Information on marriage and divorce application in Guangzhou

Marriage Registration

1.Objects: one of the couple is a Guangzhou resident and the other is a foreigner, or both of them are foreigners working or living in Guangzhou.

2. Conditions Precedent: The couple must be married by mutual consent; the male must be 22 years old or above, and the female must be 20 years old or above; Neither of them has a spouse (unmarried, divorced, widowed); the couple are not lineal relatives by blood or collateral relatives by blood up to the third degree of kinship.

3. Documents:

(1) For local residents:

Permanent household registration book and ID card (valid temporary ID card) 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 (the statement is issued by the marriage registration office).

The marital status of the parties concerned in the permanent household registration book should be in consistence with that in the statement. In case of inconsistency, the parties concerned should offer the registration office the documents including effect-taking judicial documents and medical certificate of death of spouse resident to prove the authenticity of its statement; in cases of inconsistency and failure to offer relevant documents, the parties concerned should go to the departments concerned for correction first.

In the case that the marital status stated by the parties concerned is inconsistent with that recorded in marriage registration file, the parties concerned should offer the registration office documents including effect-taking judicial document and medical certificate of death of spouse resident to prove the authenticity of its statement.

(2) For foreign nationals:

Valid passport or other valid international travel documents: a certificate indicating that the person has currently no spouse issued by the notary organization or competent authority of his or her country and accredited by the embassy/consulate of the PRC in his or her country or the embassy/consulate of his or her country in the PRC; or a notarized certificate indicating that the person currently has no spouse proved by the embassy/consulate of his or her country in China. The statement or certificate indicating that the person currently has no spouse is valid for six months after the date of issuance.

Relevant proof issued by the country having no diplomatic relations with China should be accredited by the embassy/consulate of the third country that has diplomatic relations with both his or her country and China in his or her country as well as the embassy/consulate of the PRC in the third country, or the embassy/consulate of the third country in China.

If the couple, both of whom are foreigners, requests to register for marriage in Guangzhou, the parties concerned should also issue the certificate to prove that the countries of the parties concerned recognize the legal effect of the residents’ marriage registration abroad in addition to the mentioned certificates and documents.

(3) Photo: Three 2-inch recent color group photos of the couple (full face without hat)

Divorce Registration

1. Objects: one of the couple is a Guangzhou residents and the other is a foreigner.

2. Conditions Precedent: Both of the couple must divorce by mutual consent and have full capacity for civil conduct; both parties must hold Divorce Agreement 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; both parties hold the marriage certificate issued by the Chinese marriage registration authority or a Chinese embassy/consulate abroad.

3. Documents:

(1) Both parties' valid Chinese ID cards or permanent household registration book.

(2) Valid passport or other valid international travel documents.

(3) Both parties' marriage certificate; one of both parties, who lose his or her marriage certificate, should make a statement about the loss of marriage certificate in writing and the marriage certificate authority can handle the divorce registration according the other marriage certificate; both parties, who lose their marriage certificate, should make a statement about the loss of marriage certificate in writing and provide stamped photocopies of marriage registration file, and the marriage registration authority can handle the divorce registration according the above documents offered by both parties.

(4) Divorce Agreement (the original in triplicates and signing in front of the marriage registrar).

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

Replacement of Marriage Certificate

 1. Objects: One of the couple is a Guangzhou resident and the other is a foreigner; or the parties concerned have registered for marriage in the area under the jurisdiction of Guangzhou.

2. Conditions Precedent: The parties concerned have registered for marriage or divorced according to the law and still maintain such marriage status till now; the parties concerned who lost or damaged their marriage certificate.

3. Documents:

(1) Both parities' valid Chinese ID card or permanent household registration book.

(2) Valid passport or other valid international travel documents.

(3) Marriage registration file; if the parties concerned lost their marriage registration file, they should issue sufficient evidence to prove the marriage relationship.

If the parties concerned cannot go to the marriage registry to apply for the replacement of marriage certificate, but the information in their well-document archive is consistent with their identity information, they can entrust another person to complete it. In case of entrustment, the permanent household registration book and ID card of the parties concerned and the letter of authorization notarized by the notary organ should be issued. The letter should list the name, ID card number and the time of marriage registration of the parties concerned as well as undertaking organization, current marriage status, reason of entrustment, and the name and ID card of the trustee. The trustee should also issue his or her own ID card. The letter of authorization issue or notarized by foreign notary organ should be authenticated by the embassy/consulate of China in this country.

(4) Photo: Three 2-inch recent color group photos of both parties showing full face without hat (for the use of replacement of marriage certificate);

Two 2-inch recent color photos of each party showing full face without hat (for the use of replacement of divorce certificate).

Office Information

Undertaking Organization: Guangzhou Civil Affairs Bureau

Office Time: Monday to Friday

          Morning: 8:30-12:00

          Afternoon:2:00-5:30

Address: 2/F, 99 Xihu Road, Guangzhou

Tel: (8620)83178772, (8620)83342349

Traffic Guide: At the junction of Xihu Road and Qiyi Road. Qiyi Road Station for public bus and about 150 meters ahead of Exit J of Gongyuanqian Station for metro.

Website: http://wsbs.gzmz.gov.cn