First passport, renewal or replacement for Chinese nationals under 16. A child born in Australia holds Chinese nationality and can get a Chinese passport when both parents were Chinese citizens without Australian permanent residence at the birth.
Where to apply in Australia
Embassy consular hall in Canberra (15 Coronation Drive, Yarralumla ACT; ACT and NT) and the Consulates-General in Sydney (NSW), Melbourne (VIC and TAS), Brisbane (QLD), Perth (WA) and Adelaide (SA). Apply at the post that covers the state where you live.
Cases where one parent is a third-country national are assessed individually by the post.
Contact details for every office are on the page of the embassy and consulates of China.
How to apply
Apply online in the China Consular Affairs app, then attend the post with at least one legal guardian, who signs written consent. No postal or agent lodgement.
Documents you need
- Online form in the app
- Two 2-inch white-background photos taken in the last 6 months (a CD/DVD with the same digital photo is recommended)
- Both parents' passports and copies, with the Australian visa details they held at the birth
- Child's birth certificate and copy
- Written consent of a guardian present at lodgement
- Old passport for renewals; statement of circumstances for lost or damaged passports
- Single parents: extra supporting papers
Fees and processing time
- Official fee: AUD 25
Processing time: As for adult passports (8-10 working days for renewals; open-ended for first issue and replacement).
Good to know
Fee table on the embassy site is dated 10 July 2017; a notice dated 30 June 2019 lowered ordinary passport and travel document fees to AUD 25. 'Apply once' measures (2025-06-09): only one face-to-face visit is needed; non-essential missing papers can be sent later by email or post. Humanitarian 'green channel' for urgent travel (funerals, serious illness). China does not recognise dual nationality: anyone who has voluntarily acquired Australian citizenship loses Chinese nationality and cannot hold a Chinese passport.
Official sources
- au.china-embassy.gov.cn/chn/lsfw/hzlxz/blhzlxzxz/201309/t20130927_9…
- au.china-embassy.gov.cn/chn/lsfw/zjsf/HLSF/201502/t20150206_985006.htm
Check before you apply
This page summarises information published by China's official channels, last checked on 25 octubre 2026. Fees and requirements can change at short notice, so confirm with the office that will handle your case.
Spotted a change? Let us know.
More services of China in Australia
- First ordinary passport (adults)
- Life certificate for Chinese pensions
- Notarial services for Chinese citizens
- Ordinary passport renewal
- Replacement of a lost, stolen or damaged passport
- Travel document for children born abroad or of mixed-nationality parents
- Visa application by post
- Visa for China (ordinary passports)