Getting married is exciting — but if you're planning to marry with a Chinese national in Shanghai, there's some paperwork to tackle first. Good news: Starting May 2025, the city makes it easier for international couples to register, with services now available in all 16 districts!

 

Basic Conditions:

1. Minimum age: 20 for women and 22 for men.

2. You and your partner must go to the marriage registration office in person. 

3. Both of you must enter the marriage voluntarily.

4. China observes monogamy.

5. You cannot get married if you are lineal relatives or collateral relatives within three generations.

Note: China doesn't provide marriage registration for two foreigners.

 

[Photo/VCG]

Documents to Prepare:

For your Chinese spouse: 

Personal ID card.

For you: 

1. A valid passport or other international travel documents or Foreign Permanent Resident ID Card.

2. Certificate of single status. There are two situations depending on your nationality.

  (a) If your country is a contracting party of the Convention on Abolishing the Requirement of Legalization for Foreign Public Documents, you can get the certificate of single status from:

   (i) a notary or competent authority at your country with an Apostille;

   (ii) the embassy (consulate) of your country in China.

  (b) If your country is not a contracting party of the Convention on Abolishing the Requirement of Legalization for Foreign Public Documents, you can get the certificate from:

   (i) a notary or competent authority at your country and authenticated by the embassy (consulate) of the People’s Republic of China in your country;

   (ii) a notary or competent authority at your country and authenticated by the embassy (consulate) of your country in China; 

   (iii) the embassy (consulate) of your country in China.

Note: The certificate of single status will be valid for six months from the date of issue.

 

3. Translated copies of the certificate of single status and Apostille mentioned above. Translations by the Chinese Embassy (consulate) in your country or a qualified translation institution will be accepted.

4. Three copies of a couple's portrait.

[Photo/VCG]

Marriage Registration:

Starting May 1, 2025, cross-border marriage registration service has become accessible in all 16 districts of Shanghai.

From May 10, 2025, the city allows couples from any part of the country, including those with international ties, to complete their registration at any municipal or district-level office, regardless of their place of residence.

The detailed addresses and contact information for the various registration centers are as follows.

If you are not fluent in Chinese, you can call 021-6432-5088 for English service.

 

Shanghai Marriage Registration Center

Address: 3rd Floor, Shanghai Everbright Convention & Exhibition Center, No 80 Caobao Road

Tel: 021-6432-5088

Pudong New Area Marriage Registration Center

Address: 3rd Floor, No 2240 South Pudong Road

Tel: 021-5882-8056 (Marriage), 021-5882-9805 (Divorce)

Huangpu District Marriage Registration Center

Address: No 250 Middle Jiangxi Road

Tel: 021-6377-7913

Xuhui District Marriage Registration Center

Address: 3rd Floor, Building 2, Xuhui Administrative Service Center, No 999 Nanning Road

Tel: 021-6432-5543

Changning District Marriage Registration Center

Address: 1st Floor, Building 2, Alley 631, Jinzhong Road

Tel: 021-6270-5580

Jing'an District Marriage Registration Center

Address: 1st & 2nd Floors, No 50 Moling Road

Tel: 021-5355-0041

Minhang District Marriage Registration Center

Address: No 1766 Xinzhen Road

Tel: 021-5453-0884

Hongkou District Marriage Registration Center

Address: No 76 Balin Road

Tel: 021-5512-7328

Hongkou Tian'ai Road Marriage Registration Sub-Center

Address: No 50 Tian'ai Branch Road

Tel: 021-5512-7328

Putuo Marriage Registration Center

Address: No 510 Caoyang Road

Tel: 021-6244-1118, ext 3002

Yangpu Marriage Registration Center

Address: No 1111 Changyang Road

Tel: 021-6506-1665

Jiading District Marriage Registration Center

Address: No 2560 Middle Chengliu Road

Tel: 021-5952-8242/ 021-5952-8667

Baoshan District Marriage Registration Center

Address: South Building, No 2 Zhangling Road (Near Panggu Road)

Tel: 021-5669-9902

Songjiang District Marriage Registration Center

Address: Building 2, No 682, Alley 900, North Sanxin Road

Tel: 021-5782-8156 (Marriage), 021-5772-7552 (Divorce)

Fengxian District Marriage Registration Center

Address: 3rd Floor, Block B, Alley1529, South Wangyuan Road

Tel: 021-5742-0620

Jinshan District Marriage Registration Center

Address: No 620 Linyuan Street, Zhujin Town

Tel: 021-5731-9540

Qingpu District Marriage Registration Center

Address: No 300 Qing'an Road

Tel: 021-6971-4230 (Marriage), 021-6971-3671 (Divorce)

Chongming District Marriage Registration Center

Address: No 1501 Cuizhu Road, Chengqiao Town

Tel: 021-3961-1574 (Marriage), 021-5962-9140 (Divorce)

 

Source: Shanghai Municipal Bureau of Civil Affairs