Yes. A foreigner can legally marry in China — including marrying a Chinese citizen — as long as both parties meet the legal conditions and register the marriage in person at the designated marriage registration authority. The marriage is then valid under Chinese law, and you do not have to give up your own nationality.

What the law says

China’s Civil Code sets the basic conditions. Article 1046 requires the complete and free consent of both parties. Article 1047 sets the legal age at 22 for a man and 20 for a woman. Article 1048 bans marriage between direct-line relatives or collateral relatives within three generations, and Article 1049 says the marriage relationship is established only when the couple registers with the marriage registration authority and is issued a marriage certificate.

For a Chinese citizen marrying a foreigner, the Registration of Marriage Regulation — revised by State Council Order No. 804 and effective 10 May 2025 — controls the procedure. Article 2 provides that the registering authority is the civil affairs department of the province-level government, or an authority it designates. Article 7 requires both parties to apply together, in person. Article 8 requires the foreign party to produce: (1) a valid passport or other valid international travel document, or a Chinese permanent residence ID or other ID issued by a Chinese authority; and (2) a certificate of no spouse issued by a notary or competent authority in the home country and authenticated by a Chinese embassy or consulate, or by the home country’s embassy or consulate in China. Article 9 lists the cases in which registration must be refused: underage, absence of genuine consent, an existing spouse, or prohibited kinship.

Which country’s law applies is set by the Law on the Application of Law to Foreign-Related Civil Relations. Article 21 applies the law of the parties’ common habitual residence, then their common nationality, and otherwise the law of the place of marriage. Article 22 provides that the formalities are valid if they comply with the law of the place of marriage, or of a party’s habitual residence or nationality.

What this means in practice

Start early and get the paperwork right. Having your single-status certificate notarised in your home country and then legalised by a Chinese embassy or consulate can take weeks, and documents that are not in Chinese will usually need a translation. A couple who simply lives together without registering has no marriage in the eyes of Chinese law. Bigamy is a criminal offence under Article 258 of the Criminal Law, punishable by up to two years, and a marriage can also be declared void under Article 1051 of the Civil Code.

A quick example

(Hypothetical) An American working in Shanghai wants to marry his Chinese partner. He applies at the designated provincial-level registration authority, presenting his passport and a single-status certificate from the United States that has been authenticated by a Chinese consulate. They both attend in person and are issued a marriage certificate. Nothing in the process requires him to give up his US citizenship, and the marriage is recognised under Chinese law.

FAQ

Q: Do we both have to appear in person?
A: Yes. Under Article 7 of the Registration of Marriage Regulation, both parties must apply together at the registration authority.

Q: What is the legal age to marry in China?
A: Under Article 1047 of the Civil Code, a man must be at least 22 and a woman at least 20.

Q: Where do we register if one of us is a foreigner?
A: At the marriage registration authority designated by the province-level civil affairs department, as set out in Article 2 of the regulation.

Q: Does marrying a Chinese citizen give me a visa or citizenship?
A: No. The marriage itself does not create immigration status or nationality — you still need a valid visa or residence permit, and Chinese citizenship is governed by separate rules.

Wang Guan | Co-founder, Beijing Haolue Law Firm | +86 17813108512