Marriage and divorce registration

This column offers a list of identity papers required for foreign nationals to register marriage or divorce in Guangzhou.

The Foreign-Related Marriage Registration Office of the Guangzhou Civil Affairs Bureau registers marriages and divorces involving any party with permanent residency in Guangzhou. All marriages and divorces must be voluntary. To get married, a man should at least be 22 years old while a woman should at least be 20 years old; the man and woman should have no other current spouse (which means that both should be single, divorced, or widowed at the time they are applying to register their marriage) and should not be lineal relatives by blood or collateral relatives by blood up to the third degree of kinship. A man or woman of foreign nationality may register their marriage in Guangzhou. To do so, they should produce certificates and documents as required by the Regulations on Marriage Registration, as well as a certificate proving that their home country recognizes foreign marriage registrations.

The marriage registration authority reviews certificates and statements provided by a man or woman seeking local marriage or divorce registration and immediately registers the marriage or divorce and issues a marriage or divorce certificate if all conditions have been found to be satisfied.

Marriage Registration

To register a marriage, the following documents should be provided:

· For the local citizens: 

1. Permanent household registration book and ID card;

2. A signed statement indicating that the couple are not lineal relatives by blood or collateral relatives by blood up to the third degree of kinship. 

· For foreign nationals:

1. Valid passport or other valid international travel documents;

2. A notarized certificate indicating that the person currently has no spouse (valid for six months after the date of issuance). 

Divorce Registration

To register a divorce, the condition precedent is that both parties have full civil capacity must be satisfied, and the following documents must be provided:

1. Both parties' permanent household registration book, ID card, passport or other valid international travel documents;

2. Marriage certificates issued to the parties by the Chinese marriage registration authority or a Chinese diplomatic mission abroad;

3. The divorce agreement signed by both parties indicating that both parties agree to divorce of their free will and agree on the arrangements for the rearing of children and disposition of assets and debts; 

4. Two large one-inch recent color photos (full face without hat) of each party. 

Foreign-Related Marriages Registration Office, Guangzhou Civil Affairs Bureau

Add: 2/F, No 99, Xihu Road, Guangzhou

Tel: +86-20-83342349

Website: www.gzmz.gov.cn