Dubai: Are you a Chinese expatriate in the UAE who is about to have a baby? If yes, then you might be interested to know about how you can apply for a Chinese passport for your newborn child while living here. UAE residents have 120 days from the birth of their child to apply for their newborn’s residence visa and Emirates ID. To be able to apply for the residence visa, you would first need to apply for your child’s passport.
As reported by Gulf News earlier, since August 2021, Chinese nationals living in the UAE are able to use the ‘Chinese Consulate’ mobile application to receive consular services. Chinese expatriates in the UAE can apply for a Chinese passport for their newborn baby through this app, following the seven steps listed below.
The new passport should be collected within one year of its issuance. The passport will be cancelled after one year, if it is not collected by the applicant.
The new passport, which will be issued through the online application, will not have the baby’s fingerprint data as the option for scanning fingerprints is unavailable in this online process. This would mean that the passport cannot be used at the smart gate at airports when entering China and you will need to go through the manual control channel with the baby.
1. Get your documents in order
You will need to prepare documents listed below, before starting the application process for your infant:
- A copy of the newborn baby’s photograph, meeting the requirements listed below.
- The ‘applicant’s statement and legal guardian’s feedback’ form signed by you as the infant’s legal guardian. You can find the form by following this link: http://kz.china-embassy.gov.cn/lsfw/hz/202205/P020220518592949227657.pdf.
- The baby’s birth certificate.
- Both parents’ passport and UAE visa.
The website also states that the Chinese embassy or the Chinese consulate may ask you to provide other additional, supporting documents, as required by them.
It also needs to show your baby’s entire face and head, without shadows in the background and without any modifications.
Acceptable picture format is .JPEG, .JPG and .PNG.
The size of the photo should be 33mm in width and 48mm in height.
The width of the head on the photo should be within 15mm to 22mm, the height of the head (from the chin to the top of the head) should be within 28mm to 33mm and the distance between the top of the head and the upper frame of the photo should be within 3mm to 5mm.
2. Download the ‘Chinese Consulate’ app
You can download this app from the Apple AppStore, Tencent App Store (which can be used on Android phones), Xiaomi App Store and Huawei AppGallery, by typing ‘Chinese Consulate’ in the search bar.
3. Register on the app
You will then need to register, if you have not already done so, using your information instead of the baby’s information, by following these steps:
- Enter the app and tap ‘my profile’ at the bottom right corner of the screen.
- On the next page, tap ‘log in now’.
- Then tap ‘register a new account’ at the bottom of the next page.
- Afterwards, you will be asked to choose to register an account using your Chinese phone number or your email address. Choose the method that is suitable for you.
- You will then need to fill in your phone number or email address, depending on which method you chose previously, create a password and confirm it.
- Tap the ‘send verification code’ button next and after you receive the code, fill it in the field of ‘verification code’.
- Check the box ‘I have read and I agree to the terms and conditions’, then click ‘Register’.
4. Complete the identity verification
Identity verification is needed for issuance of the baby’s passport through the app. Keep in mind that you need to verify your identity instead of the baby’s in this step. You can do so by following the steps below:
- Log in the app, tap ‘my profile’ on the bottom right of the screen and tap the ‘identity verification’ button on the next page.
- Next, you will be asked to scan your Chinese National ID card or passport front page. Alternatively, you can manually fill in the information below:
• Given name
• Given name in pinyin
• Surname
• Surname in pinyin
- Afterwards, you will need to select from the options provided, the type of ID document you are using and select your gender, as well as fill in your date of birth and ethnic group.
- Tap ‘Complete’ at the bottom of the page.
You need to make sure that the name that you filled in this section matches the name on your identification card, otherwise you will not be able to complete the verification process and proceed.
5. Fill out the ‘passport issuance’ application form
Before filling out the form, you need to know that you are filling out the form on behalf of the baby, so you need to fill the baby’s information in this step.
• After identity verification, go back to the front page of the app and select ‘passport and travel certificate’.
• An information page will appear with the service details.
• Read the information page carefully, check the box ‘I have read and I agree with the notice above’ and click ‘next’.
• You will then be asked to choose the embassy or consulate where you can apply for passport issuance for your baby. If you are in Abu Dhabi, choose ‘Embassy of People’s Republic of China in the UAE’. If you are in Dubai and other emirates, choose ‘Consulate General of People’s Republic of China in Dubai’.
• On the same page, tap ‘choose the type of your current document’, then you will see these options – regular passport, travel certificate, other travel documents including documents for Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan, and the final option as ‘I have never owned a document’.
Choose ‘I have never owned a document’ and tap ‘confirm’.
• Then, select ‘below 16 years of age’ under ‘applicant’s age’ and tap ‘next’.
• Read the message ‘applying for passport or travel certificate for babies born outside of China and babies with one Chinese parent and one foreign parent’. If your case fits the situation of which the message describes, tap ‘confirm’.
• Afterwards, you will need to fill the application form following the steps below:
- Fill in your baby’s basic information, including given name, given name in pinyin, surname, surname in pinyin, gender, ethic group and place of birth.
If your baby does not have a Chinese national ID yet, select ‘no ID’ and tap ‘next’
- On the following page, you will be asked to fill the baby’s residential address in China, name of a contact person in China, the contact person’s phone number, as well as the baby’s UAE residential address, phone number, email address. Fill in the information accordingly.
- Next, select if the baby has a valid UAE visa or resident permit. Then select the visa or resident permit type, such as permanent residence.
- Afterwards, the app will ask if the baby currently has a foreign nationality. If you select ‘yes’, you will not be able to apply for this service on behalf of the baby.
- The following page will ask you to fill in the information of the baby’s parents’ names, address and phone number. You will also be asked to fill in the emergency contact section, with the baby’s emergency contact person’s name, address and phone number, as well as the baby’s relationship with this person. Then, tap ‘next’.
- The next page requires you to read selected sections of the Nationality Law of China and the Passport Law of China. After reading the information, write the baby’s name electronically, using either your finger or a stylus on the touchscreen of your smartphone. The electronic signature here will be used as the baby’s signature on the front page of the baby’s passport. Then tap ‘next’.
- You will then be required to upload the baby’s picture.
- If the photo is accepted by the system, tap ‘next’. If the photo is not accepted due to system error, you can still tap ‘next’ and carry on with the next steps. Meanwhile, you can submit the baby’s photo to zhengjiandb@gmail.com (if you apply in Dubai and other emirates except for Abu Dhabi), or chinaemb.ae@gmail.com (if you apply in Abu Dhabi), with the subject - ‘the baby’s name + application number’ and follow up from there.
- You will then be asked to review all the information you have filled in. If the information needs amendments, you can tap on the amendment sign on the upper right corner and amend accordingly.
- If the information is correct, you may proceed to the next steps.
- In the section of uploading documents, upload all the remaining documents.
- Fill the field for ‘delivery information’.
In this area, you need to put your contact information and detailed address – the baby’s passport will be delivered to the address you provide here.
However, it is important for you to know that you are not required to send any documents by mail at this stage. You only need to do so after the baby’s application passes the review by the Chinese embassy or the Chinese consulate later in the process.
- Again, make sure all information filled in is correct, then tap ‘confirm’.
6. Complete the face recognition verification process
Next, the app requires you, as a parent, to complete the face recognition process, to confirm that you are the legal guardian of the applicant. You can skip this step in case of a system error. However, you will then need to participate in a video call hosted by the Chinese embassy or the Chinese consulate after the application is submitted, which can result in a longer processing time, due to the waiting queue for scheduled video calls.
You can then track your application process in ‘my order’ or ‘message centre’ in the app. The Chinese consulate or Chinese embassy staff will send you messages there to update you on the process, or if further submission of documents is needed. During this time, if you didn’t conduct face recognition within the app, they will message you to schedule a video call.
7. Make the payment and arrange for the documents to be couriered
Once the application passes the review, you will receive a message stating ‘document ready to be made’ in the app, indicating that the baby’s passport is ready to be made. You then need to proceed to make the payment.
The cost for a new passport is Dh64. You need to transfer the exact amount to the bank account listed below. If you transfer more or less than the exact amount, the application will be returned, leading to delays.
Once you have made the payment, you then need to book a courier service. When making the payment for the courier service, make sure you pay them for both the pick-up and drop-off service together, so that the embassy or the consulate can deliver the baby’s passport to you, when it is ready.
The documents need to be delivered by licensed courier companies. The Chinese consulate has mentioned two courier companies on their website, which are Yunda and DHL.
Account number: 1411003378516018
Account name: CONSULAR DEPARTMENT OF CHINESE EMBA
IBAN: AE860351411003378516018
Bank name: FAB
Branch name: FAB UAE-MAIN
Important notice:
You need to add your full name and your date of birth in the remark area when you transfer the money to the given bank account, so the Chinese embassy staff can confirm your payment arrival status in their account. It is important for you to choose a transaction method that enables you to add remarks, like opting for online bank transfer, instead of depositing it through an ATM machine.
After the payment is done, you are required to contact a courier company to send all documents listed below by mail to the Chinese embassy:
• Your name and application number, either printed out or hand-written on a piece of paper
• Copy of payment proof
• Any additional documents that are required by the Chinese embassy.
Here is their address:
Chinese Embassy in the UAE
P.O. Box 2741
Abu Dhabi, UAE
Account number: 1014316680002
Account name: Consulate General of The People’s Republic of China (Dubai)
IBAN: AE720260001014316680002
Bank name: Emirates NBD
Branch name: Umm Suqeim Branch, P.O. Box No.777, Dubai, UAE
If you apply in Dubai and other emirates, you are also required to contact a courier company to send all documents listed below by mail to the Chinese consulate:
• Two copies of ‘pick up form’ with your name and barcode – this form will be generated automatically in the app after you receive the message of ‘document ready to be made’. You can find this form in ‘my order’, then ‘order information’ in the app. One copy should be pasted on the envelope and the other copy should be placed inside the envelope.
• Copy of payment proof. It should provide information such as the name of the sender, time of the transaction, your name and date of birth in the remark area, sender’s bank account number and bank name. If the payment proof doesn’t reflect the your name and date of birth in remarks, you must write this information down on the physical copy of payment proof.
• Two white background photograph of the baby, meeting the requirements mentioned above.
• Any additional documents that are required by the Chinese consulate.
You can refer to their address below:
Consulate General of the People's Republic of China in Dubai
Villa 14, Street 7a, Community 357
Umm Al Sheif Road, Safa 2 Area
P.O. Box 9348
Dubai, UAE
After payment is made and physical documents are received by the embassy or consulate, the baby’s passport will be made and the embassy or consulate will contact the same courier company to arrange for it to be delivered to you.
How long does the process take?
The processing time depends on the volume of requests at the time of the application and can vary on a case-to-case basis. However, it usually takes 15 working days, according to the Chinese embassy. You can track the application through the ‘message centre’ and ‘My order’ sections in the ‘Chinese consulate’ app.
Contacts
Contact information is listed below if you have further questions:
1. The Chinese Embassy (if you apply in Abu Dhabi): 02 4434276. Working hours 9am to 1pm. You can also email chinaemb.ae@gmail.com.
2. The Chinese Consulate (if you apply in Dubai or other Emirates): 04 3952208. Working hours 9am to 1pm. You can also email zhengjiandb@gmail.com.
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