According to the Applied Provisions in the Interim Procedures of the Shanghai Municipality on the Administration of Marriage With a Foreign National, in the case of a foreigner, Overseas Chinese, or a resident of Hong Kong SAR, Macao SAR, or Taiwan who applies for marrying a local resident of the Shanghai Municipality in Shanghai, both male and female parties of the marriage shall go to the Bureau of Civil Affairs of the Shanghai Municipality together, fill in the Application Form for Marriage Registration there, and present the required personal credentials, supporting documents for the status of marriage, and the valid certification of their pre-marriage health examination.

The Bureau of Civil Affairs of the Shanghai Municipality shall, within one month upon acceptance of such an application, complete the due review and issue notices to come in for the marriage certificates to those qualified applicants who shall, within three months upon receipt of such notices, go to the Bureau in person together.

A claim by either applicant or a claim via an assigned third party is thereby not allowed. Those qualified applicants who fail to go for the marriage certificate in the defined time frame shall re-apply for marriage registration. Any special cause for deferring the time frame to go for the marriage certificate shall be subject to approval whereby provided, however, the deferred period shall not exceed three months.