The marriage registration procedure in China is carried out by the Municipal Civil Affairs Bureau in the country and there are several rules and regulations you need to consider before you step into this process. Our Chinese lawyers can offer you detailed information and legal assistance if you wish to get married in China and you need to prepare the necessary documents.
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Depending on the location or the chosen city in China, the persons need to fill the application form and to consider the following papers:
• the marriageability certificate which shows the single status of a foreign citizen; it can be issued by the Consulate or Embassy in the home country;
• birth certificates;
• available passport;
• the household registration book of the Chinese citizen you wish to get married with;
• the Certificate of Legal Capacity to Contract Marriage;
• the residency permit;
• the identification card.
As a reminder, you should consider translating the documents, and if you need assistance in this matter, you may solicit help from our lawyers in China.
In order to get married in China, the overseas citizen will need to prepare the notarized marriageability certificate and the residence permit besides the application form, the valid passport with the proper visas and the necessary photos. It is good to know that foreigners who wish to marry in China and do not speak Chinese, should ask for assistance from a translator at the Marriage Registration Office.
The marriage registration should be scheduled in advance, with about three weeks. Besides the preparation of the documents, a certain fee is necessary to be paid at the Marriage Registration Office in the chosen city. The entire registration process may take up about one hour if the officers have approved the papers.
Overseas citizens who got married in China can apply for a permanent residence in the country if specific conditions have been fulfilled. First of all, the criminal record needs to be clean for both spouses. The couple will need to offer details about the incomes gained in the country for the last three years, in order to see if they can financially support themselves in China and if they had social contributions.
Additional information and guidance about the marriage registration process can be found if you contact our law firm in China.