China: Information on the official attitudes toward common-law marriages and the children of such marriages, and on whether unmarried couples are forbidden to have children
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada |
| Publication Date | 1 September 1993 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | CHN15207 |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, China: Information on the official attitudes toward common-law marriages and the children of such marriages, and on whether unmarried couples are forbidden to have children, 1 September 1993, CHN15207, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/3ae6acde74.html [accessed 14 October 2022] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
The First Secretary of the Embassy of the People's Republic of China in Ottawa provided the following information on the above subjects during a telephone interview on 10 September 1993. Common-law marriages are not recognized and have no legal status in China. There is no reference to common-law marriages in the Chinese marriage law. Although such marriages are not legal, children of common-law marriages are considered "innocent" and are treated like other children. There is no Chinese law forbidding unmarried couples from having children.
This response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the DIRB within time constraints. This response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum.
Reference
Embassy of the People's Republic of China, Ottawa. 10 September 1993. Telephone interview with First Secretary.
