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OBTAINING LEGAL CAPACITY TO CONTRACT MARRIAGE
IN CHINA

A Certificate of Legal Capacity to Contract Marriage (LCCM) is an official document issued by

Philippine diplomatic missions certifying that a Filipino citizen has no legal impediment to marry under Philippine law.

This document is required by Chinese civil authorities before a Filipino can legally marry in China.

A Filipino woman prepares to sign the LCCM she received before having a China marriage.

Table of Contents

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PHILIPPINE CONSULATES IN
CHINA

A map of the Philippine Consulate Generals where one can apply for LCCM, which can be used to apply for a China marriage.

           You can get a Legal Capacity To Contract Marriage In China based on which place you are, and consulates have their own designated places.

     A.)PHILIPPINE CONSULATE IN SHANGHAI, CHINA

  • Anhui
  •  Hubei
  •  Jiangsu
  •  Zhejiang

     B.)PHILIPPINE CONSULATE IN GUANGZHOU, CHINA

  • Guangdong
  •  Hunan
  •  Hainan
  •  Guangxi
  •  Zhuang Autonomous Region

     C.)PHILIPPINE CONSULATE IN BEIJING, CHINA

  • Beijing Municipality
  • Tianjin Municipality
  •  Gansu Province
  •  Heilongjiang Province
  •  Henan Province
  •  Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region
  •  Jilin Province
  •  Liaoning Province
  •  Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region
  •  Qinghai Province
  •  Shaanxi Province
  •  Shandong Province
  •  Shanxi Province
  •  Tibet Autonomous Region
  •  Xinjiang Autonomous Region
  •  Mongolia
  •  North Korea ( Republic Of Korea )

     D.)PHILIPPINE CONSULATE IN XIAMEN

  • Fujian Province
  •  Jiangxi Province

     E.)PHILIPPINE CONSULATE IN CHONGQING

  • Chongqing Municipality
  • Yunnan Province
  • Guizhou Province
  • Sichuan
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REQUIREMENTS OF EACH CONSULATE
IN CHINA

A yellow folder labeled "Requirements" contains the relevant requirements for applying to the Philippine LCCM.

     A.)PHILIPPINE CONSULATE IN SHANGHAI REQUIREMENTS :

To obtain the certificate, the applicant should first secure from the Philippines the following documents:

1.)Original copy, together with one (1) copy of the Authenticated Birth Certificate, which has to pass through:

  • Philippine Statistics Authority
  • Department of Foreign Affairs (Authentication Section)

2.) Original copy, together with one (1) copy of Certificate of Non-Availability of Record of Marriage or CENOMAR (Certificate of No Marriage ), which has to pass through:

  • Philippine Statistics Authority
  • Department of Foreign Affairs (Authentication Section)

3.)Original copy, together with one (1) copy of Authenticated Parental Consent (if an applicant is from 18-20 years old), or Original copy, together with one (1) copy of Authenticated Parental Advice (if an applicant is from 21-25 years old), which has to pass through

  • Notary Public
  • Regional Trial Court
  • Department of Foreign Affairs (Authentication Section)

      B.) PHILIPPINE CONSULATE IN GUANGZHOU

       If applicable:

  • For Filipino applicants aged 22 years old and below, submit a notarized Affidavit of Parental Consent executed by a parent/legal guardian;
  • For Filipino applicants aged 25 years old and below, submit a notarized Affidavit of Parental Advice executed by a parent/legal guardian.

     C.)PHILIPPINE CONSULATE IN BEIJING, CHINA

  • Accomplished Application for Certificate of Legal Capacity to Contract Marriage Form
  • Accomplished Affidavit of Witnesses Form
    • Note: Must be originally signed by 2 witnesses (preferably both Filipinos or with 1 Filipino witness).
    • Note: The CENOMAR must bear the complete/correct full name (First, Middle, Last) of parties and parents, and must be issued within six (6) months from the date of application
  • Original and Copy of DFA-Apostilled PSA Certificate of No Marriage (CENOMAR) of BOTH Bride and Groom
  • Original and Copy of DFA-Apostilled PSA Birth Certificate of BOTH Bride and Groom
  • Original and Copies of Passport Data Pages of Bride, Groom, and Witness/es
  • Two (2) Passport-Sized Colored Photos (taken within 6 months) of BOTH Bride and Groom with a white background.

     D.)PHILIPPINE CONSULATE IN XIAMEN, CHINA

  • Confirmed appointment
  • Personal appearance of the applicant and fiancé/fiancée for the interview with the Consular Officer
  • Processing Fees – (payment only via bank transfer through online mobile banking)RMB266.00 per document/per service

     Original and photocopy of the following:

  • Printed duly accomplished application Form no.5 LCM
  • Certificate of No Marriage (CENOMAR) of the Filipino national issued by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) and apostilled by the Department of Foreign Affairs.

1. CENOMAR must not be more than six (6) months old
2. Should state that the purpose is for “Marriage Abroad.”

  • Birth Certificate of a Filipino national issued by the PSA and apostilled by the Department of Foreign Affairs
  • Household Registry (HUKOU) of the Chinese party with English translation, notarized and apostilled by the Fujian or Jiangxi Foreign Affairs Office
  • Valid passport of a Filipino national and a passport or national ID of a Chinese national (with English translation)

     Other documents, if applicable:

1.) If a Filipino national is 18 – 20 years old:

    • Duly notarized affidavit of consent executed by father, mother, surviving parent, guardian, or person having legal charge of the applicant

2.) If a Filipino national is 21 – 25 years old:

    • Duly notarized affidavit of advice executed by father, mother, surviving parent, guardian, or person having legal charge of the applicant

3. )If a Filipino national was previously married:

  • If annulled or divorced, the marriage contract issued by the PSA with proper annotation and apostilled by the Department of Foreign Affairs
  • If widowed – PSA-issued marriage contract with previous spouse and PSA-issued death certificate apostilled by the Department of Foreign Affairs
  • If the previous spouse is a foreigner, provide the death certificate of the previous spouse with English translation, notarized, and apostilled.

     E.)PHILIPPINE CONSULATE IN CHONGQING, CHINA 

  • Duly accomplished LCCM form;
  • Personal appearance;
  • Original and one (1) photocopy of PSA-issued Birth Certificate duly authenticated by the Department of Foreign Affairs;
  • Original and one (1) photocopy of PSA-issued Certificate of Non-Availability of Record of Marriage (CENOMAR), duly authenticated by the Department of Foreign Affairs;
  • Original passport and a photocopy of the data/picture page of the passport
  • 1 pc 2×2 ID photo of the applicant;
  • 1 pc 2×2 ID photo of the fiancé/fiancée;

       Fee: RMB 190 for Affidavit plus RMB 190 for the Certificate of Legal Capacity to Contract Marriage, total of RMB 380.00

       Additional Requirements: Authenticated Parental Consent if the applicant is 18-21 years old or Authenticated Parental Advice if the applicant is 21-25 years old.

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CORE LEGAL IMPORTANCE

Two rings are attached to a Philippine LCCM document, which can be used to apply for a China marriage.

          1.) Mandatory Requirement Under Chinese Law, Chinese Civil Affairs Bureaus cannot legally register a marriage involving a foreign national without proof that the foreign party is legally free to marry. The LCCM serves as this essential proof. 

          2.) Prevents Bigamy and Legal Invalidity -The document confirms you are:

  • Unmarried, divorced, or widowed
  • Not in a legally binding marriage elsewhere
  • Not prohibited from marrying under your home country’s laws.

           Without it, your marriage could be declared void in China or your home country, creating serious legal complications for property, inheritance, and immigration.

          3.)Required for Document Authentication Chain –The LCCM must be:

  • Issued by a competent authority in your home country or your embassy/consulate in China
  • Authenticated via Apostille (if your country is a Hague Convention member) or through consular legalization
  • Translated into Chinese by a certified agency with the agency’s official seal.Failure at any step = rejection at registration.

What Makes an LCCM
"Valid" in China?

          According to Beijing Civil Affairs guidelines, a valid LCCM must:

  • Be issued within 6 months of your marriage registration date
  • Match your passport details exactly (name spelling, date of birth, nationality)
  • Include authentication:
      • Apostille (for Hague Convention countries) OR
      • Chain: Notary → Foreign Ministry → Chinese Embassy/Consulate
  • Have a complete Chinese translation covering:
      • All text on the original certificate
      • Notary instructions
      • Ministry of Foreign Affairs certifications
      • Signatures, seals, and stamps
  • Be submitted with the translation agency’s official seal and a copy of the business license 

     Bottom Line:

          The Legal Capacity to Contract Marriage is the cornerstone document that:

  • Legally enables your marriage registration in China
  • Ensures your marriage is recognized internationally
  • Protects your rights in immigration, property, and family law matters.

"WHEN FACED WITH A CHALLENGE , LOOK FOR A WAY , NOT A WAY OUT "

 

          Do not proceed with marriage registration in China without a properly prepared, authenticated, and translated LCCM. When in doubt, consult both your home country’s embassy in China and the local Civil Affairs Bureau where you plan to register.

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          The online visa application management system on the account terminal is currently undergoing updates. Business is temporarily being conducted offline. We will reopen the online application system once the system is updated and complete.

          We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience caused.

Published: March 29, 2026