Understanding Hong Kong's matrimonial process

With high rankings in safety, education, and standard of living, Hong Kong provides an ideal environment not only for professional growth but also for starting a family. Each year, over 40,000 couples in the city take the significant step of entering marriage, reflecting an enduring culture of commitment, growth, and partnership.

From registration to ceremony, Hong Kong is home to a seamless matrimonial process. By understanding essential steps and expenses as an engaged couple, you and your partner can navigate this exciting new chapter with ease:

Registering your marriage

Registration of a marriage is the first step towards lifelong commitment. To solemnise your marriage, you or your partner must submit a Notice of Intended Marriage (“the notice”) to the Registrar of Marriages (“the Registrar”), no earlier than 3 months but at least 15 days before the date of the intended marriage. To give the notice, you may make an appointment booking through the GovHK website, or by telephone at 3102 3883. Alternatively, the notice can be given through a Civil Celebrant of Marriages.

Upon successful booking, you or your partner should attend the selected marriage registry/office in person with the relevant documents. Alongside particulars such as age, occupation, and residential address, a prescribed fee (HK$305) for giving and exhibition of the notice will be collected. Note that the information required for giving the notice can also be submitted in advance using the Immigration Department’s online service. If all statutory requirements are met, The Registrar may, at least 15 days after the giving of a notice, issue a certificate of Registrar of Marriages to enable you to celebrate your marriage within three months from the date of notice giving. Keep in mind that a marriage has to take place at a marriage registry by a Registrar, in a licensed place of worship by a competent minister, or at any other place in Hong Kong by a civil celebrant of marriages. The date of marriage that the marrying party select should be 15 days after the date of giving notice but within the 3 months’ validity of the notice. 

Arrangement of the marriage ceremony

In Hong Kong, couples have the option of celebrating their marriage at a marriage registry, a licensed place of worship, wedding venues by the Leisure and Cultural Services Department (LCSD), and other venues with an appointed Civil Celebrant of Marriages. Depending on your choice of venue, the ceremonial procedures and charges will vary accordingly:

	Marriage ceremony at a marriage registry	Marriage ceremony at a licensed place of worship	Leisure venues of LCSD for holding wedding ceremonies	Other venues
Booking procedures	Make an appointment booking to give notice within 15 days before the 3-month period from the date of marriage Upon successful booking, you will be assigned a priority number On the day of giving notice, you will be arranged in accordance with your priority number to select the exact time slot for your ceremony	Contact your chosen licensed place of worship for the relevant booking procedures and fees Consult an officiating minister for the exact time, date, and place of your ceremony	Submit an application form twelve months before the intended wedding day at the earliest, or apply for unbooked venues/sessions within the immediate twelve months (on the last day or following working day of each month) For details of booking procedure, please refer to the LCSD website	Contact your chosen venue for the relevant booking procedures and fees Inform the civil celebrant of your wedding plan as early as possible before the proposed date of marriage
Charges	HK$715 and up	Typically HK$4,000 and up	HK$3,490 and up	Subject to pricing schedule of each venue

Celebration of marriage

Before the celebration of your marriage by the Registrar or a civil celebrant, you and your partner will be required to sign a written declaration before the Registrar or civil celebrant, acknowledging the monogamy and legality of your marriage. A certificate of marriage will then be signed in duplicate by the Registrar, the officiating minister or the civil celebrant, you and your partner, and two witnesses aged 18 or above. The original certificate of marriage will be delivered to you after the marriage ceremony, while the duplicate will be filed by the Registrar. Additional points to note on your wedding day can be found on the Immigration Department website.

As a city of diversified religions, Hong Kong provides a welcoming environment for all couples to celebrate their marriage. To learn more about rites or usages of marriage observed in churches, temples, and other licensed places of worship, please contact the related institutions on the list. 

Embracing a new future together

For further support in building a strong and secure start to your marriage, consider pre-marital planning services offered by The Family Planning Association of Hong Kong:

• Pre-marital check-up: Aims to help couples gain a better understanding of their health and provides blood tests, health assessments, early pregnancy assessments, and more. Package fees range from HK$750 to HK$6,000.
• Pre-marital counselling: Promotes adaptation and growth in married life through tools like the PREPARE questionnaire, group studies, and personalised counselling.

Marriage is a pivotal milestone in life. With the right preparations and understanding of Hong Kong’s matrimonial process, you and your partner can embark on a new journey together.