BEIJING - Premier Li Qiang has signed a State Council decree to promulgate the revised regulations, which consist of six chapters and 28 articles and include major revisions to improve marriage services and ease registration.

The new regulations, the first revision since the marriage registration ordinance was enacted in 2003, will take effect on May 10, 2025.

Under the new rules, mainland couples will only need their identification cards and a signed declaration affirming they are not currently married and are not closely related by blood within three generations to register their marriage. One main revision is that couples will no longer need to register marriages in the location of their hukou, which is permanent household registration.

READ MORE: Marriage registration to be easier, more flexible in China

This change is expected to save time and reduce costs, particularly as more Chinese citizens choose to live and work outside their registered hometowns.

China on Wednesday unveiled the newly revised marriage registration regulations, which will take effect on May 10.

READ MORE: China records 6.1 million marriage registrations in 2024

The Ministry of Civil Affairs will be in charge of running a national marriage information database and will establish an information sharing system with other departments to ensure marriage information accurate, timely-updated, and secure.