A marriage that is performed legally in China will be recognised by law in Australia , provided that the marriage would also be recognised under Australian law.

The process for getting married in China is described below.

If you are planning to be married in Australia , all enquiries should be directed to the marriage registry in the state in which you are intending to register your marriage.

Marriage Process in China

1. Requirements vary between provincial marriage offices in China and you should first contact the local Chinese marriage office in the area you are planning to get married to confirm their requirements.

2. Generally all offices require you to obtain an Australian Certificate of Single Status (otherwise known as a Certificate of No Record), indicating that you are not currently married. These are obtainable by mail from the Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages in the state in which you were resident in Australia .

3. The Chinese marriage office may also require you to obtain a Certificate of No Impediment to Marriage (CNI) which is a certificate in both English and Chinese, obtainable from an Australian Embassy or Consulate. Providing this certificate entails a fee so it is best to confirm first with the local marriage office if it is required.

4. Marriage Certificate

Once you are married in China , the Chinese authorities will issue an official Chinese marriage certificate. You do not need to register your marriage again in Australia . However if you intend to use your marriage certificate in Australia , you should contact the Chinese Public Notary Office to arrange for an official notarised translation of the certificate.

Taking your partner to Australia

All enquiries about taking your partner back to Australia should be directed to the Department of Immigration, Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs (DIMIA).