticated in Canada before your departure. If you are already in China, send your documents to the Authentication office in Ottawa by mail.

For information on apostilles, please visit Changes to authentication services in Canada. Note that the Canadian offices in China do not generally offer authentication services.

Canadian citizens should contact local service providers: Canadian lawyers or Local Notary Public Offices for other notarial services that are not available at the Embassy. Some notarial services for Canadian documents are also offered online. Please note that Canadian citizens have the responsibility to ensure that the services provided by the Embassy are acceptable for local authorities. Documents generally require translation into Chinese for local providers. A list of local lawyers is available from the Embassy and online at Ask Travel. The names and organizations are not an endorsement or a recommendation.

To view the online list on Ask Travel, select one of the following questions:

• How do I get Notarial and document service abroad?
• Which lawyers can I contact abroad?

Before submitting a passport application:

1. Complete the appropriate passport application:
   • Adult Abroad - Simplified Renewal passport application
   • Adult Abroad - General passport application
   • Child Abroad - General passport application (under 16 years of age)
2. Pay your fees online
3. Submit your complete application.

In person:

You need to come in person only if you want to keep your current passport while we process the new one, or if you need urgent or emergency service.

If you are presenting your documents in person, you must book an appointment. Remember to bring your online payment receipt to your appointment.

Emergency consular assistance for Canadians is always available 24/7.

By mail or drop off:

All applications submitted by mail must be sent to the Embassy of Canada in Beijing:

北京市朝阳区东直门外大街19号
Attn: 加拿大使馆领事处收 
Postal code: 100600 
Phone number: (86-10) 5139-4000

Track the status of your mail with your courier company. The Embassy of Canada is not able to answer enquiries on application status or receipt of documents.

The Embassy will only contact you if additional information is required. If we are unable to reach you, your application will not be processed and will be returned to you by mail.

It is not necessary to indicate an anticipated date of travel unless you have already finalized your travelling plans (for example, you have purchased your ticket).

The processing time for a passport application is 20 business days plus all mailing time, from Canada and within China.

All your documents must be in either English or French. If a document is in another language, you must provide an official translation.

When mailing in or dropping off an application, ensure that your application includes the following in a sealed envelope:

• Completed application form

• Original required document(s)

• 2 passport photos taken within the last six months, with one certified and signed by the guarantor

• Printed receipt showing applicable fees been

• An EMS label or a separate piece of paper with your complete mailing address written in Chinese, including your phone number

We will courier your new passport, and all submitted supporting documents, to your mailing address.

Incomplete applications will be rejected and sent back to the sender without being processed.

Child passport application - Under 2 years of age

A passport application for a child under 2 years of age without proof of citizenship can be submitted if:

• A citizenship application has been submitted prior to or at the same time as the passport application.

• A proof of international travel (airline ticket or booking confirmation under the child’s name) or a statement detailing a residency requirement is available.

Living in China with a legal guardian

To apply for a child’s passport when the child lives with a legal guardian in China and both parents reside outside of China:

• Section 2 (Information on applicant) of the application requires the details about both parents. Do not sign the declaration in this block.

• Section 5 (Declaration of applicant) requires the details and signature of the guardian. The guardian must present personal identification with an English or French translation if originally issued in another language.

• The passport examiner will provide a file number to the guardian and give it to the parents.

• The parents should visit the nearest passport or Service Canada office to submit a written statement confirming: "I the undersigned, (name), as the parent, custodial parent or legal guardian, authorize (name of guardian) to apply for a passport on behalf of child (name) and the passport, when it is issued, may be released to that person."

• The statement must also include the reason why they were unable to apply.

Dual citizenship

China does not recognize dual citizenship. A child born in China could be considered a Chinese citizen if one parent is a Chinese citizen, or if both parents are Canadian citizens residing in China with Chinese identification. In such a case, local authorities may decide not to issue a visa. Contact the Entry and Exit Administration Division of the nearest Public Security Bureau for more information.

Emergency/Urgent passport application

Emergency cases, such as lost or stolen passports, will be served without appointment. For emergency services within office hours, call +86 10 5139 4000 or email chn.assistance@international.gc.ca. After office hours, contact the Emergency Watch and Response Centre in Ottawa.

We recommended you do not finalize your travel plans until you receive the requested passport.

Refer to Benefits for Canadians living abroad.

Refer to Studying abroad and EduCanada.

The Canada-China Scholars' Exchange Program (CCSEP) is open to Chinese applicants for the 2022-2023 academic year.

Refer to Travel documents – Visas.

• Apply to travel, study, work or immigrate to Canada.
• Find a visa application centre (VAC) to book an appointment to give your biometrics (fingerprints and photo).
• Submit an enquiry using the IRCC web form to contact a visa office.

Permanent residents of Canada: Find out how to apply for a Permanent Resident Travel Document (PRTD).

Refer to Voting in an election while outside Canada.