Marriage registration
Giving of Notice of Intended Marriage
Who Needs to Give a Notice of Intended Marriage
No matter where and how the marrying parties are going to celebrate their marriage in Hong Kong, a Notice of Intended Marriage (the notice) on the prescribed form (Form MR1(S)) must be given in advance to a marriage registry.
Where to Give a Notice of Intended Marriage
Under the Laws of Hong Kong, a marriage should take place after a notice has been exhibited at the Registrar’s office for at least 15 clear days and within 3 months after the giving of the notice. Therefore, a notice should be given no earlier than 3 months but at least 15 days before the date of intended marriage.
An appointment booking can be made at a marriage registry for giving the notice. Alternatively, the notice can also be given through a Civil Celebrant of Marriages.
How to Give a Notice of Intended Marriage
Unless the marrying parties are living outside Hong Kong, one or both of them are required to give the notice at the marriage registry in person or through a civil celebrant of marriages.
To give a notice, both of the marrying parties are required to provide their Hong Kong identity card or valid travel document. It is not necessary to fill in any application form at the time the notice is given. However, to facilitate the completion and printing of the notice, the following personal particulars of both of the marrying parties must be provided:
- name and surname
- marital condition (i.e. whether you are a bachelor/spinster; widower/widow; a divorced person; or previously married by any form of marriage)
- occupation
- age
- residential address
- the full name of your parents
- in the case of either party is under the age of 21 – the name, address and capacity of the person consenting to the marriage (i.e. the relevant person or persons specified in the Third Schedule to the Marriage Ordinance)
To help shorten the counter processing time at the Registrar's office of giving the notice, the information required for registration of marriage can be submitted in advance using the online service. The marrying parties may also choose to download the ‘Information Required for Registration of Marriage’ (Form MR21B) for completion and submit the completed form at the time the notice is given. It should be noted that the information sheet is neither an application form nor a notice.
Where to Give a Notice of Intended Marriage
If the marrying parties are going to celebrate their marriage at the City Hall Marriage Registry or the Cotton Tree Drive Marriage Registry, they should give the notice at the Marriage Registration and Records Office. If the marriage is to be celebrated at any other marriage registry, they should give the notice at the respective registry.
If the proposed marriage is to take place in a licensed place of worship or to be celebrated by a civil celebrant of marriages, the notice can be given at the Marriage Registration and Records Office or a marriage registry other than the City Hall Marriage Registry or the Cotton Tree Drive Marriage Registry.
Addresses and office hours of marriage registriesA notice may also be given through a civil celebrant of marriages.
If you wish to access to the list of civil celebrants, please press here.Appointment Booking for Giving a Notice of Intended Marriage
An appointment can be booked for giving notice through the Internet (www.gov.hk/marriagebooking) or by telephone (dial (852) 3102 3883 using a touch-tone telephone). The booking service is provided round-the-clock and free of charge. The appointment is given on a first-come-first-served basis. It should be noted that only one appointment could be made by each couple.
Processing Time
The processing time for giving Notice of Intended Marriage at the counter in a marriage registry is around 30 minutes. It may take longer for some complicated cases.
Exhibition of Notice of Intended Marriage
Part I of the notice will be exhibited at the marriage registries (other than the Cotton Tree Drive Marriage Registry and City Hall Marriage Registry) and Marriage Registration and Records Office for at least 15 clear days. During this period, any person who is authorised by law to object to the proposed marriage may do so. If no objection is received after the period of 15 clear days and all the legal requirements are met, the marriage may take place in accordance with the Marriage Ordinance after the issue of a Certificate of Registrar of Marriages by a Registrar.
If the proposed marriage is to take place in a licensed place of worship, or to be celebrated by a civil celebrant, the Certificate of Registrar of Marriages will be issued directly to either of the marrying parties or through the civil celebrant nominated by either party.
Please note that no marriage shall be celebrated in a licensed place of worship or by a civil celebrant in the absence of a Certificate of Registrar of Marriages.
Fee
Fee of Filing and exhibition of notice of marriage is HK$305.
If the notice is given to a Marriage Registration & Records Office or marriage registry, payment can be made by cash, EPS, Octopus, FPS, a crossed cheque or a cashier order in Hong Kong currency payable to "The Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region". Post dated cheques will not be accepted.
For more details, please visit the website of Immigration Department.
Reference
Information Leaflet on Marriage Registration
Sources: Immigration Department