In some areas of China recently, there have been cases where citizens are being required to “temporarily retain” their passports and need to report in advance before traveling abroad, with such practices mainly occurring in Gansu and Guizhou. The Chinese authorities have not issued any public documents or legal basis for this, but at the grassroots level, residents in multiple regions have confirmed that these requirements are being enforced in practice. Some lawyers believe that this behavior has clearly crossed legal boundaries.
Several interviewees told Epoch Times that after booking flights for travel abroad, they were contacted by the police to inquire about their destination and specific reasons for the trip.
A Chinese overseas resident who has been living abroad for a long time recently revealed on social media that residents in Wudu District, Longnan City, Gansu Province, where his household registration is located, were asked to hand over their passports for “temporary retention.” They are required to report and obtain approval in advance if they plan to travel abroad. The individual mentioned that despite not living in the country for many years, he is still subject to these regulations without being provided with clear legal basis or specific time limits by the local authorities.
As of yet, there have been no official announcements or legal documents issued regarding these measures in Wudu District, Longnan City, Gansu Province. However, similar practices have been reported by overseas media in recent years. Upon verification by journalists with residents from various regions, it was found that in certain parts of Yunnan, ordinary residents are also being asked to store their passports collectively and need approval or notification before traveling abroad, indicating that these measures are not isolated cases.
A resident from Zunyi, Guizhou named Liu Xiaonan told reporters, “People who often travel to the United States, Europe, and Japan here have been required to surrender their passports lately. Upon returning, they are summoned by the police for questioning, asking what they did abroad. Some friends have mentioned that their passports were already handed in, and if they wish to travel abroad later, they have to apply first through the local neighborhood office. The neighborhood office officials collected passports last year.”
Multiple interviewees described to reporters that the surrender of passports is typically notified and enforced directly by local police stations, neighborhoods, or communities. In some areas, passport information is registered, but the so-called “temporary retention” period or legal basis is not clearly communicated. Some interviewees mentioned that if they need to travel abroad for family visits or work, they must explain the purpose beforehand and only after approval from the relevant departments can they retrieve their passports. The specific procedures and waiting times vary from person to person, lacking a uniform standard.
Mr. Huang, a resident of Guiyang, told reporters, “Now the public security bureau is investigating your situation with the neighborhood office and police to see if you have been in jail or listed as untrustworthy. If you have booked an international flight ticket, the police will also call and ask you what you are going abroad for, and you need to explain clearly.”
According to current Chinese laws, passports are legal documents for citizens, and any organization or individual is not allowed to illegally withhold passports. The law also stipulates that only under circumstances where courts, procuratorates, public security bureaus, and other agencies require passports for case handling can they be lawfully retained for the parties involved.
Mr. Zhang, a lawyer from Wuhan, expressed to reporters that the authorities’ actions have clearly crossed legal boundaries. He stated, “The law grants citizens the freedom to enter and exit the country. If it is not specifically targeted at individuals involved in certain cases but a general requirement for ordinary residents to surrender their passports, there must be clear legal basis, conditions, and procedures; otherwise, it could easily lead to disputes over legality.”
Zhang pointed out that whether it is an employer or a neighborhood office, they have no authority to implement measures such as centralized retention of passports or the requirement for approval before leaving the country for private purposes. He mentioned that such practices essentially constitute a form of pre-control and restriction on citizens’ “freedom of movement,” exceeding the scope of normal administrative management.
Currently, it remains unclear whether the above measures originate from a unified deployment by higher-level Chinese authorities, and it is uncertain whether the scope of application will further expand. However, several interviewed residents have expressed to reporters that in the absence of public documents and clear legal basis, these practices under the guise of “temporary retention” and “reporting” have already constituted institutional restrictions on citizens’ freedom to travel abroad in actual implementation, raising suspicions from the outside world as a specific manifestation of the Chinese authorities continually tightening citizens’ basic rights through administrative means.