Q: I would like to ask about my residence permit application in China.

When I applied to the university, I used my original e-passport. However, because one of its pages was damaged, I am currently in the process of obtaining a replacement passport from the Indonesian immigration authorities. My new passport is expected to be issued next week.

The university has recently issued the documents for my JW form application, and the JW form may therefore contain my old passport number.

I have contacted the Indonesian Immigration Office regarding a certificate confirming that both passports belong to the same individual. However, they informed me that they are unable to issue such a certificate. 

In addition, I previously consulted the Chinese Visa Application Service Center in Indonesia, which advised me that it would be sufficient to present both my old and new passports when applying for a student visa, as the personal details in the two passports are identical.

Could you please let me know whether the same arrangement would be acceptable when applying for a residence permit for study in China? I can present both my old and new passports for verification, and all the information matches. 

A: Please contact your school to confirm whether the passport number on your JW form can be updated to the new one. 

If the school is unable to make the change, please bring both your old and new passports, the school's application letter, and a written explanation of your situation to the exit-entry administration service window for an in-person consultation after you obtain a visa and enter China. The staff at the service window will provide further guidance.

Source: Exit-Entry Administration Corps of the Shanghai Municipal Public Security Bureau