Marriage registration in China for foreigners: getting it right the first time
Congratulations — and welcome to the paperwork. Marriage registration in China for a foreigner marrying a mainland Chinese citizen is very achievable, but it is document-driven: one missing stamp or an out-of-date certificate can mean a wasted trip. This page explains who can register, which documents you usually need, how the rules changed in 2023 and 2025, and what to think about after the wedding.
Requirements are set nationally but applied locally, and they change. Always check the current list with the registry you plan to use before you book travel.
Who can register a marriage in mainland China?
A foreign national may generally register a marriage with a mainland Chinese resident at a marriage registry in mainland China if:
- Both parties meet the legal marriage age under Chinese law (22 for men, 20 for women)
- Neither party is currently married to anyone else
- The parties are not close relatives within the prohibited degrees
- Both appear in person and consent freely
Two foreigners, or a foreigner and a Hong Kong, Macau or Taiwan resident, face different or more limited options; ask us about your specific combination.
Documents you will typically need
The foreign party
- A valid passport (and in some cases evidence of lawful entry or residence)
- A certificate or affidavit of no marriage (single-status certificate) — issued by the competent authority in your home country, or sworn before a notary or your embassy, confirming you are not currently married
- If previously married, the divorce decree or death certificate of the former spouse
- Apostille or legalisation of the foreign documents, plus a certified Chinese translation
- Recent passport-style photographs (often a joint photograph of the couple)
The Chinese party
- Resident identity card
- A signed declaration that you have no spouse and no prohibited kinship relationship with your partner (the hukou booklet is no longer required since 10 May 2025)
- If previously married, the divorce certificate, divorce judgment or relevant record
Some registries ask for a health-check certificate or other documents; practice varies by city. See our article on marriage registration requirements for foreigners and our glossary entry on the certificate of no marriage.
Apostille: the 7 November 2023 change
China's accession to the Hague Apostille Convention took effect for mainland China on 7 November 2023. If your single-status certificate or divorce decree comes from another member state, it generally needs only an apostille from your home country — no more consular legalisation at the Chinese embassy. Documents from non-member countries still need legalisation, and the Convention does not apply between China and India, so Indian documents do too. A certified Chinese translation is still required. See apostille for family law documents.
The 2025 Marriage Registration Regulations
The revised Marriage Registration Regulations took effect on 10 May 2025. The two headline changes: the Chinese party no longer needs the hukou booklet (the resident ID card plus a signed declaration is enough), and registration is now nationwide (全国通办) rather than tied to the hukou location. This also covers foreign-related registrations: a mainland resident marrying a foreigner (or a Hong Kong, Macao or Taiwan resident or overseas Chinese) can register marriage, divorce by agreement or a replacement certificate at any registry authorised for foreign-related matters anywhere in China. Not every registry has that authority. In Guangdong, several registries in Shenzhen and Guangzhou handle foreign-related marriages; we can confirm the current offices and appointment rules for your city. If neither of you is a mainland resident, you generally use the authorised registry where you live or work.
Common pitfalls
- A single-status certificate that is too old — many registries only accept certificates issued within a recent period, often around six months
- Names or dates that do not match exactly across passport, certificates and translations
- A divorce decree from abroad for the Chinese partner that has not yet been recognised in China — see recognition of foreign divorce judgments
After the wedding
Residence and visas
A foreign spouse of a Chinese citizen can generally apply for a family-reunion visa or residence permit through the exit-entry authorities. Requirements and processing are set by those authorities and change from time to time, so treat this as a starting point rather than immigration advice.
Recognition of your Chinese marriage abroad
Most countries recognise a marriage validly registered in China. You may need an apostille on your Chinese marriage certificate (or a notarial certificate of it) to register the marriage at home or to sponsor a visa there. We can arrange the notarial certificate and apostille in China.
Name changes, property and children
Think about whether you will change names in any document, how you will hold property in China, and how children's nationality and hukou registration will work under each country's rules.
Prenup timing
If you want a prenuptial agreement, sign it before the registration, and allow enough time for bilingual drafting, independent advice for each of you and, if you choose, notarisation.
How we help
- Eligibility check for your nationality combination and marital history
- Personalised document checklist and review of your certificates before apostille
- Translation coordination and liaison with the designated registry
- Prenuptial agreement drafting in English and Chinese
- After registration — notarised marriage certificates and apostilles for use abroad
- Fixed fees for registration support
What to do next
Before booking flights, send us scans of your documents so we can check them against the registry's current list, then contact us for a free 30-minute consultation.
Frequently asked questions
What documents does a foreigner need to get married in China?
Usually a valid passport, a certificate or affidavit of no marriage from your home country, and a divorce decree if previously married — apostilled or legalised, with a certified Chinese translation. The Chinese partner needs only the resident ID card and a signed declaration; the hukou booklet has not been required since 10 May 2025. Check the registry's current list before travelling.
Where can a foreigner register a marriage in China?
At a marriage registry authorised to handle foreign-related marriages. Since the 10 May 2025 Regulations, if one of you is a mainland resident, you can use any such authorised registry anywhere in China, regardless of where the Chinese partner's hukou is. Not every registry has that authority, so check first.
Do I still need embassy legalisation for my single-status certificate?
Not if it comes from a Hague Apostille Convention member state. Since 7 November 2023, an apostille from your home country is generally enough for mainland China. Documents from non-member countries still need consular legalisation.
Can two foreigners get married in China?
Generally, mainland marriage registries handle marriages where at least one party is a mainland resident. Two foreign nationals usually need to marry through their embassies, where permitted, or in another country. Ask us about your specific nationalities.
Is a marriage registered in China recognised in my home country?
Most countries recognise a marriage validly registered in China. You will often need a notarial certificate of your marriage certificate with an apostille to register it at home or for visa purposes. We can arrange both in China.
Should we sign a prenup before registering our marriage in China?
If you want one, yes. A prenup signed before registration is simplest, and leaving a few weeks allows bilingual drafting, independent advice for each of you and optional notarisation. You can also sign a marital property agreement later.
Marriage Registration in China for Foreigners by city
Related guides
Marrying a Chinese Citizen: Marriage Registration Requirements for Foreigners (2026)
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