CCTV News: Starting from May 10, 2025, the newly revised "Marriage Registration Regulations" will come into effect. Marriage registration will be implemented from May 10, requiring marriage registration authorities to check the documents and written materials issued by the parties to the marriage registration, inquire about the relevant situation, and conduct online verification of the parties' identity and marital status information to protect the rights and interests of the parties in accordance with the law.

In addition, starting from May 10, there is no need to show your household registration book when registering for marriage and divorce. Mainland residents who apply for marriage registration can apply for marriage registration by issuing their resident ID card, their own spouse, and their non-direct blood relatives and their collateral blood relatives within three generations.

Clarify the scope of acceptance of marriage registration "nation-wide"

So, what is the specific scope of acceptance of marriage registration mentioned in the newly revised "Marriage Registration Regulations"? If one party who registers marriage is a mainland resident and the other party is a foreigner, Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan resident or overseas Chinese, can the "national operation" be applied? Recently, the Ministry of Civil Affairs issued the "Marriage Registration Work Standards", which responded to these issues.

The "Marriage Registration Work Standards" clearly state that marriage registration, divorce registration and reimbursement of marriage registration documents for both parties are mainland residents or one party is mainland residents, and the other party is a foreigner, Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan residents or overseas Chinese all fall within the scope of acceptance of "national and all" and can be handled at any marriage registration authority with relevant marriage registration authority.

If one party is a foreigner, the other party is a resident of Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan or overseas Chinese, or both parties are resident of Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan or overseas Chinese, they should go to the marriage registration authority with the corresponding marriage registration authority where they work or live.

Divorce application and divorce registration must be handled at the same registration authority

Since marriage registration is "all-widely handled", does it mean that divorce application and divorce registration can be handled at different marriage registration authorities? In this regard, the "Marital Registration Work Standards" clearly state that when applying for divorce, both parties can apply to any authority for marriage registration authority. The divorce registration (receiving a divorce certificate) and the divorce application must be the same marriage registration authority. When the parties are applying for divorce registration (receiving a divorce certificate), they need to go to the marriage registration authority that accepts the divorce application.

Clarify the method of retrieving a marriage certificate

In addition, if the parties involved have lost their marriage certificate and need to retrieve a marriage certificate, is the specific method the same as before? In this regard, the "Marriage Registration Work Standards" also made clear provisions.

The "Marriage Registration Work Standards" clearly state that when applying for a replacement marriage certificate, the marriage registration authority shall provide the person's resident ID card and a paper marriage registration file stamped with a special seal for filing. If the party has not obtained paper files and the marriage registration authority can obtain the parties' electronic marriage registration files through different locations, the marriage registration authority can provide remote file retrieval services after application; if the file information cannot be obtained through sharing, it is recommended to consult the original agency that handles marriage registration or the department that keeps marriage registration files, and then re-get the certificate after obtaining the proof of marriage registration files.

In addition, both parties are originally mainland residents. After registering marriage in the mainland, if one party changes from a mainland resident to a foreigner, a resident of Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan, or overseas Chinese, both parties can apply for reimbursement from any marriage registration authority with the authority to handle relevant marriage registration; if one party becomes a foreigner, the other party becomes a resident of Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan, or both parties become a resident of Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan, or both parties become a resident of Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan or overseas Chinese, they need to apply for reimbursement from the original marriage registration authority, an agency with relevant marriage registration authority where they work or live; if both parties become foreigners, they can obtain the marriage registration file, but cannot obtain the marriage certificate.