I’m Rachel, an American living in Beijing with my British husband, and we got married on September 18, 2024 at the UK Embassy in Beijing.
Read more about our process of getting married and having a wedding abroad in Beijing.
Note: This article was edited on September 19, 2025 to update details from both our ceremony in Beijing.
While two foreigners can no longer get married by the China Civil Affairs office, some foreign embassies will facilitate marriages for their citizens and partners abroad. Luckily for us, the United Kingdom allows its citizens to get married at a British embassy, high commission or consulate.
Here is our process as two foreigners wanting to get married at a UK Consulate in China.
Note: This information is according to the UK Government website and email correspondence I’ve had with the UK embassy office in Beijing, and is accurate as of August 2024. It’s best to directly connect with them yourself to check if there are any policy updates or changes. Not all embassies offer marriage services like the UK embassy, so it’s best to check with your embassy online or email them to see if it’s possible.
Check the UK Government and Embassy websites
First check the UK government website online to see an overview of requirements. You can fill out the online questionnaire that will see if you and your partner can be married at the UK consulate in China.
Email the UK Embassy of your City (Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou)
Email the British Consulate. They will send you an overview and documents of everything you need to submit, and a timeline for the process. This is the UK Consulate in Beijing’s email: consularsection.beijing@fcdo.gov.uk
Overview of Getting Married at the UK Consulate in China
The following information is taken from the instructions sent to us by the UK Embassy of Beijing.
- You provide the UK Consulate with the required list of documents (see attached Wedding Fact Sheet) which are then assessed by a Consular officer
- If all documents meet the requirements you will be called to arrange a Notice of Marriage appointment (fee* is £50 – taken at the appointment).
- Your Notice of Marriage is displayed in your local Embassy or Consulate General for 14 days.
- If there are no objections your wedding ceremony date is then confirmed.
- You attend the wedding ceremony at the British Embassy Beijing Consular Section (the fee* for ceremony is £150 + £50 for the marriage certificate (and another £50 per extra certificate). The Consular fee for the Marriage Ceremony is processed the day before your wedding ceremony.
- You are married!!
Are there Residential Requirements?
Please be note that before you can get married, you need to have been living in China (mainland China, not Hong Kong or Macau) for 21 full days. The timeframe is as follows:
- Day 1 is the first day of your residency period; If you enter mainland China on 14 March, your first full day will be 15 March;
- Day 2 to Day 8 are the 7 clear days in which you must be resident in China before you can give notice of marriage;
- Day 9 you can give notice of marriage at the Embassy/Consulate;
- Day 10 to Day 23 are the 14 full days in which your notice of marriage must be displayed at the Embassy/Consulate;
- From Day 24 onwards you can make an Affidavit/Affirmation confirming that you meet the residence requirement and your marriage ceremony can take place. You can get married up to 3 months after the end of notice period.
If you are long-term residents in China, you do not necessarily have to be physically present in China for 7 days before you give notice, as long as you can prove your usual residence by showing that your home base remains in China (rent agreements, contracts with local employers etc).
Notice of Marriage
Notice of Marriage is a legal statement setting out your intention to marry and must be performed prior to the marriage ceremony and can be carried out at the British Embassy in Beijing or at one of our consulates in Shanghai or Guangzhou.
To arrange an appointment to give notice of marriage, you should submit the following documents by e-mail to: ConsularSection.Beijing@fco.gov.uk
1. Your completed Notice of Marriage form
2. You and your partner’s current passports
3. Proof of your residence in China: If you are a visitor, this could be stamps in your passport or Entry and Exit record issued by Public Security Bureau; if you are a long term resident, this could be your foreign registration form issued by the Public Security Bureau, rent agreements, contracts with local employers etc.)
4. Single Certificate: If you partner holds another nationality (non-British) they will need to provide a document from their embassy or consulate to show that they are free to enter into the marriage, this is often called a Certificate of No Impediment (CNI) or Single Certificate.
If either of you have been married or in a civil partnership before we need to see evidence that this marriage/partnership no longer legally exists. This could be a Decree Absolute, Dissolution of Civil Partnership or a Death Certificate. If your divorce document is a digital version we also need to see the source of this document, e.g. a copy of the covering email the court sent you.
5. Your completed Visa/MasterCard/Maestro Mandate (attached) for the consular fee, (you must bring your bankcard to the appointment). A notice appointment costs £50.
These documents need to be in English. You will need to provide professional translations if the documents are in another language. See here for a list of translators and interpreters in China.
Once all documents have been verified, we can arrange an appointment at one of our Consulates in Shanghai or Guangzhou or the British Embassy in Beijing as appropriate. During your appointment to give notice of marriage you will be required to provide the original documents that you have submitted by email.
Marriage Ceremony in Beijing
Once you have attended an appointment at the Embassy or Consulate to submit your notice of marriage, the notice will be displayed in the consular waiting room for a full 14 days. We will send you a marriage pro-forma for you to complete; and a terms and condition documents for you to read and sign.
Other Important Information
What days and times do weddings take place?
Weddings take place during office hours, normally on a Wednesday. The exact time will be confirmed 14 days after you notice of marriage appointment. The Embassy reserves the right to reschedule the wedding date and time at short notice.
Where in the Embassy do the weddings take place?
The ceremony will take place at the Ambassadors’ residence.
Is there a charge for the venue?
The venue is free of charge
How many guests can we invite?
The ceremony room is small and will only hold a wedding party of six people, which will includes those getting married plus two witnesses, plus two guests. Children are welcome, but please let us know in advance if anybody in the wedding party is intending to bring children to the ceremony.
Getting Married Abroad at the UK Embassy in China
Hopefully this overview helps other expats who are also interested in getting married abroad at the UK Embassy in China!
Important: Like previously mentioned, this is just helpful information to give you insight into our experience, but you should contact them directly yourself to fully understand the requirements and process, and to check if there have been any changes or updates to the policies.
Happy wedding planning!
