(XINHUA)

Marrying a Chinese citizen 

The first thing you should know is that the procedure, or at least the papers you'll be asked to provide, might differ from one province to another or even vary depending on your nationality. That is why the first thing to do is to contact the marriage registration office of the city where your Chinese fiancé/fiancée is registered as well as your consulate or embassy to ask exactly how you should proceed and what documents are needed.

At the marriage registration office, your Chinese partner will generally be asked to provide the following documents: (1) his or her hukou (household registration) and ID card; (2) a certificate of marriageability in order to show he or she is not married; (3) a birth certificate from the place where he or she was born; (4) divorce papers or death certificate in case of being divorced or widowed; and (5) a health certificate from a local hospital designated by the civil affairs office. Sometimes, a letter from the parents of your partner giving permission for their child to marry a foreigner might be necessary.

 As a foreigner, you will need to provide: (1) your passport; (2) a valid visa or foreigner's residency permit or citizenship certificate; (3) a health certificate from a local hospital designated by the civil affairs office; (4) a notarized certificate of marriageability; and (5) original divorce papers or death certificate in case of being divorced or widowed.

To get the certificate of marriageability, you'll have to go to your embassy with your passport, your fiancé/fiancée's ID and hukou registration, translated and notarized. Again, procedures may vary according to your nationality. Some embassies don't require the presence of your Chinese spouse and deliver the affidavit within an hour, just by filling out a form, doing a brief interview, and paying a fee. Others may require an interview of the couple. It takes several weeks to get the last document, as it has to be published first in your hometown to see if someone would object (on grounds that you are already married, for example).

The marriage office requires a Chinese translation of all English documents. You will also need to provide three photos of you two, which can usually be taken at the marriage office directly.

When all the documents are ready, complete an application form. Once the authenticity of the documents is established, the marriage office will approve the application and grant the marriage license.