The following is reposted from the official website of the Ministry of Education.
To implement the decisions and arrangements of the CPC Central Committee and the State Council on reducing paperwork and making services more convenient, further deepen reforms to streamline administration and improve services, simplify procedures for overseas students returning to China, and make work and daily life more convenient for returned overseas students, the Ministry of Education has decided to cancel the “Certificate for Returned Overseas Students.” The announcement is as follows:
1. Effective November 1, 2020, the “Certificate for Returned Overseas Students” will be canceled. Effective October 1, 2020, overseas embassies and consulates will no longer accept applications for issuance of this certificate. For applications already submitted before September 30, 2020, overseas embassies and consulates will provide corresponding services based on the applicant’s preference. If an application has already been accepted and the embassy or consulate issues the certificate after November 1, 2020, the “Certificate for Returned Overseas Students” will remain valid.
2. After the “Certificate for Returned Overseas Students” is canceled, relevant departments and institutions may, based on actual needs, verify a student’s identity and overseas study experience through materials such as admission documents from overseas schools or research institutions, degree certificates or graduation certificates issued by overseas schools, proof of study or training issued by overseas schools or research institutions, or, on a voluntary basis, a foreign academic degree credential evaluation certificate issued by the Chinese Service Center for Scholarly Exchange under the Ministry of Education. The length of overseas study may be determined through the student’s passport and visa, entry and exit records, return-trip itineraries or tickets, and similar materials.
Ministry of Education
September 17, 2020