Marriage Registration in China (For US Citizen)

        The applicant who will go to China for marriage registration shall apply for a single/non-marital status certificate. The applicant who is a Chinese citizen shall apply for a certificate in accordance with requirements of Notary Certificate of Single Status.
　

How to apply

1. An Affidavit of Single Status signed before a notary public.
2. Certified by the clerk of Court of the County in which the document is commissioned if applicable. It may be omitted if the authority in item 3 will certify directly to the notary.
3. Certified by the Secretary of the State in which the document is executed.
4. Certified by the relevant Consulate - General. You must apply to the correct Consulate - Generalwhich holds consular jurisdiction over your area of residence.

        For applicants who live in the consular jurisdiction of the Embassy, documents after being certified by the authority in item 3 shall be certified by the U. S. Departments of State Authentication Office, and then by the Embassy.

• You may come to the relevant Embassy or Consulate - Generals for application, or entrust a representative to apply for you. No appointment is required.
• Mailed applications are also acceptable. Make sure you read the Mail Application Instructions.

Documents to be included with applications:

1. One Authentication Application Form (G1) .
2. The above-mentioned Affidavit of Single Status, and a photocopy of the paper where the notary public and certification officer signs and stamps.

1. The authentication fee of $20 is payable by VISA , MasterCard, Money Order, Cashier's Check, Company Check or Cash.
   Personal checks are not acceptable. Please make the check payable to Chinese Embassy .
2. For mail service, an additional 5 dollars PER PACKAGE for handling will be charged. Make sure you read Mail Application Instructions.
3. The regular processing time is 4 working days. For express service, additional fees of $30 for 1 working day processing(applications presented before 11:30am may be picked up between 2:30pm-3:00pm on the same day), or $20 for 2-3 working days processing will be charged.

Additional information

• The applicant may only apply for an Affidavit of Single Status.
• The applicant shall apply for the authentication from the Chinese Embassy or Consulate-Generals within 3 months after the Affidavit of Single Status being notarized by the notary public. The Affidavit of Single Status is valid for 6 months after being authenticated by the Chinese Embassy or Consulate-Generals.
• According to the Marriage Law of the People's Republic of China, the minimum marriageability age is 22 for men and 20 for women.

On this date of  _________________, I,    (name of affiant) ,

residing at (street and number)  (city)  (state)      (zip code)  

BEING DULY SWORN DEPOSE AND SAY:

I was born on   (date)   at   (city)    (country)      

I am a (country) citizen. My passport number is           

I am a  (current occupation) . I am employed by (company name and address)                                     

I am currently single, have never been married (or was divorced/widowed on   (date)      and have never been remarried since that date).

        Overseas Chinese and foreigners wishing to go to China to marry Chinese citizens should be acknowledged that the legal marriage age in China is 22 and above for male, 20 and above for female according to the Chinese law, and bigamy is illegal.

Before going to China, the following documents should be prepared:
        1. To make Statutory Declaration either in front of a registered solicitor or to a Notary Public including Name, Sex, Date and Place of birth, Nationality, Passport or ID card number, Occupation, Address and Marital status (never married, divorced or widowed).
        2. To have the Declaration authenticated by the Legalization Office of Foreign and Commonwealth Office of U.K. and legalized finally by the Chinese Embassy or the Chinese Consulates-General. The documents are valid for 6 months since the date of legalization.
        3. The above-mentioned documents can not be legalized on the some day by the Chinese Embassy or the Consulate-General in U.K. It will be done in 10 days. The fee is £12 per document. Express service takes 2-3 working days and the supplement charge is £15 per document. The applications can be made either in person or by post. The postal application takes 2 weeks and an extra £20 per package will be charged as the postal service fee and a self-address return envelope is required.
        4. After entering China with the above said documents and a valid Chinese Visa, you should go together with your fiancée/fiancé, submit in person your marriage application to the marriage registration office of the local government above county level where the Chinese fiancée / fiancé resides and, have your health checked by a designated hospital. The marriage can be registered only after the application is ratified, and the Marriage Certificate is issued upon registration.

The Legalisation Office of the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office:
        Old Admiralty Building, Whitehall, London SW1A 2LG.
        Tel:020-7008-1111  Fax:020-7008-1010.  http://www.fco.gov.uk/legalisation

Consular Section of the Chinese Embaqssy in London:
        31 Portland Place, London W1B 1QD
        Tel: 020-72998427  (2:00p.m - 4:00pm)      Fax:  020-74369178
        Office Hours: 9:00am-12:00pm  Monday to Friday  ( except holidays )  
        Web Site: http://www.chinese-embassy.org.uk
        Consular Section in Mancheste: 49 Denison Road, Rusholme, Manchester M14 5RX
        Tel: 0161- 2248672                       Fax:0161-2572672
        Consular Section in Edinburgh: 55 Corstorphine Road, Edinburgh EH12 5QJ
        Tel: 0131-3373220 ( 3:30pm-4:30pm)       Fax: 0131-3371790