Marriage Registration between Foreigner and Chinese Citizen

Documents required for Marriage registration

For Shanghai Citizen:

(1) Permanent residence book and resident ID card  

(2) Testimonial of marital status (unmarried, divorce or bereft) issued by the employer, or sub-district office or the town government  

(3) In case of divorced man or woman, the original credentials of divorce are required:

Certificate of Divorce, Certificate of Disengagement of Matrimonial Relationship and written conciliation statement or court judgment (accompanied by certificate of validity); The testimonial of divorce issued by a marriage registry office of a foreign country shall be certified by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of such country or a competent authority authorized by it and the embassy or consulate of China in such country; The judgment or written conciliation statement by a foreign court shall not be valid until an intermediate court of China orders the recognition. 

(4) If the spouse of the applicant deceases in a foreign country, the applicant shall provide the original certificate of death of spouse certified by Chinese embassy or consulate in such country.

For Foreigner:

(1) Passport and certificate of nationality  

(2) Foreigner Residence Permit or Testimonial of Temporary Residence in China issued by a public security office of China;  

(3) The testimonial of marital status issued by the notary of his home country shall not be valid until certified by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or a competent authority authorized by it and embassy or consulate of China in such country (valid for 6 months;)  

(4) Foreigners who permanently stay in China may submit testimonial of marital status issued by embassy or consulate of China in his home country. (valid for 3 months)  

(5) In case of divorced, the original credentials of divorce are required. If the applicant was freed of the former marriage in accordance with the local legal procedure of a foreign country, he shall also provide the certificate of nationality of his spouse certified by embassy or consulate of China in such country; If his spouse is a Chinese citizen, the certificate of divorce shall not be valid until an intermediate court of China orders the recognition; If his spouse is a foreign citizen, the certificate of divorce shall not be valid until certified by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or a competent authority authorized by it and the embassy or consulate of China in such country or embassy or consulate of such country in China. 

(6) If the spouse of the applicant deceases, the certificate of spouse bereaving shall not be valid until certified by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or a competent authority authorized by it and the embassy or consulate of China in such country or the embassy or consulate of such country in China.

The restoration of marriage shall comply with the fore-going provisions.

Registration Procedures:

The would-be couple shall go to registration at a marriage registry office. Application with credentials and certificates in line with relevant requirements

fill out the Marriage Registry Application

go through pre-marriage medical checkup at a hospital specified in the letter of reference

translate marriage registry materials

verification and check by the authority

go through the procedures of certificate issuance appointment

obtain the certificate

Period: 30 days

Eligible applicants shall:

(1) Both reach the legal marital age, i.e. no earlier than 22 for male, no earlier than 20 for female. 

(2) Both are voluntary and single. 

(3) Without the relationship of linear consanguinity or of collateral consanguinity within the third generation each other. 

(4) Both have no diseases leading to prohibition or postponement of marriage by law. 

(5) Either of them shall have the permanent residence of Shanghai.