Chinese citizens in South Africa who need to renew or replace a passport, or get a travel document, now apply first in the Chinese foreign ministry’s China Consular (中国领事) app and then visit their embassy or consulate to give fingerprints and collect the document. As of October 2026 the embassy charges R250 for a passport renewal or replacement, and processing takes about 10 working days after acceptance. Below: the steps, which mission covers you, and who to call in an emergency.
What the China Consular app does
The app is developed and maintained by the Department of Consular Affairs of China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Its main services are:
- Passports and travel documents: online applications to issue, renew, replace or endorse (for example a name endorsement);
- Emergency travel documents if your passport is lost or stolen;
- Pension eligibility certification for people who draw a Chinese pension while living abroad, done by face recognition in the pension module;
- Checking a consular legalisation, online payment, and a one-tap call to the MFA’s 12308 hotline;
- Safety alerts and consular notices from the missions.
According to the Durban consulate, the missions in South Africa also began offering notarisation pre-checks and appointments through the app in 2025. Registration requires real-name verification with a Chinese ordinary passport number or ID card number.
First: which mission covers you
Since 23 September 2024 the embassy and the three consulates-general have handled passports and travel documents “online + in person”. In principle you apply to the mission covering the place where you live:
| Mission | Consular district |
|---|---|
| Embassy (Pretoria) | City of Pretoria, North West, Limpopo, Mpumalanga, and Eswatini |
| Consulate-General in Johannesburg | Gauteng (except Pretoria) and Free State |
| Consulate-General in Cape Town | Western Cape, Northern Cape, Eastern Cape |
| Consulate-General in Durban | KwaZulu-Natal |
Addresses and contacts are in Chinese Embassy and Consulates in South Africa.
Renewing a passport in the app: 5 steps
- Download and register: search for 中国领事 (China Consular) in your app store and register with your Chinese passport or ID number.
- Apply online: open the Passport & Travel Document module, choose your mission by district, fill in the form and upload a photo. The app runs a face check. If it really fails, you can tap “skip”, but you will then have to book a video interview or a visit.
- Pay: as of October 2026 the embassy charges R250 to renew or replace a passport or issue one for a newborn, and R250 for a travel document (excluding express fees). Name endorsements are free. Payment methods differ: the embassy takes no cash or cheques but accepts cards on site or bank transfer, while the Johannesburg consulate currently accepts bank transfer only. Follow the app and your mission’s notice.
- Book a visit: once approved, attend at your booked time with your old passport (if you have it) and give fingerprints on site. Applicants approved by the embassy who qualify, choose postal submission and do not need fingerprints can do a video interview in the app instead.
- Collect: passports take about 10 working days from acceptance, travel documents usually 4. Collect in person, or by post where your mission offers it (fill in the return-post form in the app). Documents not collected within a year are cancelled.
If you are also renewing or changing a South African visa, see Renewing or changing your visa inside South Africa.
Documents: China and South Africa now use the apostille
The Apostille Convention entered into force for China on 7 November 2023, and South Africa has been a party for decades. Public documents moving between the two countries generally no longer need consular legalisation by an embassy. Instead the issuing country’s authority adds an apostille: DIRCO for South African documents, and the MFA or a provincial foreign affairs office for Chinese ones. This generally covers the birth certificates, police clearances and notarised degree certificates you need for visas or a company.
Who to call in an emergency
If you are robbed, kidnapped, lose your passport or face a serious dispute, call the police first (SAPS 10111, or 112 from a mobile), then your mission. These numbers come from the embassy’s safety notice of 10 October 2026:
- MFA Global Consular Protection and Services hotline: +86-10-12308 or +86-10-65612308
- Embassy in Pretoria: +27-10-492-5583
- Consulate-General in Johannesburg: +27-10-498-6234
- Consulate-General in Cape Town: +27-21-674-7668
- Consulate-General in Durban: +27-76-174-2938
The embassy says call forwarding can fail after hours, so dial 12308 directly then. More local numbers are in Emergency numbers in South Africa.
Practical tips
- Start a year before expiry: SA visas, bank accounts and airlines all check passport validity, so don’t wait until the last weeks.
- Keep copies: a photocopy and a phone photo of your passport make a replacement or emergency travel document much faster.
- Use official channels only: if a caller claiming to be the embassy or the police asks you to pay money to “settle a case”, hang up and call one of the official numbers above.
- Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan residents, and official passports: these follow different procedures. The Johannesburg consulate says they cannot currently be processed in the app; email first.
To meet local associations and chambers, see Chinese associations in South Africa, or go back to the Community section.
FAQ
Do I have to visit the embassy or consulate to renew my passport?
Usually once, to give fingerprints and hand in the old passport. Only applicants approved by the embassy who qualify and need no fingerprints can do an in-app video interview instead.
How much does it cost and how long does it take?
As of October 2026 the embassy lists R250 and about 10 working days from acceptance. Express and other fees are extra; check your mission’s notice.
I live in Johannesburg. Can I apply at the embassy in Pretoria?
In principle you apply by district: Gauteng outside the City of Pretoria belongs to the Johannesburg consulate. In special cases explain why in the app and the mission will decide.
My passport was stolen in South Africa. What now?
Report it at a police station and get a case number, then contact your mission and apply for a replacement passport or an emergency travel document in the China Consular app.
Sources
- Chinese Embassy in South Africa: How to use the China Consular app (updated 20 July 2026)
- Chinese Embassy in South Africa: Ordinary passport and travel document guide
- Chinese Embassy in South Africa: Safety reminder for Chinese citizens (10 October 2026)
- Consulate-General in Johannesburg: “Online + in person” passport and travel document applications
- Consulate-General in Durban: Apostille Convention between China and South Africa
- Consulate-General in Durban: Pension eligibility certification
- Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China: online services
- HCCH: Apostille Convention status table