Chinese rules you should know

Dual nationality, the USD 50,000 foreign-exchange quota, hukou and social insurance.

Nationality: no dual citizenship

• The Nationality Law of the PRC does not recognise dual nationality (Art. 3). A Chinese national who has settled abroad and voluntarily acquires a foreign nationality automatically loses Chinese nationality (Art. 9).
• Germany has allowed multiple citizenship since 27 June 2024, so it no longer asks you to give up your Chinese passport. The loss happens on the Chinese side. After naturalisation you travel to China as a foreigner, with a visa.
• Study, work or a German settlement permit do not change your Chinese nationality.
• Children born in Germany to Chinese parents fall under special rules (Art. 5); ask the Chinese Embassy in Berlin.

Foreign exchange: USD 50,000 a year

• Each Chinese resident may buy foreign currency up to USD 50,000 a year (the "facilitation quota", SAFE). Within the quota your ID card is enough; you declare the purpose, for example study abroad, with school, country and expected costs.
• Studying abroad is a current-account purpose. Above the quota, banks process tuition and living costs against genuine documents such as the admission letter and fee notice.
• Splitting a purchase across relatives' quotas to get around the limit is prohibited. Sanctions such as a watch-list entry are possible; we did not check current practice.
• One year of blocked account (€11,904) is well within the quota. The 2007 rules are the latest we found; ask your bank about current documents.

Hukou and social insurance

• Whether and when your hukou has to be cancelled after you settle abroad depends on local rules. We did not verify them; ask your local public security bureau before you give anything up.
• Germany and China have a social security agreement on posted workers. It mainly avoids double pension contributions for employees posted by Chinese companies; details were not checked for this site.
• Chinese companies that send workers abroad need a licence for foreign labour cooperation. This concerns agencies and posting companies, not you finding a German job yourself.

Consular matters in Germany

Passport renewal and Chinese documents while you live in Berlin are handled by the Chinese Embassy in Berlin. Whatever it tells you about Chinese law prevails over this page.