Legal basis: Law of People's Republic of China (PRC) on Exit and Entry Administration.
Article 9 China citizens shall apply for passports or other travel documents when leaving or entering the country. China citizens who want to go to other countries or regions also need to obtain visas or other entry permits. However, unless the China government has signed visa exemption agreements with other governments or the Ministry of Public Security and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs provide otherwise. China citizens who leave or enter the country as seafarers and work on foreign ships shall apply for a seaman's certificate according to law.
Article 13 China citizens who have settled abroad who wish to return to China for settlement shall apply to the embassies and consulates of People's Republic of China (PRC) and China or other overseas institutions entrusted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs before entering the country, or they may apply to the overseas Chinese affairs department of the local people's government at or above the county level through their relatives.
Fourteenth China citizens who have settled abroad need to provide identification when handling financial, education, medical care, transportation, telecommunications, social insurance, property registration and other matters in China, and they can prove their identity with their passports.