Tips for Australians in China

Tips for Australians in China include what not to bring, what not to take with you, and what one should and should not do.

Foremost, Australians should bear in mind the limited capacity for Consulates in foreign countries to provide assistance. This is stated by the Chinese government as follows, "Australian travelers should be aware that an Australian overseas mission can only provide a very basic safety net for travelers in difficulty." Thus, it is best not to take risks with the assumption that one has support through a local consulate; this may not be the case. The provinces specifically indicated regarding available assistance are, Guangdong, Guangxi, Hunan, Fujian, Yunnan, and Hainan. This suggests that even less support is available in China’s other provinces.

Scope of Assistance

An Australian consulate can assure that Australians receive the benefit of the same laws, administration, protection, and means of redress as citizens of China. This means that whenever difficulty is encountered, although an Australian consulate may not be able to "get one out of trouble," that consulate can still assure that an Australian is treated as a Chinese citizen rather than fall victim of prejudice or nationalistic injustice. This also means that an Australian citizen is legally accountable for the laws set by the province or by China, as long as these laws are deemed fair and just from the scope of the Australian legal system. Aside assistance during legal trouble, an Australian Consulate can:

• Provide information on expatriate adoption in China
• Provide passport services
• Information on marriage registration
• Witness and certify documents
• Provide information and assistance for overseas living, to include:
• Citizenship
• Taxation
• International drivers licenses
• Birth, marriage, and death certificates
• Police clearances
• Overseas marriage
• Authentication and apostilles

Travel Advisories

One can obtain travel advisories and other pertinent information from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade prior to departure. Such information includes an outline advisory and consular assistance services as well as travel bulletins, such as reports on the Avian Influenza Virus.