Two Foreigners Married in Shanghai (RECAP)

[Johnwrede 0]

Hello. This is an informational post since I found some of the information out there inaccurate.

I am a US citizen and my fiance is a Canadian citizen. We both have been legally working in China for about 4 years and we have residence permits. Today we got married in Shanghai and this is what we did.

1. Both got certificates of Marriage Eligibility from our respective consulates.

2. Got both certificates translated into Chinese by a translation company (when I got my eligibility at the US Consulate they gave me a sheet with their recommended translation services)

3. We went to the Shanghai Marriage Bureau (#82 Cao Bao Rd., Floor 3, Room E) around 10am and walked right up to the Marriage Counter

4. They reviewed our forms and asked us if we had photos together (we needed 3 passport likes photos but with us together). We did not have but there was a shop just in the hallway that helped us do it.

5. We brought back the photos, they had us fill out a form (in English) that said we were willing and able to get married.

6. The fee was 5 RMB (great deal!)

7. They asked if we would like a civil service. We said yes and we went into the next room where a staff member read a few sentences to us and we said "I do" to each and then we handed us our red booklets and we were married.

It may be the most efficient process in all of China. I do not even think they looked if we were residences so maybe even two tourist could try and be successful.

Next up, getting these translated and submitting the DCF packet!

Good luck.

[LBeachey 45]

Congratulations!

[LBeachey 45]

Get the marriage certificate translated at the GongZhengShu 公证书. That is what Guangzhou is going to want. I would get at least 2-3 copies.