Documents Required for Marriage Registration

(1) The applicant's valid passport or other valid international travel documents;

(2) A Certificate of No Spouse issued by a notarial authority or competent authority in the country of residence, which has been authenticated either by the Embassy/Consulate of the People's Republic of China in that country or by the Embassy/Consulate of that country in China; alternatively, a Certificate of No Spouse issued directly by the Embassy/Consulate of that country in China.

Where an international treaty concluded or acceded to by the People's Republic of China provides otherwise, the certification procedures stipulated in such treaty shall apply. The parties applying for marriage registration shall be responsible for the authenticity of the certificates issued by foreign authorities under the relevant international treaties, sign a written statement to this effect, and bear corresponding legal liabilities.

Registration Location

For the marriage between a Chinese citizen and a foreigner in Chinese mainland, both parties shall jointly apply for marriage registration at the civil affairs department of the Chinese mainland citizen's permanent residence.

[For details, please refer to the Regulation on Marriage Registration.]

Tips | Can both parties be foreigners and register for marriage in China?

According to the Ministry of Civil Affairs Announcement No. 456 (March 29, 2019),  "the certification materials submitted by the country of origin of non-Chinese-mainland residents when registering their marriage in the Chinese mainland to prove the validity of their marriage registration abroad" will no longer be processed and will be directly canceled due to a lack of legal basis. After the cancellation, marriage registration for foreigners will no longer be processed in China.