Obtaining a marriage certificate requires only an ID card and a signed declaration — no household register needed, no fees, and issuance is immediate.

13. Obtaining a marriage certificate requires only an ID card and a signed declaration — no household register needed, no fees, and issuance is immediate.

Cost: There are no fees involved. Both parties must be present in person. The entire process typically takes just a few minutes.

In plain terms: Starting May 2025, getting a marriage certificate requires only two items: your ID card and a signed declaration stating that you have no spouse and share no direct or indirect blood relations within three generations with your partner. There’s no need to bring a household register, nor to go back to one’s place of hukou registration. The registration itself is completely free, and if all conditions are met, the certificate is issued on the spot.

Benefit: The revised Marriage Registration Regulations, effective May 10, 2025, streamlined documentation requirements for mainland residents. They specify that only two documents are mandatory: “(1) one’s own ID card; (2) a signed declaration confirming that one has no spouse and shares no direct or indirect blood relations within three generations with the other party.” The household register is no longer required. Registration is handled by “county-level civil affairs bureaus or township governments designated by provincial or municipal authorities to ensure accessibility.” The previous requirement to register at the hukou location of one partner has been removed. The regulations also explicitly state that “marriage registration authorities must not charge any fees” and “must issue certificates on the spot to applicants who meet all eligibility criteria.”

Evidence grade: A

Sources: State Council of China (2025). Marriage Registration Regulations (National Order No. 804, Articles 2, 6, 8, and 10). <https://www.gov.cn/zhengce/zhengceku/202504/content_7017752.htm>

Notes: Registration will be denied only in four cases: if either party is under legal marriage age, if consent is not mutual, if either party already has a spouse, or if the couple shares direct or indirect blood relations within three generations. Any additional charges usually apply only to optional services such as photography or photocopying — the registration process itself remains free. If anyone demands a “processing fee” or “express service charge,” such demands should be refused and reported. The 30-day cooling-off period for divorce registration is discussed under the “Cost” section.