Getting Married in China

Marriage in China

The Consular Section can provide American citizens with information on the marriage registration process in China.  American citizens resident in China may file a petition to establish the basis for their Chinese spouses and relatives to immigrate to the United States.

Please see http://travel.state.gov/family/family_issues/marriage/marriage_589.html for more information

Getting Married in China

Marriages in China must be registered with the Chinese civil affairs office (民政局 Ming Zheng Ju) according to the laws of China, regardless of the nationality of the persons being married.  American diplomatic and consular officers do not have the authority to perform marriages and are not required to witness the marriages of American citizens.

Can foreigners get married in China?
In order to marry, at least one member of the couple must reside in China.  Two foreigners on tourist visas are unlikely to be able to register to marry.

Are there any restrictions on who I can marry?
The eligibility age is generally 22 for men and 20 for women.  Certain categories of Chinese citizens, such as diplomats, security officials, and others whose work is considered to be crucial to the state, are not legally free to marry foreigners.  Chinese students generally are permitted to marry if all the requirements are met, but they can expect to be expelled from school as soon as they do.  American citizens wishing to marry Chinese students should bear this in mind.  It also should be noted that at least one school has required Chinese students to reimburse the school for uncharged tuition and other expenses upon withdrawal for the purpose of marriage to a foreigner.

What documents do I need to register a marriage with the Chinese civil affairs office?
Upon receipt of an application to register a marriage, the Chinese civil affairs office must ascertain that both parties are eligible to marry.  The American partner to a marriage in China will generally be asked to submit a current passport and a Marriageability Affidavit to a local civil affairs office (Many Chinese jurisdictions insist that the Marriageability Affidavit be translated into Chinese and that the translation be done by an office they authorize.). If both parties are foreigners, one side should present a Chinese residence permit.).  The Chinese partner must submit his or her Family Registration Book (户口簿 Hu Kou Bu) or residence permit, and Chinese National ID card (身份证 Shen Fen Zheng).

How do I get the Marriageability Affidavit?
The U.S. Consulate has the authority to issue Marriageability Affidavits for Americans who wish to marry in China.  To apply for a Marriageability Affidavit, you are required to apply in person, by appointment, at the U.S. Consulate. Please click here to make an appointment. You must bring your U.S. passport, your fiancé’s ID, and evidence that you are currently single if you have been married before, and sign your Marriageability Affidavit in front of a Consular officer.

Marriageability Affidavit Fee:
US$30. Cash, credit cards or traveler's checks (RMB or dollars) are accepted.

Marriage Fraud Against U.S. Citizens

The Consulate has received some reports of fraud committed against U.S. citizens by Internet correspondents from China professing romantic interest.  In many of these cases, the Chinese national has hired a company to communicate with the American citizen for him/her, meaning that s/he has not actually written any of the e-mails that were sent to the American.  Likewise, the American citizen may unwittingly carry on telephone conversations with a paid consultant posing as the romantic interest.  The business models of many of these companies are reliant on the American citizen ultimately paying extremely high “consulting” fees—often the Chinese national will tell the American that s/he needs tuition for English study, but actually uses this money to pay the relationship consultant.  In some cases, when the American visits China to meet his/her Internet friend in person, a visa consultant accompanies the Chinese friend and presents the American with a demand for payment of thousands of dollars in fees.  At times, when the American citizen has refused to pay, s/he has been threatened with physical violence or unlawful detention.  The Consulate has also received reports of Internet relationship scams seeking money, rather than visas.  For instance, the Chinese person will claim they or a close family member has been kidnapped or had a large sum of money stolen and asks the American to wire them money.

While many Chinese citizens are sincere in their desire to marry and live with Americans they meet over the Internet, some are not.  It is important to remember that immigrant visas to the United States are viewed by many Chinese as having a great deal of value, and it is not uncommon for people to enter into relationships for the sole purpose of obtaining a visa.