The certificates required for obtaining a marriage certificate vary according to the circumstances, specifically:
 1. If a Chinese citizen applies for marriage within the territory of China, both parties must apply for marriage registration in person at the marriage registration office in the place where one party's household registration is located. When applying, he or she shall present the following certificates and certificates:
 (1) Household registration certificate
 (2) Resident ID card
 (3) Marriage status certificate issued by the unit, villagers' committee or residents' committee.
 2. When a Chinese citizen and a foreigner apply for marriage in China, both the male and female parties must jointly apply for registration at the marriage registration office designated by the people's government of the province, autonomous region, or municipality directly under the Central Government where the Chinese citizen's household is located. Chinese citizens and foreigners applying for registration must hold the following certificates respectively:
 (1) Chinese citizens must have:
 ① Household registration certificate
 ② The certificate of my name, gender, date of birth, nationality, marital status (unmarried, divorced, widowed), occupation, nature of work and who I applied to marry issued by the people's government at the county level where my residence is located or the government, school, institution or enterprise at or above the county level where my work is located.
 (2) Foreign nationals must possess:
 ① Identity and nationality certificates of my passport or substitute passport (stateless persons are exempted)
 ② Alien Residence Permit issued by the public security organ
 ③ The certificate of my name, gender, date of birth, nationality, marital status (unmarried, divorced, widowed), occupation, nature of work and who I applied to marry issued by the people's government at the county level where my residence is located or the government, school, institution or enterprise at or above the county level where my work is located.
 (3) Foreigners must hold:
 ① My passport or other identity and nationality documents
 ② Alien Residence Permit issued by public security organ, or identity certificate issued by foreign affairs department, or entry and residence certificate for temporary visit to China
 ③ The marriage status certificate issued by the notary office of the country, or the marriage status certificate issued by the embassy or consulate of the country in China, certified by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the country (or the authority authorized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs) and the Chinese embassy or consulate in the country.