Overseas Chinese and foreigners wishing to go to China to marry Chinese citizens should be acknowledged that the legal marriage age in China is 22 and above for male, 20 and above for female according to the Chinese law, and bigamy is illegal.

　　Before going to China, the following should be noted:

　　1. Your non-spouse certificate which indicate your name, sex, date and place of birth, nationality, personal identification document number, marital status (never married or divorced or widowed) and the name of your fiancée / fiancé. The divorced or widowed shall have divorce certificate or death certificate of ex-spouse.

　　The above-mentioned documents are invalid unless they are first notarized by a local notary public/lawyer and then legalized by the local provincial authority or the Department of foreign Affairs of Canada (valid for 3 months since the date of legalization) and finally authenticated by the Chinese Embassy or the Chinese Consulate-General (valid for 6 months since the date of authentication).

　　2. Marriage registration in China

　　After entering into China with the above-mentioned documents and a valid visa, you should together with your fiancée / fiancésubmit in person your marriage application to the marriage registration office of the local government above county level where the Chinese fiancée / fiancéresides. Marriage can be registered only after the application is ratified, and Marriage Certificate is issued upon registration.

　　3. Fees for authentication:

　　$30 per document for normal service which takes 4 working days;

　　$50extraper document for the rush service if you wish the authentication done the same day (application should be submitted before 11:00 am);

　　$35extra per document for the second or third day rush service.