Consular Services for Foreign Residents of China

Information on the services and assistance available, for expats from the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand, from their embassies and consulates in China...

UK Citizens

Consular services in China are provided by the British Embassy which is located in Beijing. They provide assistance and support to British nationals living in the country.

  • British Embassy in Beijing
    At: 11 Guang Hua Lu, Jian Guo Men Wai, Beijing
    Tel: 010 5192 4000
    email
    Open: Monday to Friday 09:00-12:00 and 13:30-16:00
  • Visa and Consular Section
    At: 21st Floor North Tower, Kerry Centre, No.1 Guanghua Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing 100020
    Tel: 010 8529 6600
    email
    Open: Counter services: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday 09:00-12:00 Wednesday: Closed. Visa section open: Monday to Friday, 8:30-12:00 and 13:30-16:00
  • Gov.UK has full contact details for all departments and directions to the British Embassy and Consulates in China

The following consular services are provided by the Embassy:

  • Travel advice for the country, including information on natural disasters, staying healthy, local laws and general safety
  • Advice and assistance for people in difficulty, whether it is a lost passport, money problems or for those who are victims of a crime
  • Information on local doctors, lawyers and interpreters
  • Advice on daily life in China, for example how to deal with mobile phones
  • Legalising documents
  • Advice on how to get a criminal records check

The UK government's GOV.UK website provides information online for Britons considering moving abroad and for those already there. It includes tax, health and education advice as well as a section on what to do when returning to the UK.

Applications for passport issue and renewal are handled online by Her Majesty's Passport Office.

The Embassy also has four other Consulates-General in the country located in Chongqing, Guangzhou, Hong Kong and Shanghai. People should contact their nearest office. Contact details are as follows:

  • Consulate General Shanghai
    At    : 17F Garden Square, 968 West Beijing Road, Shanghai  1702, British Centre, Garden Square, 968 West Beijing Road, Shanghai 200041
    Tel: 021 3279 2000
    email
    Open: Monday, Wednesday and Thursday 09:00-12:00 and 14:00-16:00; Tuesday and Friday 09:00-12:00
  • Consulate General Guangzhou
    At    : 2/F Guangdong International Hotel, 339 Huanshi Dong Lu, Guangzhou 510098
    Tel: 020 8314 300
    email
    Open: Monday to Friday 09:00-13:00
  • Consulate General Chongqing
    At    : Suite 2801, Metropolitan Tower, 68 Zourong Road, Yu Zhong District, Chongqing 400010
    Tel: 023 6369 1400/1500
    email
    Open: Monday and Wednesday 09:00-12:00 and 13:30-16:00
  • Consulate General Hong Kong
    At    : 1 Supreme Court Road, Hong Kong
    Tel: +852 2901 3000
    Open: Monday to Friday 08:30-17:15

US Citizens

The United States maintains an embassy in Beijing to assist its citizens living and travelling there.

The Embassy provides the following services for US citizens in China:

  • Help in the case of a medical emergency, arrest or detention
  • Assistance to people who have been the victim of a crime
  • General health information including a list of hospitals and clinics which have English-speaking staff
  • Information about China
  • Authentication of documents and other notarial services
  • Absentee voting
  • Criminal records checks

The Federal Benefits Unit at the Embassy provides assistance to individuals who receive benefits from the United States Social Security Administration, the Civil Service or the Department of Veterans Affairs.

The Embassy provides detailed information on how to get married and register a birth while in China, and how to apply for a child's first US passport. They also provide information on how to deal with a death while in the country.

The United States offers full consular and other embassy services at locations around China:

Canadian Citizens

Canadian citizens have access to consular services in China at their country's Embassy in Beijing.

  • Canadian Embassy in Beijing
    At: 19 Dongzhimenwai Dajie, Chao Yang District, Beijing 100600
    Tel: 010 5139 4000
    email
    Open: Monday-Friday 08:30-11:00 (Consular section). Tuesday and Thursday 13:30-15:00 (Citizenship and notary services)

Services offered by the Embassy for Canadian citizens include:

  • Advice on doing business with China
  • General assistance
  • Information on China
  • Visa and immigration services

The Embassy maintains consular services in Chongqing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Hong Kong. The Consulate also visits Macao on a periodic basis to offer consular service to Canadian residents. Contact details for consulates are as follows:

Irish Citizens

Ireland has an embassy in Beijing which provides its people in China and Mongolia with assistance.

The consular services section of the Embassy provides the following services to Irish citizens in the country:

  • Medical assistance
  • Assistance if a passport is lost, to victims of crime and to people who have been arrested
  • Citizenship information
  • Handling of passport applications

The Embassy offers specific help in the event of a death and information on getting married in China.

The Irish Embassy also maintains consulates in Shanghai and Hong Kong.

Australian Citizens

Australians living and travelling in China have access to consular services at the Australian Embassy in Beijing.

The following services are available via the Embassy's consular services section for Australians:

  • Travel safety advice
  • Emergency assistance
  • Information on overseas voting
  • Information on driving in China
  • Advice on customs and quarantine
  • Notarial services
  • Information on adopting in China
  • Handling of passport applications

They also provide specific advice on getting married in China, as well as on having a baby and getting a birth certificate.

The Australian Embassy also maintains consulates in Guangzhou and Shanghai.

New Zealand Citizens

Citizens of New Zealand have access to consular services at their Embassy in Beijing.

The Embassy provides New Zealand citizens living and working in the country with the following services:

  • Advice on travelling safely
  • Issuing of emergency travel documents. Passports can only be issued in London, Sydney and New Zealand
  • Advice on living and working in China

They also provided in-depth information on getting married in China.

New Zealand also has consulates general in Shanghai and Guangzhou. Contact details are as follows:

  • Consulate General Shanghai
    At    : 2801-2802A & 2806B-2810, Corporate Avenue 5, 150 Hu Bin Road?Huangpu District, Shanghai 200021,
    Tel: 021 5407 5858
    email
    Open: Monday to Friday 08:30-17:00
  • Consulate General Guangzhou
    At    : Room 1055, China Hotel Office Tower, Liuhua Road, Guangzhou 510015
    Tel: 020 8667 0253
    email
    Open: Monday to Friday 08:30-17:00
  • Consulate General Chengdu
    At: Room1156-1160, Regus Serviced Offices, Square One Building (Baiyang Dasha) 8 Dongyu Street, Tianfu Square, Chengdu 610016
    Tel: 0208 6132 6672
    email
    Open: 08:30-1200 and 13:00-17:00