To use marriage certificates registered in Hong Kong and Macao special administrative regions, Taiwan and foreign countries in the Chinese mainland, is it necessary to notarize the certificates?

According to Article 22 of the Law of the People's Republic of China on Choice of Law for Foreign-related Civil Relationships (Order No.36 of the President of the People’s Republic of China), marriages are valid if they conform to the laws of the locality where the marriage is established or the laws of the habitual residence, or of the state of nationality of one party.

To use the marriage certificates within the Chinese mainland, they should be notarized at the locality and authenticated by foreign affairs departments of the country or by the institutions authorized by those departments. Meanwhile, authentication by Chinese embassies or consulates in the country is also required.