# Macao Chinese Nationality Requirements Macao permanent residence and Chinese nationality are different statuses. An ordinary foreign or stateless permanent resident may apply for Chinese naturalisation, but residence alone does not confer nationality or a Macao SAR passport. Scope: Ordinary foreign or stateless adults applying for Chinese naturalisation through Macao's Identification Services Bureau. Recognition, restoration, descent and nationality choice for historical Chinese-Portuguese cohorts are separate. Jurisdiction: Macao SAR: Chinese nationality applications. Sources reviewed 2026-09-22; review due 2026-12-21. General information, not legal advice or a finding of eligibility. Requirements depend on the route, applicant and filing date. Verify the official instructions before applying. ## A Macao passport is not a separate nationality A Macao SAR passport requires Chinese nationality, Macao permanent-resident status and a Macao permanent-resident identity card. A foreign permanent resident does not qualify for that passport merely by obtaining permanent residence. Evidence: documented. [Macao SAR Identification Services Bureau: Macao SAR travel documents: passport eligibility](https://www.gov.mo/en/services/ps-1066/); [Macao SAR Identification Services Bureau: Application for naturalization as a Chinese national](https://www.gov.mo/en/services/ps-1070/ps-1070a/). Source location: Travel documents service, target groups and application eligibility; naturalisation service, service target and eligibility. ## Foreign or stateless permanent residents may apply The ordinary local naturalisation procedure is available to foreign or stateless Macao permanent residents. Permanent residence is a prerequisite, not a published automatic nationality grant after a fixed additional number of years; non-permanent residents cannot substitute a temporary work or stay permission. Evidence: conditional. [Macao SAR Identification Services Bureau: Application for naturalization as a Chinese national](https://www.gov.mo/en/services/ps-1070/ps-1070a/); [Official Gazette of the Macao SAR: Law 7/1999: nationality applications](https://bo.dsaj.gov.mo/bo/i/1999/01/lei07.asp); [Macao SAR Identification Services Bureau: Nationality application FAQs](https://www.gov.mo/en/services/ps-1070/faqs/). Source location: Law 7/1999 Article 4(1); DSI naturalisation eligibility; nationality FAQ question 3. ## Qualifying grounds and approval are still needed Applicants must be willing to comply with the Constitution and laws and support a qualifying connection or other legitimate reason. DSI identifies close Chinese relatives or reasons such as long residence and connections with China. The director decides applications, with national and Macao security and public order relevant; permanent residence alone does not guarantee approval. Evidence: conditional. [Official Gazette of the Macao SAR: Nationality Law of the People's Republic of China](https://bo.dsaj.gov.mo/bo/i/1999/01/leinac403.asp); [Official Gazette of the Macao SAR: Law 7/1999: nationality applications](https://bo.dsaj.gov.mo/bo/i/1999/01/lei07.asp); [Macao SAR Identification Services Bureau: Nationality application FAQs](https://www.gov.mo/en/services/ps-1070/faqs/). Source location: Nationality Law Article 7; Law 7/1999 Articles 4, 9, 10 and 11(2); DSI FAQ questions 4-5. ## Chinese-language knowledge is a listed connection factor DSI lists knowledge of Chinese language and culture among the connections relevant to other legitimate reasons. The reviewed ordinary-route sources do not establish a fixed CEFR level or a universal language-test score; that gap must not be read as a promise that language evidence cannot matter. Evidence: not established. [Macao SAR Identification Services Bureau: Nationality application FAQs](https://www.gov.mo/en/services/ps-1070/faqs/); [Macao SAR Identification Services Bureau: Application for naturalization as a Chinese national](https://www.gov.mo/en/services/ps-1070/ps-1070a/); [Official Gazette of the Macao SAR: Law 7/1999: nationality applications](https://bo.dsaj.gov.mo/bo/i/1999/01/lei07.asp). Source location: DSI FAQ question 4; ordinary naturalisation document list; Law 7/1999 Article 4. ## Renounce foreign nationalities after approval Except for stateless applicants, an approved applicant must renounce all foreign nationalities within six months of notification or the approval becomes invalid. DSI advises against renouncing in advance because refusal could otherwise cause statelessness. Historical nationality-choice arrangements are not a general exemption for new naturalisation. Evidence: conditional. [Macao SAR Identification Services Bureau: Application for naturalization as a Chinese national](https://www.gov.mo/en/services/ps-1070/ps-1070a/); [Official Gazette of the Macao SAR: Law 7/1999: nationality applications](https://bo.dsaj.gov.mo/bo/i/1999/01/lei07.asp); [Macao SAR Identification Services Bureau: Nationality application FAQs](https://www.gov.mo/en/services/ps-1070/faqs/); [Official Gazette of the Macao SAR: Nationality Law of the People's Republic of China](https://bo.dsaj.gov.mo/bo/i/1999/01/leinac403.asp). Source location: Law 7/1999 Article 11(3); Nationality Law Articles 3 and 8; naturalisation reminders; DSI FAQ questions 1 and 11. ## DSI examines identity, residence, income and criminal records The service requires the permanent-resident card and supporting identity, nationality, ordinary-residence and financial documents. Overseas criminal records are required for relevant places where the applicant lived at least six months at age sixteen or older. Apply in person through DSI when in Macao; its published procedure allows postal submission from abroad. Evidence: conditional. [Macao SAR Identification Services Bureau: Application for naturalization as a Chinese national](https://www.gov.mo/en/services/ps-1070/ps-1070a/); [Official Gazette of the Macao SAR: Law 7/1999: nationality applications](https://bo.dsaj.gov.mo/bo/i/1999/01/lei07.asp). Source location: Naturalisation service, documents and application location/method; Law 7/1999 Article 4(2). ## Scope and limitations - This summary does not calculate eligibility for Macao permanent residence itself, nor replace DSI's assessment of legitimate reasons. It does not create a separate Macao nationality. - DSI's special guidance about Portuguese travel documents for particular historical Chinese-Portuguese cohorts must not be applied to an ordinary foreign applicant's six-month renunciation obligation. - DSI's naturalisation service was updated on 16 September 2026. The separate nationality law and local application legislation remain the legal sources; personal documents and current administrative instructions need case-specific checking. ## Explore this passport - [Passport rank and travel access](https://multipassrank.com/passport/macao-sar-china) - [Tax residence & income](https://multipassrank.com/passport/macao-sar-china/taxes) - [Country-profile JSON, including sources and scoped requirements](https://multipassrank.com/api/v1/country-profiles/MO) - [Multiple-citizenship policy guide](https://multipassrank.com/dual-citizenship-countries) [Canonical page](https://multipassrank.com/passport/macao-sar-china/citizenship)