How do I get married to a Chinese person? We explain the procedure, necessary documents, and points to note.

Marriages between Chinese and Japanese people have been increasing in recent years.
However, unlike marriages between Japanese people, many people may be worried about whether the procedures will go smoothly.

In this article, we will explain in detail about international marriages with Chinese people, the procedures in each country, the necessary documents, and points to note.

How to apply for international marriage with a Chinese person

When a Chinese person and a Japanese person get married internationally, the documents required and the procedural steps differ depending on whether the procedure is carried out in China first or in Japan first.

If you complete the procedure in China first

If you are currently in China, it is more efficient to complete the procedures in China first.

1. Obtain a Certificate of Eligibility to Marry a Japanese National

The "Certificate of Eligibility to Conduct Marriage" is a document required when a Chinese person and a Japanese person marry.
If you live in Japan, you can get it at the Legal Affairs Bureau, and if you live in China, you can get it at the Japanese Embassy or Consulate.

The documents required for this procedure are as follows:

Documents to be prepared by Japanese nationals

• Family register
• Seal
• Spouse's date of birth
• Nationality of spouse
• Name of spouse (copy of Chinese ID)
• Identification
  *If the woman has transferred her family register within 100 days of the application date, a copy of her family register prior to the transfer is also required.

Documents prepared by Chinese people

• Resident ID card
• Resident household register

2. Official seal verification at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Next, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will certify your marriage certificate.
You will have to go to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs twice, once to apply for and once to receive the certification.

The documents required for certification are as follows:

• Marriage requirements certificate
• Identification (passport, etc.)

3. Certificate authentication at Chinese embassies and consulates

Once the certification by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs is complete, the next step is to go through the certification process at the Chinese Embassy.

The required documents are as follows:

• Certificate of legal capacity to marry and a copy of it
• Passport
• Notarization Application Form

The cost is 11,320 yen for next-day certification, 9,456 yen for the day after, and 4 yen for four business days.

4. Applying for Marriage at China's Marriage Registry Office

After the Certificate of Eligibility for Marriage has been approved in both Japan and China, you can apply for marriage registration in China.
To complete this procedure, both the Japanese and Chinese must prepare the necessary documents.
In addition, a Chinese translation of the marriage certificate issued in Japan is required.

Applications should be submitted to the Marriage Registration Office that has jurisdiction over the habitual household address of the Chinese spouse to be married.

The application must be submitted by both people getting married.

Documents to be prepared by Japanese nationals

• Certificate of legality for marriage certified by the Chinese or Japanese embassy or consulate
• Chinese translation of the above
• Passport

Documents prepared by Chinese people

• Resident household register
• Resident ID card
• Passport

5. Submitting your marriage registration

Once your marriage registration in China is complete, the marriage must be reported to Japan.
Applications should be submitted to your local city, town or village office in Japan.
If you are a resident of China, you can also complete the procedure at a Japanese embassy or consulate.

Documents to be prepared by Japanese nationals

• Family register
• Passport

Documents prepared by Chinese people

• Marriage certificate
• Nationality certificate

*These documents must be issued by a notary public in China and must have a Japanese translation.
It is possible to complete the procedure at a Japanese embassy or consulate in China, but it will take approximately two months for the marriage to be reflected in the Japanese family register.

If you complete the procedure in Japan first

If your Chinese spouse is already living in Japan, it is most efficient to complete the marriage procedures in Japan first.

1. Obtaining a certificate from a Chinese embassy or consulate

Apply for and obtain a Certificate of Eligibility to Marry for your Chinese spouse.
This certificate can be obtained from any Chinese embassy or consulate in Japan.
　
The required documents are as follows:

• Notarization Application Form
• A copy of your passport and its photo page
• Residence card and a copy of both sides
• Statement

*The statement must be signed at the counter when you apply.

2. Submit your marriage registration at your local city hall

After successfully obtaining the Certificate of Eligibility to Marry, you will prepare the necessary documents and submit a marriage registration to your local city, town or village office in Japan.

The required documents are as follows:

Documents to be prepared by Japanese nationals

• Marriage registration
• Family register (if submitting at a place other than your permanent domicile)

Documents prepared by Chinese people

• Certificate of legal capacity to marry (Japanese translation required)
• Residence card
• Passport (Japanese translation required)

3. Certificate authentication by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs

After the marriage is finalized in Japan, the marriage certificate will be certified in both countries in order to report the marriage to China.
　
First, you will need to go through the authentication process at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan (you can also do this by mail).
You can then take the certified marriage certificate to the Chinese Embassy or Consulate in Japan for legalization.

4. Change of family register in China

Once the marriage procedures are completed in Japan, the marriage will automatically be recognized as valid in China, so no additional marriage procedures are required in China.

However, the marital status must be changed on the Chinese spouse's family register.
This procedure can be completed by submitting a certified marriage certificate to the city office where your Chinese spouse is registered.
In this case, a Chinese translation of the marriage certificate will be required.

5. Spouse Visa Application

After a marriage between a Chinese person and a Japanese person is finalized, the procedure to change to a spouse visa will be carried out.
By obtaining this visa, the Chinese spouse can live a life in Japan equivalent to that of a Chinese citizen.

The screening process for spouse visas is strict, and simply being married does not necessarily mean you will be able to obtain one.
We recommend that you thoroughly prepare for your application.

Which procedure should be done first?

When a Chinese person and a Japanese person get married internationally, there is no problem no matter which country they go through the procedures in first.
Depending on your current living situation, you should choose a method that will allow you to proceed smoothly with the process.

For Chinese nationals who already have a resident status

If your Chinese spouse is already residing in Japan and has a residence status, it is more efficient to use the "Japanese method," in which you complete the procedures in Japan first.
　
In addition, after the marriage is finalized, you will need to go through the procedure of changing your residence status, but the application for a spouse visa takes approximately 2 to 3 months.
It is important to take into consideration the expiration date of your residence status and plan your application procedures accordingly.

If you want to obtain a Chinese "marriage certificate"

If you want to obtain a "marriage certificate" issued by the Chinese government, you will need to choose to go through the process in China.
This certificate will only be issued if your marriage is registered under Chinese procedures.
　
After a Japanese person and a Chinese person get married, they can receive a "marriage certificate" by gathering the necessary documents and going through the procedures at a marriage registration office designated by the people's government that has jurisdiction over the Chinese spouse's registered address.

Important points regarding required documents

We will explain the points to note regarding the preparation of paperwork when Chinese and Japanese people are going through the international marriage procedures.

What is a Certificate of Eligibility to Marry?

When getting married internationally, not only to Chinese people, you may be required to submit a Certificate of Eligibility to Marry.
A Certificate of Eligibility to Marry is a document that certifies that a foreigner meets the requirements for marriage in their home country.

Japanese government offices do not investigate Chinese marriage requirements.
Therefore, a Certificate of Eligibility to Marry is required so that Japanese government offices can verify whether Chinese people meet the marriage requirements in their home country.

Conversely, Chinese government offices cannot verify Japan's marriage requirements, so they will also require a Certificate of Eligibility to Marry.
　
A Certificate of Eligibility to Conduct Marriage is required when the country in which the marriage procedures are carried out first is not the home country. If the marriage is to be carried out in China first, the Japanese person will submit the certificate, and if the marriage is to be carried out in Japan first, the Chinese person will submit the certificate.

Certificate of single status cannot be substituted

There is a document similar to the Certificate of Eligibility to Marry called a "Certificate of Single Status," but this document simply certifies that the person is single and does not prove that the person meets the requirements for marriage.
　
The certificate of legal capacity to marry lists the name, nationality, and date of birth of the spouse, whereas the certificate of single status does not include this information.
Therefore, a certificate of single status is not sufficient as a substitute for a certificate of legal capacity to marry.
　
In addition, although a family register can also prove that you are single, it cannot be used in place of a certificate of eligibility to marry, as it does not state whether you meet the requirements for marriage.

How can I obtain a Certificate of Eligibility to Marry?

A Certificate of Eligibility to Marry can be obtained from the Legal Affairs Bureau or its branch offices.
This can be obtained regardless of your address or place of origin.
However, please note that this service is not available at branch offices.
　
To prevent fraud, the person and their spouse must visit together to obtain the certificate; it cannot be obtained by proxy or by mail.
Issuance generally occurs on the same day.

Documents that need to be translated

When submitting Japanese documents to China, a Chinese translation is required.
Conversely, when submitting Chinese documents to Japan, a Japanese translation is required.
　
If you understand the language of the other country, you can translate it yourself.
If translation is difficult, ask a translation company or a friend to help you.

Additional documents in case of divorce or death

If either the Japanese or Chinese has been divorced or widowed, additional documentation will be required.

If the Japanese person has experienced divorce or bereavement

If a Japanese person has been divorced or widowed in the past, they may need to prepare documents such as a revised original family register that lists the birth date of their former spouse.
　
The required documents may vary depending on the city, town, or village office, so we recommend checking in advance.

If the Chinese person has experienced divorce or bereavement

If your Chinese spouse has been divorced or widowed, you will need a divorce settlement, a notarized divorce certificate, or a death certificate.
　
In addition, if a Chinese person has experienced a divorce or bereavement in Japan, they will be required to submit documents such as a certificate of acceptance of divorce notification and a certificate of acceptance of death notification.
　
The required documents may vary depending on the city, town, or village office, so be sure to check in advance.

After the international marriage procedure, you will need to obtain a visa in either China or Japan.

Once the international marriage procedures are complete, you will need to obtain a visa.
By obtaining a spouse visa, you will be able to live together in Japan.
　
Also, even if your Chinese spouse is already residing in Japan with another residence status, they will need to switch to a spouse visa after marriage.

If you wish to live in Japan

If the Chinese spouse is already residing in Japan, they will apply themselves; if they are not residing in Japan, the Japanese spouse will apply on their behalf.

Applications are to be made at the Regional Immigration Bureau or its branch office that has jurisdiction over the place of your intended residence.

List of documents required for spouse visa application

• Application for Certificate of Eligibility for Residence Status: 1 copy
• Photograph of the Chinese spouse (4cm x 3cm) *taken from the front within 3 months prior to application 1 piece
• One copy of the Japanese spouse's family register (certificate of all matters)
• One China-issued marriage certificate
• One copy each of the Japanese spouse's resident tax (or non-tax) certificate and tax payment certificate
• 1 letter of guarantee from a Japanese national
• 3 copy of the household certificate of the Japanese spouse *issued within the last 1 months
• 1 questionnaire
• 2-3 snapshots of the couple
• One self-addressed stamped envelope

Difficulty in obtaining a spouse visa

When applying for a spouse visa, you will be required to submit a questionnaire and supplementary documents, including a statement of reasons and an explanation of the relationship history, to prove that your relationship is legitimate.
Especially when there is a large age difference or when you meet at a restaurant providing entertainment, you will need to gain trust through documentation.
　
Spouse visas have no restrictions on employment or other matters and allow people to live freely in Japan, so there are cases of people attempting to obtain visas through sham marriages, and screening tends to be stricter.
Therefore, it is necessary to strongly assert that the marriage is based on a legitimate relationship.
　
Since the questionnaire alone cannot fully explain the details of your relationship, it is important to supplement it with a statement of reasons.
In the letter of reasons, you will provide a detailed chronological explanation of the events that led up to your marriage, from when you met until now.
Be sure to write down specific facts, such as when and where you met, and how your relationship developed, and prepare your statement carefully so as not to arouse any doubts from the examiner.
As you can see, the process of obtaining a spouse visa is quite difficult.
If you find the process of obtaining a spouse visa difficult, we recommend that you consult with an administrative scrivener or other person knowledgeable about foreign residents.

Final thoughts

In this article, we explain the procedure for marriage in each country, the necessary documents, and points to note for those considering international marriage with a Chinese person.

At Support Administrative Scriveners Corporation, our visa specialist consultants provide support to those who are considering applying for a Japanese spouse visa (spouse of a Japanese national, spouse of a permanent resident, etc.).
　
The first consultation is free.