The Public Security Bureau's new policy in China will have a great effect on those who hold dual citizenship within China. It is expected that multi-national families holding dual citizenship (namely, their children) will be the ones to experience this impact the most--and not in a particularly positive way.

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With the new policy in place, many of these residents who hold this type of dual citizenship stand a great chance of losing their Chinese citizenship.

How exactly would these families lose their Chinese citizenship?

Families that are made up of one foreign parent and one Chinese native parent are likely to have to renounce their children's Chinese citizenship.

Well, if China plans to make dual citizenship holders renounce their Chinese citizenship, why were families allowed dual citizenship in the first place?

Unlike a few other Asian countries (such as South Korea--where foreign residents have been able to obtain dual citizenship since 2010), China does not grant official dual citizenship to its residents.

However, up until now, the Public Security Bureau has not strictly enforced this policy. In fact, many Chinese residents were able to receive citizenship in another country while still keeping their original Chinese citizenship.

Previously, the children of multi-national families were granted special permits that allowed them a single entry and exit from China when the family planned to go abroad. Even then, though, several multi-national families have struggled when trying to legally secure these special permits--including plenty of paperwork to fill out.

If their Chinese citizenship is renounced, these children will not be allowed to obtain these permits. 

While there has not been a public report of many families having to undergo this difficult and complicated process, it has been noted that the Public Security Bureau is beginning to urge these multi-national families to begin to take action.

TagsPublic Security Bureau, Citizenship