Civil Records for China citizens in the United States — 2026

Civil records registration means registering births, marriages and deaths that occurred in the United States with the China authorities. Essential for citizens of China living abroad whose family events happen in the U.S.

China consulates processing civil records

What can be registered?

• Birth registration: children of China parents born in the U.S. can be registered as China nationals
• Marriage registration: marriages of China citizens (or mixed marriages) celebrated in the U.S.
• Death registration: death of China nationals in the U.S.
• Divorce registration: U.S. divorce decrees for those married in China

Required documents

• Original U.S. vital record (birth/marriage/death certificate)
• Apostille from the Secretary of State of the issuing state
• Certified translation to the official language of China
• Passport and ID of the China citizens involved
• Application form completed

How to register

Most China consulates require an appointment to file civil records. The consulate then forwards the registration to the China civil registry office.

Some consulates accept mail-in applications for civil records. Check the official site of your consulate.

Costs and processing times

Registration fees: typically free or $10-$50 per record. Processing time at the consulate: 2-4 weeks; final registration in China can take additional months.