Proof of Chinese ethnicity

[Zla'od]

Article 11 of the enforcement rules of the Overseas Chinese Affairs Commission (OCAC) reads as follows:

“Document of proof of Chinese ethnicity” referred to in the Act means a document of proof of foreign identity that states nationality or ethnicity of the holder as Chinese, or a certificate of Chinese ethnicity issued by the Overseas embassy and consulate, representative office, office or other agency authorized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (hereinafter referred to as “Overseas Misson”).

I would like to apply for a "certificate of Chinese ethnicity," but have no official documents stating my ethnicity to be Chinese. Could I apply for such a document in Taiwan, or would I have to wait until I can do it from abroad? And what is their working definition of "ethnic Chinese"? (That is, what specific criteria would I have to prove?) And what sort of evidence would these offices regard as persuasive? (They don't just go by looks, do they?)

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Dunno if you can apply here. What I've been told is that the line has to be paternal -you must be Chinese on your father's side- and maximum 6 generations ago. The study on the records takes a while.

[Zla'od]

What records? And on what basis would they judge the Chinese ethnicity of the father?

[jdsmith]

What records? And on what basis would they judge the Chinese ethnicity of the father?

oh THIS could be good.

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For example, our family dates to some poor soul who thought he was going to the US and landed in Panama. So when the request was put, apparently they checked some records going all the way back to Canton. My family put the request in the local Overseas Compatriot office, they do the checking. You could have some documentation -pictures, proof of marriage with the names of teh people involved, property deeds- that help establish you are a descendant of so and so.