After acquiring Australian citizenship, the Chinese passport becomes invalid, and as a result, domestic identity documents are no longer usable. Sometimes, if there is a need to prove one's identity, what should be done? The solution is simple: you only need to handle this at the embassy.

When it comes to proving that the expired domestic identity and the Australian passport belong to the same person, this process is crucial. Everyone knows that acquiring Australian citizenship requires the invalidation of the Chinese passport, which also leads to the cancellation of household registration and other related information in China. This means that the domestic ID, which is used by everyone, can no longer serve as proof of identity.

If a Chinese citizen who has obtained Australian citizenship returns to China for issues like property transfer, leasing, or inheritance, they may face a situation where they need to prove they are who they are. While not a common occurrence, this is something many Australians with Chinese heritage may face. So, how should this be handled? There is a document that many people don't know about, which is the Same Person Declaration issued in Australia.

The Same Person Declaration is generally drafted by a lawyer, and the lawyer must be registered and recognized in Australia. Once the lawyer drafts the document, it must be confirmed and signed by the individual before it has legal validity in Australia. To have legal validity in China, it needs to be certified by the Chinese embassy in Australia.

Chinese Embassy Certification Requirements

To prove that the new Australian passport and the domestic identity belong to the same person, the following documents are required:

Notarization application form

A scanned copy of the applicant’s new Australian passport

A scanned copy of the applicant’s old identity card or old Australian passport

The notarized Same Person Declaration

The processing time for notarizing the Same Person Declaration for proving the new and old passports are of the same person is 15-20 working days, including mailing time. In addition to certification by the Chinese Embassy in Australia, the following materials are also required:

The Same Person Declaration certified by the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT): This certification proves the authenticity of the notary's signature and seal, and it will include the signature and seal of the DFAT officer.

The Same Person Declaration certified by the Chinese Embassy or Consulate in Australia: This certification is affixed to the back of the DFAT certification page with a small card to confirm the authenticity of the previous DFAT officer’s signature and seal.

Conclusion

From the drafting of the document by a lawyer to the certifications by Chinese and Australian official institutions, the Same Person Declaration involves a complex process. It also requires a certain amount of processing time, so if needed, it’s essential to begin preparations in advance; otherwise, there may not be enough time for urgent handling.