Marriage and divorce

6. Department handling marriage registration and documents and proofs required

In accordance with the provisions of the Regulation on Marriage Registration, for the marriage between a foreigner and a Chinese citizen, the man and the woman shall appear together to go through the marriage registration at the marriage registration organ in the locality where the Chinese citizen has his / her residence registration. The specific marriage registration organ is the civil administration department of the governments of the provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities directly under the Central Government or the organ determined by the governments of the provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities directly under the Central Government.

A foreigner applying for marriage registration shall present the following certificates/ certification: (1) the applicant’s valid passport or other valid international travel credentials; (2) the certification issued by the notary office or authoritative organ in the applicant's host country upon the authentication by the embassy (consulate) of the People's Republic of China stationed in the said country to indicate that he / she has no spouse, or that issued by the embassy (consulate) of this country stationed in the People's Republic of China.