How to get marriage in China?

Updated : 2013-07-29Source :
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I Marriage Registration

To apply for marriage registration (Chinese citizens and aliens, compatriots from Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan, overseas Chinese as well as the Chinese going abroad), the man shall not be younger than 22 years old and the woman shall not be younger than 20. Each of the two sides shall respectively provide the documents required as follows:  

 

1. Chinese Citizens
1) Resident certification (household register, ID card)

2) Testimonial of marital status issued by the employment unit of the applicant, or the sub-district office in the urban area, or the people’s government at county (township) level in the rural area where the applicant had the residence registered.


2. Aliens, Chinese with Foreign Nationalities
1) Passport or other certificates specifying the applicant’s identity and nationality.

2) Residence Permit for Aliens issued by the public security departments of the People’s Republic of China, or identity certificate issued by the foreign affairs offices of the Chinese side, or the temporary entry permit and residence permit; 
3) Testimonial of marital status issued by the notary office of the applicant's country and confirmed by both the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (or a department authorized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs) of the applicant's home country and the Chinese embassy or consulate in the said foreign country; or marital status testimonial issued by the embassy or consulate of the said foreign country in China.

4) International students studying at the technical secondary schools, junior colleges, and the universities are usually not allowed to get married. Any other student (for advanced studies and master degrees, etc.,) who requests to get married to a Chinese citizen shall provide the academic studies by the particular school in addition to the documents mentioned above.  

5) In case of divorce, the certificate of divorce (the certificate shall be certified by Chinese embassy or consulate in the applicant’s home country, or directly certified by the embassy or consulate of the applicant’s home country) should be provided; if the spouse of the applicant deceased, the original testimonial of death of spouse should be provided.


3 Compatriots from Hong Kong

1) ID card of Hong Kong resident and pass for transit from Hong Kong to the Mainland or seaman card;
2) Testimonial of marital status and statement of no spouse issued by Marriage Registry Office of Hong Kong and verified by a lawyer in Hong Kong entrusted by the Department of Justice
3) In the case that the applicant is divorced, the certificate of divorce should be provided; if the spouse of the applicant deceased, the original testimonial of death of spouse should be provided.
 
4. Compatriots from Macau
1) ID card of Macao resident and pass for transit from Macao to the Mainland, or seaman card
2) Testimonial of marital status and statement of no spouse issued by Marriage and Death Registry Board of Macao
3) In the case that the applicant is divorced, the certificate of divorce should be provided; or if the spouse of the applicant deceased, the original testimonial of death of spouse should be provided.

5. Compatriots from Taiwan
1) Pass for transit from Taiwan to the Mainland or travel pass imprinted with “Taiwan Compatriot” issued by the consulates of the People’s Republic of China
2) The certificate of unmarried status of the applicant notarized by the notary office of Taiwan or the copy of the applicant’s permanent residence book.
3) As for the divorced applicant, the certificate of divorce should be provided; or if the spouse of the applicant deceased, the evidence of death of the spouse shall be notarized. Failing to provide the aforementioned documents, the applicant can also provide the notarized statement or announcement of divorce published on newspaper. If not notarized, such statement or announcement of divorce will not be accepted.

 

6. Overseas Chinese
1) Passport issued by the embassy or consulate of China in the applicant’s home country;
2) Certificate of no spouse issued by the notary office of the country of residence or the embassy or consulate of China in such country;
3) If the applicant is divorced, the certificate of divorce certificated by the ministry of foreign affairs of the applicant’s home country and the embassy or consulate of China in such country should be provided; or if the spouse of the applicant deceased, the original testimonial of death of spouse certificated by the ministry of foreign affairs of the applicant’s home country and the embassy or consulate of China in such country should be provided.

7. Chinese Residents Going Abroad
Applicants defined in this regard refer to those who have stayed abroad for more than six months but unsettled there. To apply for marriage registration, the following documents should be provided.  
1) Passport
2) Testimonial of marital status issued by the employment unit
3) Testimonial of marital status (when staying abroad) issued by the embassy or consulate of China in such country or issued by the notary of the country of residence and certificated by the embassy or consulate of China
4) In case of divorce, the certificate of divorce should be provided; if the spouse of the applicant deceased, the original testimonial of death of spouse should be provided;

In addition, pre-marital health examination in the hospital designated by the Marriage Registry Office is a must, and applicants should also submit three couple photos (half-length, bareheaded, 2 cun).

After checked by the Marriage Registry Office, those eligible will be allowed to get registered and given the Certificate of Marriage



II Divorce Registration
Those Chinese citizens and aliens in China who request to get divorced should, in accordance with the Civil Procedure Law of the People s Republic of China, apply to the people’s court concerned. Those who want to restore marriage should go through the transaction procedures for marriage. In case of freewill divorce between the Chinese citizens and the overseas Chinese, compatriots from Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan as well as the Chinese going abroad, and the two sides concerned have made agreement on child supports and properties, both the husband and wife should go to apply for divorce at the local Chinese-Foreign Marriage Registry Office. In case of one side requesting for divorce or one side unable to go to the marriage registry office for divorce application, divorce application can be filed directly at the people’s court in the place where the domestic side (mainland) had his or her residence registered. Those who have got divorced, but are willing to restore husband-wife relationship should apply in line with procedures for marriage registration.