China does not permit dual citizenship. What the statute actually says, the notification duties that go with it, and what it means if you are considering a second passport.
Whether you can keep your Chinese passport while holding another one is decided by China, not by the country issuing the second document. This page sets out the current position, the statute behind it, and what it means in practice for someone considering a second citizenship.
Short answer: China does not permit dual citizenship. The detail below matters more than the headline, because the consequences of getting it wrong fall on the individual — usually years later, at a passport renewal or a border.
No. The People's Republic of China does not recognise dual nationality, and a Chinese national settled abroad who acquires a foreign nationality loses Chinese nationality automatically.
The rule to establish first is always the one that applies to you at home. A second country can only grant its own status; it cannot preserve a nationality that your own law terminates. What a prohibition means in practice — and what it does not — is explained in the guide to dual citizenship rules, with the country-by-country table.
| Question | Position in China |
|---|---|
| Dual citizenship | Not permitted |
| Governing law | Nationality Law of the PRC, arts. 3 and 9 |
| Status of a second nationality | Not recognised |
| Effect on the original nationality | Automatic loss of Chinese nationality under art. 9 |
| Basis of taxation | Residence |
| Military service obligation | Yes in law — men are liable from 18 (Constitution art. 55; Military Service Law), though quotas are in practice met by volunteers |
Article 3 of the Nationality Law of the PRC states that China does not recognise dual nationality for any Chinese national. Article 9 provides that Chinese nationals who have settled abroad and who voluntarily acquire or have acquired foreign nationality automatically lose Chinese nationality. No decision or notification is required for the loss to take effect.
The authoritative source is the National People's Congress. Rules in this area change by amendment and by notification, so the position should be confirmed at the time you act, not from any article.
The mistakes below account for most of the cases where people discover a problem years after the event, typically when renewing a passport or crossing a border.
For mainland Chinese nationals a Vanuatu passport is not an addition — under Article 9 it replaces Chinese nationality once you have settled abroad. Anyone marketing it as a second passport you simply keep alongside is describing something Chinese law does not allow.
If you are weighing this up anyway, start with a conversation rather than with the price list: the first question is whether you would be giving up a status you intend to keep.
The same question, answered for comparable jurisdictions:
Before applying anywhere, get the rule for your own citizenship confirmed in writing. We do that check first and tell you if the answer is no.