How to Renew a Chinese Passport in Italy: Procedure, Documents, and Costs
Chinese citizens residing in Italy may apply to renew their Chinese passport at the Embassy or Consulate General of the People’s Republic of China with jurisdiction over their area.
The application process has been digitized: in Italy, the official app “China Consular” app is used. The procedure has also been introduced by the Chinese Consulate General in Milan, which in 2021 replaced the previous online booking system with an application process via the app.
How do I renew my Chinese passport?
The first step is to determine which consular office has jurisdiction over your place of residence and to follow the instructions posted on its official website.
For applications processed by the Chinese Consulate General in Milan, the application for a Chinese passport is typically submitted through the app. The app allows you to fill out the application, upload your photo and supporting documents, and then track the status of your application.
When can you apply for renewal?
A passport renewal may be requested, among other reasons, when the document has expired or has less than one year remaining before expiration, when the visa pages are nearly full, or when the holder’s appearance has changed significantly.
The app-based procedure also applies to lost, stolen, or damaged passports, although additional checks or documents may be required in these situations. The Consulate in Milan specifically lists these cases among those that can be handled through the China Consular app.
What documents are required?
The required documentation depends on the applicant’s circumstances. Generally speaking, the app requests personal information, a recent digital photograph, and images of the documents needed to verify the applicant’s identity and circumstances.
To renew your passport, you normally need to have your previous passport on hand. If your passport has been lost or stolen, the procedure is different, and the consulate may require additional documentation.
The photograph must meet the requirements set by the Chinese authorities: it must be recent, in color, with a white background, and the face must be clearly visible. For the Milan Consulate’s procedure, the digital photograph uploaded to the app must match any paper photographs that may be requested for the next step.
How much does a Chinese passport cost?
The standard fee indicated by the Chinese Consulate General in Milan for the issuance, renewal, or replacement of a passport is 16 euros. The Consulate also states that the addition of an annotation is free of charge.
Payment methods and any shipping fees depend on the procedure used. If the document is sent by mail, the Consulate in Milan provides specific instructions for shipping and picking up the document.
What should you do in an emergency?
For certain specific situations, expedited procedures or a ” green channel” are available.
The Chinese Embassy in Italy states that, among the cases eligible for assistance through the dedicated channel, people who must return urgently to China due to the loss or damage of their travel documents; the elderly, the sick, people with disabilities, pregnant women, or those facing other special difficulties; as well as those who must travel for urgent reasons such as a death in the family, hospitalization, or a visit to a seriously ill family member.
Before submitting your application
Consular procedures may vary and are not necessarily the same at all Chinese diplomatic missions in Italy. For this reason, before beginning the process of renewing your Chinese passport, it is important to:
- determine which consulate or embassy has jurisdiction;
- Check the updated instructions published by the relevant office;
- use the app as intended;
- prepare the documents required for your specific situation;
If you have any questions, it is always best to contact the appropriate Chinese diplomatic or consular mission directly.
