How To Marry and Sponsor Your Spouse From China

If you are a Canadian citizen or permanent resident, once you have married your Chinese fiance or you have lived together for one year as common-law partners, you can sponsor him or her for permanent residence in Canada.

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Requirements To Get Married in China

While the process of getting the paperwork together can differ from nationality to nationality, there are two important documents any foreigner will need to get in order to get married in China:

Certificate of Marriageability
Certificate of Marriage

Important:

As of March 29, 2019, the Chinese civil authorities will no longer perform marriages between two foreigners. At least one person must be a citizen of the P.R.C., or hold Hong Kong, Taiwan, or Macau ID
Same sex marriages is not recognised in China. It should be possible to get married at foreign national’s embassy if he/she comes from a country that recognises same sex marriage
Following Chinese citizens shall not be permitted to marry foreigners:
- Army men in active service, diplomatic personnel, public security personnel, confidential personnel, and other personnel who are in charge of important confidential work;
- Persons who are receiving re-education through labor or serving a sentence.

Certificate of Marriageability, or, danshenzhengming (“Single Certificate”):

This certificate is the proof that the applicant is not currently married. A certificate of marriageability is obtained from FN’s (Foreign National’s) government, usually from an embassy or consulate, and then presented to the Chinese government upon application for a marriage certificate.

==>> When getting a Certificate of Marriageability make sure to present a Chinese translated copy to the Chinese government when applying for the marriage certificate. Some countries, such as the United States, provide a bilingual English/Chinese certificate, but if FN’s embassy/consulate does not then he/she must obtain a notarised translation from a Chinese government office.

Document requirements for a marriageability certificate: danshenzhengming

Passport
Notarised proof that any previous marriage has been terminated, Official divorce certificate and the notarized translation of the certificate
Chinese partner’s national ID card, or shenfenzheng
Chinese partner’s residency permit, or hùkǒu (户口)
Chinese partner’s passport (not mandatory but helps)

Certificate of Marriage:

The couple aiming to get married must appear in person at the marriage registration office designated by the province, autonomous region, or municipality directly under the Central Government, and stationed in the locality where the Chinese citizen has his/her residence registration and apply for marriage registration.

Documents required for certificate of marriage:

Certificate of marriageability
Pre-marital health check-up report signed and issued by a hospital designated by the marriage registration department
3 photos of the couple aiming to get married. Photos must follow the standard format, the Chinese photo shops should know that.
There is no registration fee as of 2018
For getting married in Beijing: The marriage must be registered at Marriage Registration Office, Bureau of Civil Affairs of Beijing Municipality, 1st FL., No. 8 Huayanli, Chaoyang District Beijing 100029, Telephone: 6202-8454, 6203 5724

Documents required for the Chinese resident/citizen:

Certificates of the applicant’s residence registration. This certificate must be signed and issued either by the people’s government at the county level or above which is stationed in the locality where the applicant has his/her residence registration, or by a government department, a school, an institution, or an enterprise at the county level or above, which is the applicant’s place of work; the certificate indicates the applicant’s name, sex, date of birth, nationality, marital status (single, divorced, bereft of spouse – the same below), occupation, nature of work, name of the person to marry.
The applicant’s passport, or identification certificate or nationality certificate used to substitute for passport (those who have no nationality may be exempted from presenting their nationality certificates);

“Residence Permit for Foreigners” signed and issued by the public security department

Documents required from the foreigners:

The applicant’s passport or nationality certificate to substitute for passport (those who have no nationality may be exempted from presenting their nationality certificates);
“Residence Permit for Foreigners” signed and issued by the public security department;

Sponsoring Your Spouse From China To Canada

Sponsorship interviews are frequently convoked for applicants in China. Here are some of the typical types of questions asked:

Questions commonly asked at sponsorship interviews

Communications between the two of you

When and where did you meet your spouse for the first time?
Who initiated contact?
How often did you contact each other before your first meeting in person? How did you communicate? Where is your proof?
How often did you talk on the phone?
Do you have phone bills, e-mails, cards, etc., and can I see them?

Visiting Canada (if applicable)

Where (which airport) did you first Land in Canada? What date?
How many times have you been to Canada? How long did you stay each time?
Have you ever stayed in Canada without status (i.e. after your visa has expired)?
Why did you overstay?
What did you do to rectify the situation?
When did you leave Canada the last time? / When did you leave Canada when you didn’t have status? How long did you leave?
Have you been admitted back into Canada with legal status since?
Have you been issued any kind of document that authorizes you to live in Canada since you were without status? If yes what type and when is the expiry date?
Has your spouse been to visit you in your home country? When?
How many times has your spouse been to visit you?
Where did your spouse land when they visited you? (Which Airport?)
Did your spouse ever go to your home country prior to your relationship?
Did you go to Canada prior to your relationship with your spouse?

Relationship Questions

What is your husband’s/wife’s/partner’s name?
What do you call him/her?
How old is your spouse/partner? What is your spouse’s birth date?
What colour are his/her eyes and hair?
Does your spouse colour his/her hair?
Does your spouse wear glasses or contact lenses?
Does your spouse have any distinguishing features (birth marks, scars, disfigurements of the body)?
Where was your spouse born? Which country and city?
Does your spouse have any allergies?
What is your religion?
What is the religion of your spouse?
When you and your spouse were dating what would you do together?
Do you have any hobbies? Describe them.
Does your spouse have any hobbies? Describe them.
What type of music do you enjoy?
What type of music does your spouse enjoy?
What kind of movies do you enjoy?
What kind of movies does your spouse enjoy?
What kind of books do you read?
What kind of books does your spouse read?
Have you and your spouse ever exchanged gifts? Describe them.
Please explain the type of relationship you have had since your first meeting.
What makes your relationship with your spouse different from that of a female/male friend?
Does your spouse support you financially?
If I refuse this application what will you do?

Education

Where did your spouse go to school? (Elementary and high school)
How many years of school did your spouse Complete?
What degrees or formal training does your spouse have?
In terms of education, would you say that you and your spouse’s educational background are compatible?

Employment

Where did you work in your home country before coming to Canada?
What is the name of the company? What position did you hold? How long did you work there?
What did the job entail?
Did you like your job?
What was the salary?
What do you intend to do when you come to Canada?
What degrees or formal training do you have?
What degrees or formal training does your spouse have?
Where does your spouse work? What’s the name of the company? How does he/she travel to work?
How long has your spouse worked there?
What does the job entail?
does your spouse like his or her job?
What is the salary?

Living Situation

Where does your spouse live?
Whom does your spouse live with?
Does anyone else live in your household other than your spouse and children?
At what addresses have you lived at with your spouse?
Did you own any Property with your spouse?
What type of accommodation do you live in? House, condo or apartment?
Is it rental or do you own it? If rented, how long is your lease? Are you both on the lease?
How much is the rent?
Who makes sure the bills are paid? How much do you pay for Cable/phone/hydro etc.?

Marriage (if applicable)

When and where did the marriage proposal take place?
Was your marriage arranged?
When did you get married?
Where did you get married?
Who was at the wedding?
How many people were at the ceremony?
What day was the ceremony held on?
Who performed the ceremony?
Do you have pictures of the ceremony?
Who was at the ceremony from your side?
Who was at the ceremony from your spouse’s side?
Were any friends present?
Were your parents at the wedding? If not, why not?
Where your spouse’s parents at the wedding? If not, why not?
Were your spouse’s parents aware of the wedding? If not, why not?
Was a reception held? When and where was it held?
Who was present at the reception?
Did you receive any wedding gifts? Describe them.
Did you on a honeymoon? Where did you go and for how long?
Can you show me pictures and receipts from the honeymoon, wedding and reception?
Have you or your spouse been married before?
Why was that relationship ended?
Who initiated the divorce?
What were the reasons for the divorce?
What was the date the marriage was dissolved?
Why did you marry your spouse?
Since your marriage have you seen your spouse? If not, why not?
Tell me why this marriage or relationship is genuine.
Why were you so rushed to be married? How do you explain that?

Family members

Do you have any children form a previous relationship? If so what is their relationship like with your spouse?
What are their names and date of birth?
Who has Custody of these children?
Do you have visitation rights/spend time with them at your home or there’s?
How often do you see your children?
Does your current spouse have any children from a previous relationship? If yes
- What are their names and date of birth?
- Who has Custody of these children?
- Does your spouse have visitation rights/spend time with them?
- How often does your spouse see their children?
Do you have any children from your current marriage?
How many children?
What are the names and birth dates?
Where are the children now?
Who looks after the children?
How many brothers and sisters does your spouse have?
What relatives does your spouse have in Canada?
What relatives do you have in Canada?
What are their names and where do they live?
What relatives does your spouse have outside of Canada?
What relatives do you have outside of Canada?
Has your spouse met any of your relatives or friends? Who have they met and when did they meet them?
Have you met any of your spouse’s relatives or friends? Whom have you met and when did you meet them?

Miscellaneous

Did you get married to get to Canada?
Did your spouse pay you to go to Canada?
Did anyone pay you to go to Canada?
Did you pay your spouse to sponsor you?
If yes, How much?

Sponsorship Application Forms for Chinese Applicants

Application to Sponsor, Sponsorship Agreement and Undertaking (IMM 1344) (PDF, 588.96 KB)
Sponsorship Evaluation and Relationship Questionnaire (IMM 5532) (PDF, 2.21 MB)
Use of a Representative [IMM 5476] (PDF, 648.31 KB)

For the person being sponsored (principal applicant):

Generic Application Form for Canada [IMM 0008] (PDF, 652 KB)
Additional Dependants/Declaration [IMM 0008DEP] (PDF, 433.80 KB)
Additional Family Information [IMM 5406] (PDF, 570.00 KB)
Schedule A – Background/Declaration [eIMM 5669] (PDF, 597.99 KB)
Use of a Representative [IMM 5476] (PDF, 648.31 KB)

Processing Time for Sponsorship Application From China

Both inside and outside Canada, the estimated time for spousal sponsorship is 12 months. However, it is stated in most websites that processing time outside Canada is less than inside Canada.

Are documents issued in this country issued in any language other than English or French? If so, what language(s)?

Documents are generally in Mandarin, “Putonghua” language but documents could also be in Cantonese or other dialects. Therefore, you’ll need a certified translation of your marriage certificate.

Unique Sponsorship Application Requirements from China

China – Additional forms

There are no extra forms for this country.

b. Additional documents

China – Instruction(s) for documents

Original Medical Certificate of Birth: Persons born in the People’s Republic of China since 1996 must submit a notarized copy of the original Medical Certificate of Birth issued by the Ministry of Health of the People’s Republic of China. (If this is not available, you must submit an explanation as to why this document cannot be submitted.)
For residents of the People’s Republic of China (PRC), a kinship certificate is not acceptable as proof of relationship.
If you hold a passport from this country, you and your family members included in the application must provide:
- The household register called the “hukou”.
- Proof of marital status for children 16 years of age and older.
For divorces obtained in the Special Administrative Region of Hong Kong, please provide an “Absolute nisi decree”.
If residing in this jurisdiction (or another jurisdiction where Chinese is used for mail delivery): Where indicated, provide your address in Chinese characters as well as in Pinyin or English, including postal code. The mailing address you provide must be the residential address of a person or the business address of a firm. A post office box number is not acceptable.

Is a TRV required for a person from China to enter Canada if they wanted to do In-Canada sponsorship?

If you want to bring your Chinese spouse or partner to live in Canada, you must then file a sponsorship application for them to become a permanent resident. If they would like to visit you in Canada while their application is in process, they must also apply for a visitor visa.