China's Diplomacy in the New Era 
Marriage registration in China

Marriage registration authority

Both the man and woman who are inland residents and planning to get married shall go and complete the formalities at the marriage registration authority that has jurisdiction over the place where the permanent household of one of them is registered.

As for Chinese citizens who are going to get married with foreigners on the Chinese mainland and Chinese inland residents who are planning to get married with Hong Kong, Macao or Taiwan residents or overseas Chinese on the Chinese mainland, both the man and woman shall go and complete the formalities at the marriage registration authority that has jurisdiction over the place where the permanent household of the Chinese inland resident is registered.

Documents and certificates required for marriage registration

1. Chinese inland residents applying for marriage registration shall produce the following certificates and documents:

(1) His/her household registration and ID card;

(2) Signed statement on his/her marriageability and proof that they are not directly or indirectly related to each other within the past three generations.

2. Hong Kong, Macao or Taiwan residents applying for marriage registration shall produce the following certificates and documents:

(1) His/her valid exit-entry permit and ID card;

(2) Statement on his/her marriageability and proof that they are not directly or indirectly related to each other within the past three generations provided by the notary public office located in where he/she is domiciled.

3. Overseas Chinese applying for marriage registration shall produce the following certificates and documents:

(1) His/her valid passport;

(2) Certificate of his/her marriageability and proof that they are not directly or indirectly related to each other within the past three generations provided by the notary public office or competent authority located in the residence country and certified by the consulate of the People's Republic of China in the residence country, or certificate of his/her marriageability and proof that they are not directly or indirectly related to each other within the past three generations provided by the consulate of the People's Republic of China in the residence country.

4. Foreigners applying for marriage registration shall produce the following certificates and documents:

(1) His/her valid passport or other valid international travel documents;

(2) Certificate of his/her marriageability issued by the notary public office or competent authority of his/her country and certified by the consulate of the People's Republic of China in his/her country, or certified by the consulate of his/her country in China, or certificate of his/her marriageability issued by the consulate of his/her country in China.