Marriage registration involving Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan residents, as well as foreigners

I Basis

Marriage registration shall be in accordance with the Marriage Law of the People's Republic of China, Regulations on Marriage Registration, and the Provisional Norms for Marriage Registration.

II Qualifications

1. Marriage Registration

1) Both parties must have reached the legal marital age, i.e. 22 years for males, 20 years for females.

2) Both parties must be entering marriage on a voluntary basis and single.

3) There must be no relationship between the parties of linear consanguinity or of collateral consanguinity within the third generation.

4) Both parties must be free of diseases leading to prohibition or postponement of marriage by law.

2. Divorce Registration

1) Both parties must be acting on a voluntary basis and have reached a divorce agreement with the other party;

2) Both parties must have civil capacity;

3) The marriage registration is handled in mainland China, or a Chinese embassy (consulate) abroad.

III Procedures

1. Marriage Registration

In the case of marriage of Chinese citizens with foreigners, mainland residents with Hong Kong, Macao or Taiwan residents, as well as overseas Chinese who voluntarily register for marriage in mainland China, both men and women shall appear together at the marriage registration office of the Civil Affairs Bureau in their district. They shall submit the following documents and certificates:

(1) For Chinese citizens:

Household registration certificate and identification card

For foreigners:

a. Passport, or identification certificate or nationality certificate;

b. Marital status certification issued by 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 country and the Chinese embassy or consulate in the said foreign country; or marital status certification issued by the embassy or consulate of the said foreign country in China.

For overseas Chinese:

a. Passport

b. Marital status certification and certification of having no relationship of linear consanguinity or of collateral consanguinity within the third generation with each other issued by 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 country and the Chinese embassy or consulate in the said foreign country; or the two certifications issued by the embassy or consulate of the said foreign country in China.

For Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan residents:

a. Valid passport and identification card;

b. Marital status certification and certification of having no relationship of linear consanguinity or of collateral consanguinity within the third generation with each other issued by the notary office of the applicant's residence.

(2) A form of "Declaration of Application for Marriage Registration", in which the signature must be completed by the declarant before the marriage registrar;

(3) Three recent 2-inch photos of the couple.

The marriage registration authority shall examine the documents and certificates issued by the applicants and inquire about any further relevant information. If the applicant concerned meets the conditions for marriage, a marriage certificate shall be issued; If the applicant does not meet the conditions for marriage, he/she shall be informed of the reasons and a notice of no registration of marriage shall be issued.

2. Divorce Registration

In the case of divorce of Chinese citizens and foreigners, mainland residents and Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan residents, as well as overseas Chinese who voluntarily register for a divorce in mainland China, both men and women shall appear together at the marriage registration office of the Civil Affairs Bureau in the district. They shall submit an application and the following documents and certificates:

(1) Mainland Chinese seeking divorce shall produce his/her household register and ID card; Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan residents shall produce his/her passport and ID card; overseas Chinese and foreigners shall produce his/her passport, or nationality certificate;

(2) His/her marriage certificate;

(3) Divorce agreement signed by both parties.

(4) A form of "Declaration of Application for Divorce Registration", in which the signature must be completed by the declarant before the marriage registrar;

(5) Two 2-inch recent photos of the single person.

The marriage registration authority shall examine the documents and certificates issued by the applicants and inquire relevant information. If the applicants concerned are voluntarily registering a divorce, and have reached agreement regarding child raising, property, or debts, a divorce certificate shall be issued; If the applicant does not meet the conditions for divorce, he/she shall be informed of the reasons and a notice of no registration of divorce shall be issued.

IV Fee Standards

In accordance with the Regulations on Marriage Registration and the Notice on the Unification of Double Charge Standards at Home and Abroad ([2001] No 523), the applicant shall pay 9 yuan per couple for marriage registration or divorce registration.

V Translation issues

According to the provisions of the State General Language and Text Law of the People's Republic of China , the "Certificate of Marriage Status" submitted by the applicant to the Marriage Registration Authority shall be translated into Chinese. The Marriage Registration Authority shall accept the translated text issued by one of the following institutions:

(1) The embassy of the country in China in which the applicant concerned lives;

(2) A Chinese embassy;

(3) An authoritative translation agency approved by the marriage registration authority;

(4) Translation institutions designated by the marriage registration authority.