With the development of society, it is no longer a rare thing for people from the mainland to marry Hong Kong residents. So what are the procedures for marriage between mainlanders and Hong Kong residents? Are the required materials the same in the mainland and Hong Kong? What situations are not allowed for marriage registration? Here is an introduction.

1. Mainland residents and Hong Kong residents (marrying in the mainland)
First, Hong Kong residents need to apply for a document called "Certificate of No Marriage Record" (commonly known as the bachelor certificate) at the Hong Kong Marriage Registry. Note: The bachelor certificate is for unmarried individuals.

If someone has a marriage history in Hong Kong, they can apply for a document called the Marriage Registration Record Search Certificate at the Hong Kong Marriage Registry. They need to provide the original marriage certificate of the previous marriage and the divorce absolute judgment form 6 or 7B; these three documents together prove that they are currently divorced.

There is also a situation of being widowed. In addition to applying for a Marriage Registration Record Search Certificate and marriage certificate at the Marriage Registry, they also need to provide the spouse's death certificate. The above documents prove their widowed status.

Another situation is if someone has a marriage history in Hong Kong and got divorced in the mainland or elsewhere. They also need to provide the divorce judgment from outside Hong Kong, the Marriage Registration Record Search Certificate, and the original marriage certificate of the previous marriage.

If someone registered their marriage and got divorced outside of Hong Kong, and did not register their marriage in Hong Kong, they need to apply for a Certificate of No Marriage Record and provide their marriage and divorce certificates at the Hong Kong Marriage Registry.

For those with a marriage history, they need to provide the relevant marriage certificates and divorce documents for each previous marriage.

Next, after preparing the materials, bring your relevant documents and a scanned copy of the ID card of the other party (front and back). The contact number, address, and name of the civil affairs department for marriage registration in the mainland. Find a law firm with a qualified Chinese notary to handle the notarization. The notarization is called the application for a marriage declaration notarization, also commonly known as a single status certificate notarization.

To handle the notarization, you must bring your ID card, home return permit, Hong Kong residential address, and the relevant documents regarding your marital status to attend an in-person interview. If you cannot attend the in-person interview, you cannot proceed. Video interviews are not allowed, and you cannot have someone else make the declaration. In short: you must personally attend the law firm in Hong Kong for the in-person interview. Otherwise, it cannot be processed.

After the notarization by a lawyer with Chinese notary qualifications, it will be submitted to the Ministry of Justice's office in Hong Kong. The original will be given to you to collect the marriage certificate from the civil affairs bureau in the mainland. The copy will be directly forwarded by the Ministry of Justice's office in Hong Kong to the civil affairs department in the mainland.
Finally, the Hong Kong resident should bring the original application for a marriage declaration, their ID card, home return permit, and a wedding photo of both parties. The mainland resident should bring their ID card and household registration book to register for the marriage certificate.

2. Mainland residents and Hong Kong residents (marrying in Hong Kong)

First, either party intending to marry must submit a marriage application in Hong Kong.
 

Second, after the marriage application is approved, both parties can attend the wedding.
 

Getting married in Hong Kong is relatively simpler. Regardless of nationality, anyone can register for marriage in Hong Kong as long as both parties are at least 16 years old. Those aged 16 to 20 need parental consent to marry; otherwise, the application will not be approved. If both parties are over 20, they just need two witnesses to attend the wedding and can receive the marriage certificate.

There are two ways to register for marriage in Hong Kong. One is to hold the ceremony in a church, which is for those with religious beliefs or who wish to have a church wedding, officiated by a clergy member. Since people from all over the world can register for marriage in Hong Kong, church schedules can be tight. Therefore, it is necessary to make an appointment at the church three months in advance, and after obtaining the appointment, submit the marriage application at the Marriage Registry, preferably about a month before the scheduled date. Once approved, the wedding can be held on the appointed day.

Those applying for a church wedding must hold the ceremony in the church. The time and place cannot be changed.

The other option is to hold the wedding at a law firm, with a lawyer qualified as a wedding officiant. This option generally has more flexibility regarding the venue. For example, the wedding can be held in the law firm's chapel, a hotel, or any other location of choice. The timing can also be arranged according to personal circumstances, as long as it is within three months after the marriage application is approved.

3. Situations where marriage registration authorities do not approve registration

1. Those who have not reached the legal marriage age;
2. Non-voluntary agreements between both parties;
3. One or both parties already have a spouse;
4. Related by direct blood or collateral relatives within three generations;
5. Suffering from diseases that are medically considered unsuitable for marriage.
In summary, as long as mainland residents and Hong Kong residents meet the marriage age requirement, they can register for marriage at the household registration location of either party.