How can I make my Chinese name official?

[shuoshuo]

I keep filling out official forms with the option: "please include your Chinese name (if any)". Thing is, I have a Chinese name but it isn't an official one. It is just a name that a teacher gave me, and I can change it at any time. How do I make my Chinese name official, to the point whereby if there was a document or an account, e.g. a bank account, with that name then it is valid? Thanks!

[gato]

By "official", I suppose you mean for the purpose of the mainland Chinese government?  Your official name from the view of the Chinese government is the name on your passport.   If your passport is in Chinese (e.g., if you have a Taiwan or HK passport), then I suppose you could have an official Chinese name.  Otherwise, you can't because there is no practical way for a foreigner to obtain PRC citizenship.  

[imron]

In Taiwan there is a form foreigners can sign to declare an official Chinese name and promise to only use that name as your officially recognised Chinese name.

It's probably not going to be recognised in mainland china though.

[shuoshuo]

gato - I'm not looking to obtain PRC citizenship, I'm extremely happy with mine already. I have friends of Chinese descendents from different countries (not in Asia) and they have official Chinese names. So that is why I was wondering if it was possible for a foreigner to have an official Chinese name, that would even be valid in their (non-Asian) country.

[Lu]

I had my Chinese name (along with my Dutch name) on my Taiwanese residence permit, I suppose that's pretty official. I never got any special documentation for it, I suppose I just filled it in on the form.

I don't think it's possible to get an official Chinese name for your bank account and such, and even if it were possible, it would be potentially problematic: let's say you enroll in university with that name and get it on your diploma, how are you going to prove back home that this degree is really yours? China may recognise you are 张三, but your home country won't recognise 张三 is you.

[Kanjiology]

I don't know about official but most Chinese universities will often use your Chinese name on documents, lists, etc. I find that that is good enough for me, because when you go to school in China it basically is officially your name.

 

But whenever I hop on a train, visit the hospital, or do anything official, I can only use the name on my passport. For anything not official, you can always sign and use your Chinese name anyways, it's easier for the clerks or whatever to read anyways. 

[shuoshuo]

Thanks guys. That's actually the issue I've been facing in China. Everything needs to be translated, and when they use my Chinese names on certificates and stuff, it becomes invalid in my country because my Chinese name is not my name at all. So I always have to go back and get certificates and documents re-issued with my English name (or my real name rather!), that way the document is valid.