I. Marriage Registration Guidelines
(I) Scope of Marriage Registrations
Marriage and divorce registrations between residents of Suzhou and residents of China’s Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan, overseas Chinese and foreigners.
(II) Marriage System
The marriage system adheres to the principles of marriage freedom, monogamy, and gender equality.
II. Conditions and Procedures for Marriage Registration
(I) Application Requirements
1. At least one party must be a registered permanent resident of Suzhou, Jiangsu Province;
2. The male party must be at least 22 years old, and the female party must be at least 20 years old;
3. Neither party has an existing spouse;
4. The parties involved should not be linear relatives by blood or related by blood within three generations;
5. The parties involved should not suffer from any medical conditions considered unfit for marriage;
6. Both parties must have full legal capacity, with no intellectual or psychological disabilities;
7. Both parties must voluntarily appear in person for the registration.
(II) Required Application Materials
1. Chinese Mainland Residents: Household register and national identity card.
2. Residents of China’s Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan:
(1) Valid travel permit or identification document;
(2) A declaration, notarized by local public notary institutions, stating that the individual does not have an existing spouse and has no direct or collateral blood relationship with the other party within three generations.
3. Overseas Chinese:
(1) Valid passport;
(2) A certificate, issued by public notary institutions or competent authorities in the country of residence which has been authenticated by the Embassy or Consulate of the People’s Republic of China in that country, stating that the individual does not have an existing spouse and has no direct or collateral blood relationship with the other party within three generations. Alternatively, a certificate issued by the Embassy or Consulate of the People’s Republic of China in that country, stating that the individual does not have an existing spouse and has no direct or collateral blood relationship with the other party within three generations.
4. Foreign Nationals:
(1) Valid passport or other valid international travel document;
(2) A certificate, issued by public notary institutions or competent authorities in the country of residence which has been authenticated by the Embassy or Consulate of the People’s Republic of China in that country or authenticated by the Embassy or Consulate of that country in China, stating that the individual does not have an existing spouse. Alternatively, a certificate issued by the Embassy or Consulate of that country in China, stating that the individual does not have an existing spouse.
5. The declaration or certificate of no existing spouse is valid for at most six months from the date of issuance.
6. Documents and materials in a foreign language must be translated into Chinese.
(III) Processing Procedures
Preliminary Review – Acceptance – Examination – Registration (Issuance of Certificate)
The marriage registration certificate is issued on the spot.
III. Conditions and Procedures for Divorce Registration
(I) Application requirements
1. At least one party is a registered permanent resident of Suzhou, Jiangsu Province;
2. Both parties have legally registered their marriage in Chinese mainland and are still in a marital relationship;
3. Both parties must have full legal capacity, with no intellectual or psychological disabilities;
4. Both parties must voluntarily agree to divorce and reach a consensus on matters such as child custody, property division, and debt settlement.
(II) Required Application Materials
1. Household register, identity card, travel permit, passport or other valid international travel documents of the individual;
2. Marriage certificates;
3. Three copies of the divorce agreement signed by both parties.
(III) Procedures
Application – Preliminary Review – Acceptance – 30-day Cooling-off Period – Examination – Registration (Issuance of Certificate)
Processing Time: Divorce registration is conducted in two stages, namely the divorce application plus a 30-day cooling-off period, and the issuance of the certificate on spot.
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