Why Passport Renewals Often Cause Property Sale Failures

Many foreign owners are unaware that passport renewals can derail property sales.

Chinese property records are tied to the passport number used at the time of purchase.

If a passport has been renewed multiple times, authorities may question whether the seller is the same person listed in the ownership registration system.

This issue commonly appears when:

• The property was purchased over 10 years ago
• Multiple passport renewals occurred
• Name formats differ across documents

The solution is a Same-Person Certification, legally linking old and new passports.

Without this step:

• Contracts may be rejected
• Existing bank accounts with old passport record cannot be used
• Transactions may fail at settlement

Addressing identity continuity early prevents costly delays and failed deals.