Chinese Law Requires Identification At All Times

February 1, 2008

Chinese law requires that residents and foreigners carry identification at all times. If you carry your passport, please be very careful to safeguard it.

Local police have begun enforcing the existing law that requires every foreigner to have in their possession a valid passport.  A photo copy of a passport will not be accepted.  There have been recent reports of police targeting night clubs frequented by foreigners to ensure compliance.  American citizens are reminded that police can and have detained foreigners who do not have a valid passport or residence permit in order to determine their identity. 

American visitors to China should carry their passports with them, out of reach of pickpockets.  Americans with Chinese residence permits (juliuzheng 居留证) should carry these documents and leave their passports in a secure location, except when traveling. All Americans are encouraged to make photocopies of their passport bio-data pages and Chinese visas and to keep these in a separate secure location, and to register with the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate General.

American Citizen Services
U.S. Consulate General Guangzhou
Tel: (86-20) 8518-7605
      (86-20) 8121-8000 (after hours duty officer for emergencies only)
Fax: (86-20) 3884-4410
Email: GuangzhouACS@state.gov