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A decade ago, delivering a baby in China was not an option for most expat women, but today the country offers a range of world-class facilities and medical professionals that make childbirth a breeze, provided that you know how to navigate the system and do some planning. Here are some tips on the process.

Congratulations!

The little one has arrived and you're overjoyed, but don't forget the paperwork. First, wait for the birth certificate that the hospital will give you as soon as you've paid the bill. If parents are both foreigners, go to your embassy or consulate, usually within 30 days, to report the birth. They will issue your baby a passport.

As soon as a passport is issued, you'll have to apply for a Chinese visa to ensure your baby won't have problems leaving the country. The Exit and Entry Administration will usually give your baby a visa with the same length of stay as yours.

However, if one of the parents is Chinese, things are a bit different. According to the Chinese Nationality Law, China does not recognize dual nationality for any Chinese national. If you don't want your child to have Chinese citizenship, you just have to declare him/her to your embassy or consulate, wait for his/her passport and take it to the Public Security Bureau. They would issue your baby an exit visa, allowing you to go abroad, get a proper visa for him/her and come back into China with the baby registered as a foreigner.

Since the child is born in China, he/she is regarded as a Chinese citizen according to the Chinese Nationality Law, even though the child did not register hukou, or permanent residency permit in China. As a Chinese citizen your child can stay in China indefinitely without any permits.

If the child needs to go abroad, they need to apply for an exit permit and Chinese reentry visa on each occasion. Finally, your child cannot renounce the Chinese citizenship while living in China, this can only be done when living abroad. If you want to avoid this paperwork hassle, the solution is to get your child a Chinese passport, which means your child needs to register a hukou and renounce his/her foreign nationality.

Useful addresses

Beijing

Beijing United Family Hospital and Clinics

No.2 Jiangtai Lu Chaoyang District

Tel: 8610-5927 7000

For Emergencies: 8610-5927 7120

Beijing Amcare Women's & Children's Hospital

No.9 Fangyuan Xi Lu Chaoyang District

Tel: 8610-6434 2399

Peking Union Medical College Hospital (Xiehe)

1 Shuaifuyuan, Wanfujing Dongcheng District

Tel: 8610-6529 6114