Insights

Ningbo Marriage Registration Office: How to Get a Certificate and What to Bring under the New Regulations

Ningbo Author：LuXu WANG

Effective May 10, 2025, the newly revised Regulations on Marriage Registration will come into force. This revision has brought about two most intuitive changes: first, marriage registration has been implemented nationwide, and mainland residents can handle it at any marriage registration authority with corresponding authority in the country, without having to rush back to the place of household registration; second, marriage and divorce registration no longer require a household registration book, as long as their resident ID card, plus a signed statement about no spouse and no prohibition on marriage kinship. For those who work and live away from home year-round, this truly saves both time and travel expenses. However, it’s worth noting that the convenience lies in “where to go and what documents to bring,” not in “who is eligible to apply.” None of the substantive requirements—legal marriage age, mutual and unequivocal consent, being unmarried, and not being within a prohibited degree of kinship—has been relaxed in the slightest. In other words, the process of obtaining the certificate has been shortened, but the threshold has not been lowered. Below, we will explain each issue that should be clarified before obtaining the certificate.

1. Substantive requirements for marriage registration

No matter where the procedure is handled or how the required documents are streamlined, the legal criteria for determining “whether a marriage can be concluded” remain enshrined in the Civil Code. In accordance with Articles 1046 to 1049 of the Civil Code and Article 9 of the newly revised Regulations on Marriage Registration, the registration of marriage must simultaneously satisfy the following substantive requirements.

Both parties are fully voluntary.

Article 1046 of the Civil Code stipulates that marriage shall be based on the full and voluntary consent of both parties; no party may be coerced by the other, and no organization or individual may interfere. Here, “voluntary” means that both parties have reached a genuine mutual agreement to marry; no one may arrange or trade marriages, nor may anyone compel another person to marry through violence, coercion, or other means. As long as one party is not acting entirely of their own free will, the marriage registration authority shall refuse to register the marriage; this is a circumstance explicitly listed in Article 9, paragraph 2, of the new regulations.

Reaching theLegal marriage age

Article 1047 of the Civil Code stipulates that the marriage age shall be no earlier than twenty-two years for men and no earlier than twenty years for women. If the statutory marriage age has not been reached, the marriage registration authority shall not register the marriage; this is stipulated in Article 9, Paragraph 1 of the new regulations. Even if registration is obtained through fraudulent means, the marriage remains invalid; Article 1051 of the Civil Code lists “failure to reach the statutory marriage age” as one of the grounds for declaring a marriage void. It should be noted that age here is calculated according to the Gregorian calendar, and the day of one’s birthday is deemed to mark the attainment of that age. The registration authority will conduct an online verification of identity information.

Neither party is married.

China practices monogamy. Article 1042 of the Civil Code explicitly prohibits bigamy and cohabitation by a person who is already married with another person. Therefore, both parties seeking to marry must be unmarried; “unmarried” encompasses three situations: never married, widowed, or divorced. If one or both parties are already married, the marriage registration authority shall not register the marriage; this is stipulated in Article 9, Paragraph 3 of the new regulations. In practice, registration authorities rely on the national database of basic marriage information to conduct online verification of the parties’ marital status, thereby preventing the registration of bigamous marriages.

Does not fall under the category of prohibited kinship for marriage.

Article 1048 of the Civil Code stipulates that marriage is prohibited between direct relatives or collateral relatives within three degrees of kinship. Direct relatives include parents and children, grandparents and grandchildren, maternal grandparents and grandchildren, as well as adoptive parents and adopted children—these are considered quasi-blood relatives. Collateral relatives within three generations primarily include siblings (including half-siblings), cousins, uncles, aunts, nephews, and nieces. Marriage registration authorities shall not register marriages involving the aforementioned kinship relationships, as stipulated in Article 9, paragraph 4, of the new regulations; such marriages are likewise deemed invalid.

On “Diseases That Are Considered Medically Inadvisable for Marriage”

This is the most significant difference between the old and new rules and requires a specific clarification. The original "Marriage Law" once regarded "suffering from a disease that is medically considered not to be married" as a situation where marriage is prohibited and not registered, but Article 1051 of the Civil Code has deleted this item when listing the circumstances of invalid marriage; The new "Marriage Registration Regulations" also deleted the provision that "suffering from a disease that is medically considered not to be married" is not registered. Instead, it is the "obligation to truthfully inform major diseases" established in Article 1053 of the Civil Code: if one party suffers from a major illness, it shall truthfully inform the other party before the marriage registration; if it fails to truthfully inform, the other party may request the people's court The time limit for requesting cancellation is one year from the date when the reason for cancellation is known or should be known. In other words, the illness itself is no longer a direct obstacle to obtaining a marriage certificate, but concealing a serious medical condition may affect the validity of the marriage. Therefore, the claim circulating online that “one must prove they have no disqualifying medical conditions before obtaining a marriage certificate” is no longer accurate.

2. How to use the nationwide service?

“Nationwide service” is the most closely watched change in this revision. To use it effectively, focus on two key points: who handles it and where to go to handle it.

Institutional Basis

The original “Regulations on Marriage Registration” required that mainland residents seeking to marry must jointly apply at the marriage registration authority in the place of permanent residence of one of the parties—commonly referred to as “returning to the household registration location.” The new regulations delete the restriction of "place of household registration": Article 2 stipulates that the civil affairs department of the people's government at the county level or the township (town) people's government determined by the people's government of the province, autonomous region, or municipality directly under the Central Government in accordance with the principle of convenience "; Article 7 further clarifies that when mainland residents marry, both men and women should personally apply for marriage registration at the marriage registration agency, and no longer limit. The fourth accompanying requirement stipulates that the Ministry of Civil Affairs of the State Council shall coordinate and plan, improve the national database of marriage information, and, in collaboration with relevant departments, establish and refine an information-sharing mechanism to provide technical support for cross-regional verification. This is the normative basis for “nationwide one-stop service”: by leveraging the nationwide interconnected marriage information system, residents of mainland China can choose to register their marriages at any marriage registration authority across the country that has the requisite jurisdiction. This also marks a shift in marriage registration management from “local jurisdiction” to “nationwide one-stop service.”

In which situations does it apply?

From the perspective of the scope of application, the marriage registration, divorce registration and the replacement of marriage registration certificates for both mainland residents belong to the scope of acceptance of the national general office, and you can choose any nearby marriage registration agency for mainland residents. For people who move across provinces or cities, there is no longer a need to travel back and forth to their registered place of residence just to obtain a certificate—this is also the core issue that the revision aims to address.

In which situations are restrictions still in place?

First, marriage registrations involving foreign nationals, Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan, or overseas Chinese. The second paragraph of Article 2 of the new regulations stipulates that the organs for the registration of marriages between Chinese citizens and foreigners, mainland residents and Hong Kong residents, Macao residents, Taiwan residents and overseas Chinese shall be the civil affairs departments of the people's governments of provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities directly under the Central Government or their designated organs. This type of registration can only be processed at authorized agencies; for example, in Ningbo, foreign-related marriage registrations are handled exclusively at the Marriage Registration Office of the Ningbo Civil Affairs Bureau and cannot be processed at just any ordinary district- or county-level service window. Second, it is imperative to be present in person. Regardless of which service window you choose, both the man and the woman must be present in person to apply for marriage registration; one party may not act on behalf of the other, nor may they authorize another person to represent them. Third, the information must be verifiable. If the documents and declarations submitted by the applicant are inconsistent with the information verified online by the registration authority, additional materials must be provided or the discrepancies must be corrected first; otherwise, on‑site processing may be affected.

Service channels in Zhejiang and Ningbo

Zhejiang was among the first provinces to implement province-wide one-stop marriage registration services for mainland residents, and currently operates both province-wide and inter-provincial one-stop services in parallel. In Ningbo, the main online channel is "Zhejiang Office": through the "Zhejiang Office" APP, or the "Zhejiang Office" applet in Alipay and WeChat, or the Zhejiang Government Service Network, search for "Zhejiang Marriage" or "Marriage Registration Appointment", enter the "Zhejiang Marriage Registration Online Appointment" system, select the registration authority, date and time and fill in the information of both parties to complete the appointment, usually 2 to 30 days in advance. Marriage registration offices in all districts, counties, and cities of Ningbo are authorized to process marriage registrations for mainland residents; you can make an appointment and complete the procedure at the office nearest to you.

3. List of Materials

Material simplification is another major highlight of this revision. Taking mainland residents applying for marriage registration as an example, the required documents are not many:

  • Resident Identity Card. Only the original resident identity card is required. The identity card must be valid. If it is about to expire or has already expired, it is recommended to first apply for a replacement at a public security organ or obtain a temporary identity card, which can also be used for marriage registration.
  • Household registration book is no longer required. Article 8 of the new regulations lists only two documents required for marriage registration by mainland residents: the resident identity card and a signed declaration, while the household register has been removed. This is the most straightforward change compared to the previous regulations: issues such as “you can’t obtain the certificate without your household registration book” or “the household registration book is being held by family members” will no longer pose an obstacle.
  • Signed Declaration. Namely, a signed declaration stating that “I am unmarried and have no direct blood relationship or collateral relationship within three degrees of kinship with the other party.” At the registration venue, both parties typically complete and sign the “Declaration of Application for Marriage Registration,” which includes statements to the effect that neither party is currently married, that there is no prohibited familial relationship between them, and that their marriage is entered into fully voluntarily.
  • Formal group photo. Most registration authorities still require the submission of three recent, identical 2-inch, half-length, bareheaded joint photos of both parties. Please refer to the specific instructions provided by the registration authority at the time of appointment, and it is advisable to prepare these in advance.

In addition, if the marital status declared by the party concerned is inconsistent with the information verified by the registration authority, materials that can prove the authenticity of the declaration shall be provided, such as the marriage registration certificate, the judicial documents in force of the people's court, and the medical certificate (inference) of the death of the spouse and resident; active servicemen shall also submit the military certificate and the military marriage registration certificate issued by the political work department at or above the regiment level. It should be particularly emphasized that the parties concerned shall be responsible for the authenticity and legality of the certificates and written materials issued by themselves, and those who issue false certificates or false materials shall bear corresponding legal responsibilities, and the relevant information will also be recorded in the credit record in accordance with the relevant provisions of the state and incorporated into the national credit information sharing platform. The statement may seem simple, but it carries significant weight.

4. Registration process

Assuming all required documents are complete, the marriage registration process generally consists of three steps.

Application and Appointment

Both parties shall personally appear at the marriage registration authority to jointly apply for marriage registration, submitting such documents as their identification cards, a signed declaration, and a joint photograph. In order to improve efficiency, it is recommended to make an appointment through channels such as "Zheli Office"; if there is no appointment, you can also go directly to the scene. However, during peak dates such as “520” and the Qixi Festival, reservation slots are often in high demand, so it’s best to plan ahead.

Review and Verification

Article 10 of the new regulations stipulates that the marriage registration authority shall verify the documents and written materials submitted by the parties, inquire about relevant circumstances, and conduct online verification of the parties’ identities and marital status information. At the scene, facial recognition matching is typically conducted, and the national marriage registration information system is used to verify the marital status of both parties in real time. The registrar also personally asks and confirms key conditions, such as the intention to marry, compliance with the legal marriage age, and whether any prohibited familial relationships exist. This verySegment serves as the technical foundation that enables the nationwide one-stop service to be implemented.

Registration and Licensing

Where the parties meet the conditions for marriage, the marriage registration authority shall register the marriage on the spot and issue a marriage certificate; upon completion of the marriage registration, the marital relationship is established. If the conditions for marriage are not met and registration is therefore denied, the reasons shall be explained to the parties involved. This also serves as a reminder: there is no “cooling-off period” for marriage registration—once you meet the requirements, you can obtain your marriage certificate on the same day. In addition, marriage registration authorities are prohibited from charging any fees for processing marriage registrations, a provision that has been explicitly enshrined in the new regulations.

5. You cannot obtain the certificate under these circumstances.

Convenience does not equal relaxation. In the following cases, the marriage registration authority shall not register according to law, and must control its own situation in advance.

  • Has not reached the legal marriage age. If the man is under the age of 22 and the woman is under the age of 20, it shall not be registered; even if such a marriage is registered, it shall be invalid.
  • Bigamy (one or both parties are already married). A person who is already married may not register another marriage. Bigamy not only renders the subsequent marriage invalid, but in serious cases may also constitute the crime of bigamy, for which criminal liability shall be borne.
  • Prohibited relatives. Marriages between direct relatives or collateral relatives within three degrees of kinship shall not be registered and are deemed invalid.
  • Coerced, not fully voluntary. If one party is not fully voluntary, or if there has been coercion or interference, registration shall not be granted. What needs to be distinguished is that if the party concerned has already registered under coercion, the coerced party may, in accordance with Article 1052 of the Civil Code, request the people's court to cancel the marriage within one year from the date of termination of the coercive act; the party concerned who has illegally restricted his personal freedom shall submit it within one year from the date of restoration of his personal freedom.

By the way, comparing this with divorce registration will make the differences in their respective paces even clearer. There is a cooling-off period for divorce registration: within 30 days from the date when the marriage registration authority receives the application for divorce registration, any party who does not want to divorce may withdraw the application for divorce registration; within 30 days after the expiration of the period, both parties shall also apply to the marriage registration authority in person to issue a divorce certificate. If no application is made, the application for divorce registration shall be deemed to have been withdrawn and the divorce registration procedure shall be terminated. It is evident that divorce involves “two in-person appearances plus a waiting period,” whereas marriage simply requires “on-the-spot registration and issuance of the certificate”; the two processes are not the same.

The difference between 6. foreign-related, Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan marriage registration

If one party is a mainland resident and the other party is a foreigner, Hong Kong resident, Macao resident, Taiwan resident or overseas Chinese, marriage registration should be distinguished from ordinary mainland resident registration.There are three main differences: First, the handling agencies are different, and they must go to the civil affairs department of the people's government of the province, autonomous region, or municipality directly under the Central Government or an agency determined by it. Such registration in Ningbo is concentrated in the Marriage Registration Office of the Ningbo Civil Affairs Bureau (foreign-related marriage registration). In Ningbo Administrative Service Center. Second, the documents are different. In addition to the identity documents, it is also necessary to submit a notarized and certified statement or certificate that he has no spouse and no direct blood relationship with the other party within three generations; foreigners are also required to provide valid passports or other valid international travel documents, or other identity documents issued by the competent authorities of the Chinese government, The authenticity of the relevant documents shall be the responsibility of the parties and a written statement shall be signed. Third, the convenience of "picking a window at random" is not applicable and can only be handled by organs with corresponding authority. As for Chinese citizens whose men and women are not mainland residents to apply for marriage registration in the mainland, the specific measures shall be formulated separately by the civil affairs department of the State Council, and shall be confirmed with the competent registration authority before handling.

7. Frequently Asked Questions

Can it really be handled in a different city?

Yes. The marriage registration of both mainland residents belongs to the scope of the national general office, and can be handled by any marriage registration authority with corresponding authority in the country. Zhejiang also implements the "provincial general office" in the province, and can independently choose any mainland resident marriage registration authority in the province. What needs to be paid attention to is still the three restrictions: foreign-related marriages must go to the competent authority, both parties must be present in person, and information must be verified.

Do I still need my household registration book?

No need. The new regulations make it clear that only resident ID cards and signature statements are required for marriage registration of mainland residents, and household registration books are no longer presented for marriage and divorce registration. This is also one of the most practical changes in the 2025 revision. From then on, "the household registration book is not with you" is no longer a reason for postponing the license.

Is a premarital medical examination mandatory?

No. China has long since abolished mandatory premarital medical examinations; such examinations are now voluntary. The new regulations focus more on premarital education, marriage and family counseling and other services, and encourage the parties to receive marriage and family counseling and participate in premarital education, but they do not regard premarital examination as a precondition for marriage registration, and the registration authority will not refuse to register because there is no premarital examination.

Can someone else handle this on my behalf?

No. For marriage registration, both the man and the woman must be present in person to submit the application jointly; no delegation or representation is permitted. Article 1049 of the Civil Code stipulates that both men and women who want to marry shall apply for marriage registration in person at the marriage registration office; Article 7 of the new regulations also stipulates that both parties shall apply jointly in person at the marriage registration office. What the remote general office changes is "where to do it" and does not change "you must do it yourself".

8. Lawyer's Practical Insights

The only thing that the whole country saves is "where to do it and what materials to hand in", and the physical conditions are not loose. Before leaving, we should do two things: one is to confirm whether we need to make an appointment through the local marriage registration authority or online platform, so as to avoid making a free trip; the other is to check whether the ID cards of both parties are within the validity period and whether the information is consistent. The declaration of no spouse must be filled in truthfully. Once bigamy and forbidden relatives are concealed, the registration may be deemed invalid, and the consequences arising therefrom shall be borne by the parties themselves.

Although the household register is no longer needed, the online checking of marriage age, kinship and marital status is actually stricter, and the information of identity and marriage registration will be compared on the spot. If one party has a marriage history and the system records have not been updated, or the identity information has been changed, such as changing his name or moving his account, it is better to prepare supporting materials that can be corroborated in advance and think clearly about what needs to be explained. It is much easier to deal with problems than to be stuck on the spot and make up for them, so as not to affect the emotions of both sides. Double-check your information before heading out—this is the most practical step in your preparation.

You also need to carefully plan the arrangements for rights beyond just “obtaining the certificate.” Many people only care about whether it can be done, but ignore the pre-marital property, joint debts, which take effect immediately after the license is issued. If you are preparing to remarry, or if there is a large property gap between the two parties, you can clearly agree on the scope of their pre-marital property, the ownership of their property after marriage, and the debt commitment in writing before registration, and notarize them when necessary; the other party's marriage history, whether there are outstanding The debts or child support obligations should also be asked and marked before marriage.

Generally speaking, what the new Marriage Registration Regulations do is "subtraction" and "addition": what is subtracted is the materials of traveling in different places and household register, and what is added is the national information network, marriage and family counseling and credit restriction. For ordinary people, it is indeed more convenient to get a certificate, but the law has not allowed the matter of "who can get a certificate. Once you understand this point, you won’t mistake “one-stop service” for “relaxation of restrictions.”

gives several practical suggestions: firstly, make an appointment through "Zheli Office" before handling, and check the validity period of your ID card and marital status information to avoid on-site jam; secondly, you don't have to worry about the residence booklet, but you should fill in the statement truthfully, concealing or falsifying will leave a credit record; thirdly, if serious diseases are involved, you must tell the other party truthfully before registration, which is required for integrity, it is also a way to protect the validity of marriage; fourth, if one party is a foreigner or a resident of Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan, confirm the jurisdiction and notarization certification materials in advance, and reserve sufficient processing time; fifth, if one encounters forced, arranged or interfered with the freedom of marriage, one can protect one's marriage autonomy through legal means and do not reluctantly register.