China Tightens Control Over Catholic Clergy With New Passport Rules

Chinese state-controlled Catholic organizations have adopted new internal rules requiring Catholic clergy across China to surrender their passports and other travel documents, subjecting overseas travel to strict approval and post-trip reporting requirements, according to an official document obtained by The Epoch Times and interviews with clergy and church members.The regulations were jointly adopted on Dec. 16 by the Chinese Catholic Patriotic Association (CCPA) and the Bishops’ Conference of the Catholic Church in China (BCCCC), both under the oversight of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). The rules mandate centralized storage and approval of all exit-and-entry documents for Catholic clergy, including bishops, priests, deacons, and nuns.Under the CCP, the official state-recognized Catholic Church and the bishops’ conference allow the regime’s National Religious Affairs Administration to appoint bishops and moderate the church’s teachings and doctrine. Historically, the CCPA has not been in communion with the Vatican, meaning it functioned separately. However, in recent years, the Vatican has pushed for collaboration with the CCP to appoint bishops.Meanwhile, underground Catholic churches in China respect papal authority and are not controlled by the CCP.Travel Approval and Post-Trip ReportingUnder the policy, clergy must hand over their ordinary passports, Hong Kong–Macau travel permits, and Taiwan travel permits to church authorities for collective safekeeping. Individuals are no longer allowed to keep their own travel documents.Any overseas or cross-border travel—whether for official duties or personal reasons—requires prior approval from relevant authorities.Once approved, the documents are temporarily released to allow visa applications. Clergy must return the documents within seven days of reentering China and submit written reports confirming their return and detailing their travel activities.The process closely mirrors the CCP’s long-standing exit controls for government officials, CCP cadres, and executives at state-owned enterprises, in which passports are routinely confiscated and travel is tightly monitored. The move signals that Catholic clergy are now being managed like regime officials.For years, the CCP has used passport control as a tool to prevent defections, restrict foreign contact, and maintain political oversight. The application of this system to Catholic clergy suggests that religious personnel are increasingly treated as politically sensitive actors rather than solely as religious figures.The rules impose stringent conditions on private travel. Clergy seeking to travel abroad for personal reasons must submit a written application at least 30 days in advance, detailing the purpose of the trip, itinerary, duration, and accompanying individuals. Applicants must also sign a written pledge and may not alter their itinerary or overstay once abroad.A document showing requirements for China’s Catholic clergy to surrender all travel documents and apply for approval for overseas travel. CCPA and BCCCC/Screenshot via The Epoch TimesDiscipline and ComplianceViolations—including failure to surrender documents, unauthorized itinerary changes, overstays, or refusal to return travel papers—may result in disciplinary action ranging from warnings to suspension of travel privileges or “serious discipline” under state religious regulations and internal church rules, according to the document.Father Wang, a Catholic priest from St. Anthony’s Catholic Church in Shenzhen, China, who requested to only use his surname due to safety concerns, told The Epoch Times that international exchange is integral to Catholic life.“Catholicism is a universal religion,” he said. “Overseas conferences, theological training for priests, and participation by nuns in international organizations have always been normal for Catholics.“Now we’re required to hand in our passports—it feels like we’re being controlled.”Although the document was issued in the names of the CCPA and BCCCC rather than as formal Chinese law, its language and approval mechanisms closely resemble those of CCP administrative directives. The text repeatedly uses terms such as “approval by supervising authorities,” indicating deep integration with the CCP’s state religious management system.A Trial Measure With Broader ImplicationsThe document is labeled as a “trial implementation.” In the CCP’s governance framework, such trial measures are often precursors to permanent policy. Some observers say the rules could eventually become standard practice and may be extended to other religious groups.A Christian believer in Hangzhou, the capital of Zhejiang Province, told The Epoch Times on condition of anonymity due to safety concerns that discussions are underway within the state-sanctioned Protestant churches about adopting a similar centralized passport management system, though no formal policy has been announced.“All religions are being managed under the same model,” he said. “Catholicism is first. People assume Protestant churches could be next.”Xing Du contributed to this report.