New born Nationality

Posted by caly (68 days ago)

I am Hong Kong Chinese (holding BN(O) and HKSAR passport), my boyfriend is french and I am giving birth in Hong Kong. I would like to know if

1. our baby will have dual-nationality and
2. could we get a french passport for the baby even if we're not married?

(I am based in Hong Kong)

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Posted by TXcowboy (68 days ago)

France and HK don't have a dual nationality agreement as far as I know, so is going to be one way orthe other...

(I am based in Shanghai)

Posted by evildeeds (68 days ago)

Well as a European who is married here........

Your baby will be entitled to HKPR and HK passport. However, unless you are married, the baby will not be entitled to a French passport (my understanding).

(I am based in Hong Kong)

Posted by By Ron (62 days ago)

evideeds. My understanding is different. The UK had this rule about marriage (now changed I believe) but I think French citizenship is handed down if either parent is French (jus sanguine). It doesn't matter where the baby is born or whether the parents are married but I think the baby needs to apply before he or she is 18 years old. The best thing to do is to get your boyfriends passport details and make sure they are on the HK birth certificate. As regards, the HK Chinese passport that's no problem. All you have to do is to show the baby's birth certificate and your passport/ID card. Don't worry about whether dual-nationality is 'allowed'. The Chinese law is vague - it only deals with people acquire new nationalities not people who are born with the right to 2. I am a white UK citizen and my is HK Chinese. Our children hold both UK and HKSAR passports. They also have Chinese 'Wui Heung Zing' or 'Return Homeland passes'. You just go along to China Travel with the HKSAR passport and they will issue you one right away. Nobody cares about parentage - I took my daughter to get her 'Return Homeland' pass and nobody cared. The best thing to do is to go along to the French Consulate in HK. They can be rude and unhelpful in the manner of most French civil servants so it is best to go with a native French speaker.

(I am based in Hong Kong)

Posted by caly (61 days ago)

thank you for sharing these information. we did not see the need to be married at this stage but my boyfriend was worried that our child will not have his nationality and passport because we are not married.

(I am based in Hong Kong)

Posted by Momoftwo (59 days ago)

From what I know, Chinese doesn't recognize or permit dual citizenship. They DO care, and if you provide the information that your child is going to have FRENCH passport, and citizenship status, you can be guaranteed you won't get the chinese status for your child.

Don't know about the French... but for your child to get the HKID and HKSAR passport, you need to show his/her birth certificate, that he's born in HK, and your own HKID, if you have chinese descent, then your child will have 3 star permanent ROA even before he/she lives in HK for 7 years or not.

(I am based in Unspecified)

Posted by dadda (56 days ago)

If you apply for all passports/citizenships at the same time you should have no problems getting them all. As the processing time for most is at least 10days you can get them all in, while no nationality has been 'confirmed'.

We have just done this for our HK born son. He will have Aus, US & HK passports..

On the application forms where it aked for Nationality we were told by HK & Aus officials to keep them blank

(I am based in Hong Kong)

Posted by caly (54 days ago)

Thank you, dadda and momoftwo. We are working on the papers now.

(I am based in Hong Kong)