Macau: Information on whether the certificate of identity is proof of nationality
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada |
| Publication Date | 1 October 1993 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | MAC15426.E |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Macau: Information on whether the certificate of identity is proof of nationality, 1 October 1993, MAC15426.E, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/3ae6aae578.html [accessed 21 May 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
Please refer to Response to Information Request MAC15279 of 16 September 1993 for information on the Macau certificate of identity (Certificado de Identidade). According to a representative of the Embassy of Portugal in Ottawa, the Portuguese authorities in Macau issue certificates of identification to Macau residents who are not Portuguese nationals and, as a result, are not entitled to a Portuguese passport (6 Oct. 1993). The certificate is only valid for three months and allows the bearer to travel after obtaining a visa from the country of destination (Ibid.). The Portuguese authorities in Macau can also issue a provisional travel document (Titulo de Viajem), valid for one month, to allow a non-Portuguese person to return to Macau (Ibid.).
In an earlier conversation, another representative of the Embassy of Portugal in Ottawa indicated that Portuguese nationals, including those living in Macau, must carry a plasticized identity card officially designated as "Bilhete de Identidade de Cidadao nacional" which indicates explicitly that the bearer is a Portuguese national (6 Oct. 1993). This document is the official proof of identity and specifies that the bearer is a Portuguese national (Ibid.). It is absolutely essential for the acquisition of formal Portuguese passports (Ibid.). This document also allows the bearer to travel freely throughout the European Economic Community without requiring a passport (Ibid.). This response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the DIRB within time constraints. This response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum.
Reference
Embassy of Portugal, Ottawa. 6 October 1993. Telephone interviews with representatives.
