Overview of the process
Marriage in China is registered through the Civil Affairs Bureau (民政局) of the district where one partner is registered as a resident. Both parties must appear in person. The process involves preparing authenticated documents, attending the registration appointment, and receiving the Chinese Marriage Certificate (结婚证).
Documents required from the foreign national
[VERIFY: source needed — May 2026] The following are typically required. Confirm with the specific Civil Affairs Bureau before proceeding:
- Valid passport: Original, with current China entry stamp or valid residence permit.
- Certificate of No Impediment to Marriage (CNIM): Also called a Certificate of Marital Status or Bachelor Certificate. This document confirms that you are not currently married in your home country. It must be issued by a government authority in your home country, then:
- Apostilled (if your country is a Hague Apostille Convention member), or
- Legalised through notarisation and authentication through the Chinese embassy or consulate in your home country (if not a Hague Convention member or if the Civil Affairs Bureau requires Chinese embassy authentication regardless).
- Certified Chinese translation: The CNIM and any other foreign-language documents must be translated into Mandarin by a notary or certified translator accepted by the Civil Affairs Bureau.
- Passport photographs: Recent, white background, specific size (confirm with the bureau).
Documents required from the Chinese citizen
[VERIFY: source needed — May 2026]
- National Identity Card (居民身份证).
- Household registration booklet (户口本).
- Photographs.
- If previously married: divorce certificate or former spouse's death certificate.
The registration appointment
Both parties attend the Civil Affairs Bureau together. A registration officer reviews all documents, interviews both parties briefly, and — if satisfied — registers the marriage and issues the Chinese marriage certificate (结婚证). Two copies of the certificate are issued: one for each party. The certificate is the legal record of the marriage in China.
[VERIFY: source needed — May 2026] Some Civil Affairs Bureaus require an appointment; others operate on a walk-in basis. In major cities, online appointment booking through the bureau's WeChat mini-programme or official website is common. Arriving early on a weekday morning avoids the longest queues.
After marriage — visa and residence status
After registering the marriage, the foreign national can apply for a Q1 (long-term family reunion) visa or dependant-type residence permit, which allows long-term residence in China based on the marriage to a Chinese citizen. This is distinct from the work-based residence permit route.
To apply for the Q1 residence permit, documents typically include the marriage certificate, the foreign national's passport, proof of the Chinese partner's registered residence in China, and an application to the local PSB Exit-Entry Administration.
Registering the marriage in your home country
To have the Chinese marriage recognised in your home country, you will typically need to:
- Have the Chinese marriage certificate apostilled by the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs (or the relevant provincial authority), or authenticated through the Chinese embassy in your home country.
- Register the marriage with the vital records authority in your home country (e.g., the General Register Office in the UK; vital statistics agencies in Canada, Australia, etc.).
Your home country's embassy in China can advise on the specific steps required for your nationality.