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Getting Married in Beijing
Learn about the legal process of marriage in Beijing. Find information on the legal process and download the necessary forms here.
Marriage between Chinese-nationals and citizens of other countries, or between two non-Chinese nationals, is a reasonably simple process. Both parties should be unmarried; men should be at least 22 and women at least 20 years of age.
Q & A
What is mixed marriage?
Mixed marriage herein refers to the marriage between Chinese citizens and foreign citizens (including foreigners, Chinese of foreign nationalities, foreign emigrants living in China and stateless people, etc).
What certificates and evidence should be submitted for the registration of marriage between Chinese citizens and foreigners?
The Chinese citizen shall provide:
1. Residence booklet;
2. ID card;
3. Certificate of marriage status issued by the county-level government in the area where the residence is registered or by the organs, schools, public institutions or enterprises above the county level where he/she works.
The foreigner shall provide:
1. Passport or other certificates of ID and nationality;
2. "Residence Permit for Foreigners" issued by public security organs, or ID certificate issued by foreign affairs institutions, or certificates of entry and residence for short visit to China;
3. Certificate of marriage status issued by the public notary office of his/her country, and approved by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (or the institution authorized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs) of his/her country and Chinese embassy or consulate to his/her country; or certificate of marriage status issued by the embassy or consulate of his/her country to China.
Overseas Chinese shall provide:
1. Passport or other certificates of ID and nationality (exempted for stateless people);
2. "Residence Permit for Foreigners" issued by public security organs;
3. Certificate of marriage status issued by the county-level government in the area where the residence is registered or by the organs, schools, public institutions or enterprises above the county level where he/she works.
In addition, both sides should submit pre-marriage physical examination reports.
In what circumstances would the embassies of China accept and transact the marriage registrations of overseas Chinese?
Overseas Chinese are encouraged to go through marriage registration and hold a marriage ceremony in the nation of residence in accordance with local laws. If both parties are overseas Chinese, their application for marriage registration is in accordance with the regulations of the Marriage Law of the PRC, and it is allowed by the laws of the nation of residence for them to receive marriage registration at the Chinese embassy, the embassy may transact the registration for them. Providing the laws of the nation of residence do not recognize the marriage registration issued by embassies or the marriage registration application does not conform to the relevant regulations of the Marriage Law of the PRC, the embassy shall not accept and transact the registration. The Chinese embassy does not transact the registration of marriages between overseas Chinese and foreigners (including Chinese of foreign nationalities).
What kinds of Chinese citizens are forbidden to marry foreigners?
1. Men in active military service, diplomatic personnel, public security personnel, confidential personnel, and other personnel who are in charge of important confidential work;
2. Persons receiving reeducation through labor or serving a sentence.
I have a foreign friend who works in Beijing, and his girlfriend lives abroad. Can they go through marriage registration in Beijing?
According to Article 8 of the Opinions of the Ministry of Civil Affairs on Several Issues in Implementing "Regulation on Marriage Registration", "If two foreigners request to undergo marriage registration in the Chinese mainland, the office with the relevant authority to transact mixed marriage registrations, where the persons concerned work or live, should accept and transact the case should they provide relevant certificates and evidentiary materials according to the principles of Regulation on Marriage Registration and provide proof that the marriage registration in foreign countries is recognized and approved by the authority of his/her own country".
