Sanya registers first cross-border marriage in 2026

At the marriage registration office of the Civil Affairs Bureau in Sanya, Dr. Bob — a foreign expert living and working in the Yazhou Bay Science and Technology City high-tech zone — registered his marriage on Jan 5 with a Chinese bride using his Foreign Permanent Resident ID Card.

The happy event represented the first time in the resort city that an expat used a Foreign Permanent Resident ID Card to register a marriage, in the wake of the launch of island-wide special customs operations in the Hainan Free Trade Port on Dec 18, 2025.

"The marriage registration process is very quick!" Dr. Bob exclaimed, unable to contain his joy as he held aloft the brand-new marriage certificate.

"From submitting the materials to receiving the certificate, the entire process took about 40 minutes, smooth and efficient," he observed.

The beaming expat noted that China's marriage registration policy allows for more flexibility in handling registrations in different locations.

A beaming bride and groom register their marriage. [Photo/Sanya Daily]

It's smiles all round as the radiant newlyweds take a photo at the registration office. [Photo/Sanya Daily]

Under current policies, expats can apply for marriage registration using valid documents issued by various Chinese government authorities — including a Foreign Permanent Resident ID Card — along with a valid single status affidavit.

The process significantly streamlines the procedure, achieving an efficient and convenient service for the public.

In recent years, with the continuous optimization of China's foreign-related government services, the processing procedures for high-frequency matters such as marriage registrations have been refined.