Upstream 3·15 | Fake marriages and false skills: intermediaries manipulate Shenzhen residence permits, causing a frenzy of illegal profiteering in the gray industry

The core public benefits such as high-quality education, healthcare, home purchase eligibility, and individual tax benefits tied to Shenzhen household registration make “getting a Shenzhen hukou” a necessity for many. Even after multiple relaxations of the residency requirements, some who do not meet the criteria still attempt to take shortcuts, leading to a gray industry chain that aggressively profits from household registration fraud.

Investigations by Shangyou News (tip email: cnshangyou@163.com) found that several unscrupulous agencies in Shenzhen openly operate two types of gray market activities: one involves “genuine registration, fake marriage,” charging 380,000 yuan to connect master’s degree holders for rapid household registration, bypassing the two-year separation requirement through marriage transactions; the other involves “pseudo skills, fake certifications,” manipulating competitions and predetermined awards to help unqualified individuals obtain titles like “Shenzhen Technical Expert,” completely undermining talent introduction rules.

This price-listed gray chain of buying and selling household registration not only severely disrupts household registration management and undermines fairness but also creates multiple legal pitfalls such as bigamy, property disputes, and permanent revocation of household registration. Some participants have already been investigated by police for suspected bigamy and taken criminal enforcement measures.

Liu Qing is suspected of bigamy. Photo source: provided by interviewee

A Bigamy Case

Exposing a Corner of the Household Registration Gray Market

This glimpse into the gray market for household registration was fully exposed by a bigamy case.

In December 2025, Shenzhen woman Cheng Ting (pseudonym) reported to the Nanshan Branch of Shenzhen Public Security Bureau that her husband Liu Qing (pseudonym) was suspected of bigamy. Evidence she provided showed that she and Liu Qing married abroad in 2011, and their marriage still exists, with a daughter; but during their marriage, Liu Qing publicly cohabited with woman Wu Ping (pseudonym) under the guise of a married couple, with two sons, even holding a hundred-day celebration for the children.

Liu Qing and Wu Ping held a hundred-day celebration for their illegitimate children. Photo source: provided by interviewee

The core motive behind this absurd bigamy was to secure Shenzhen household registration for their two illegitimate sons.

According to Cheng Ting, Liu Qing personally told her that to get the children registered in Shenzhen and to have them take the father’s surname, he paid a middleman to arrange a deal: Wu Ping, the children’s mother, would marry a man with Shenzhen household registration named Liu Ke (pseudonym) whom she did not know, to register for household registration through a marriage cooperation policy; after Wu Ping obtained Shenzhen hukou and the children were registered, they would divorce.

Liu Ke, the “seller” in this transaction, witnessed the entire process. He told reporters that he had moved to Shenzhen with his parents early on, but after his business failed and debts piled up, he was introduced in 2020 to an intermediary named Wang Moubao, and they agreed on a deal: for 300,000 yuan, to complete the full process of marrying Wu Ping, facilitating household registration, and then divorcing.

In April 2020, Liu Ke and Wu Ping met at a marriage registration office, received their marriage certificate on the spot, signed a prenuptial property agreement, and notarized it. According to the then-implemented “Regulations on Several Rules for Household Registration Transfer in Shenzhen,” if one spouse is a Shenzhen hukou holder and has been separated for over two years, they can apply for household registration; if one parent has Shenzhen hukou, minor children can apply for dependent registration.

By 2022, Wu Ping successfully obtained Shenzhen household registration, and her two sons also gained Shenzhen hukou. In June of the same year, Liu Ke and Wu Ping divorced.

Bank transfer records show that from April to July 2020, Liu Ke received about 300,000 yuan in five installments.

This seemingly “full payment” transaction was ultimately exposed due to Liu Qing’s bigamy. On January 13, 2026, Shenzhen police filed a case against Liu Qing for suspected bigamy, and he has been subjected to criminal enforcement. All participants in this gray industry chain are now at risk of criminal charges.

Liu Ke received 300,000 yuan in five installments after the fake marriage. Photo source: provided by interviewee

Price Tag of 380,000 Yuan

Agencies Set Up in Law Firms to Handle Master’s Spouse “Marriage Migration for Household Registration”

In Shenzhen, agencies like Wang Moubao that handle “marriage migration” are not unique. This gray industry chain has developed a mature, standardized operation model, with some agencies even setting up in law firms to leverage their credibility to attract clients.

Using social media, a reporter contacted “Teacher Tang” under the pretext of “parents without Shenzhen hukou wanting to register their soon-to-be-born baby in Shenzhen.” On March 1, inside a law firm at Xintian Century Business Center in Futian District, Teacher Tang openly provided a full plan: have the child’s mother marry a master’s degree holder with Shenzhen hukou under a genuine marriage, handle all prenuptial agreements and notarizations, and after household registration is completed, divorce immediately. The child can then directly join the mother’s household registration.

This agency has already precisely exploited loopholes in Shenzhen’s household registration policies. According to the “Regulations on Several Rules for Household Registration Transfer in Shenzhen,” the spouse of a Shenzhen hukou holder can apply for dependent registration if separated for over two years; however, for high-level talents, professionals with senior technical qualifications, or master’s degree holders, their spouses are exempt from the separation requirement and can prioritize processing.

“Finding a Shenzhen hukou holder with a master’s degree means no need to wait two years; the household registration can be done quickly,” Teacher Tang said. They even match the spouse with the child’s biological father’s surname to avoid the issue of changing the child’s surname. The total fee is a flat 380,000 yuan, with a 50,000 yuan deposit to start the process. After completing the household registration and divorce, the remaining payment is made.

Skeptical, the reporter hesitated, prompting Teacher Tang to guarantee: “I’ve handled dozens of marriage-based household registration cases, and never had a case where the divorce didn’t go through. These people only earn what they should, they won’t embezzle clients’ money, and the final payment is only made after divorce.” During undercover visits, Teacher Tang repeatedly urged the reporter to quickly go to Shenzhen for marriage registration, claiming to have found suitable candidates.

“Teacher Tang” sent a pre-marriage agreement. Photo source: provided by interviewee

Agency Promotes “Lower-Risk” “Skill-Based Entry”

300,000 to 400,000 Yuan for “Technical Experts,” Bypassing Talent Policies

While “marriage migration” seems straightforward, it carries significant risks of marriage disputes and property division. Some intermediaries admit that past “marriage migration” cases sometimes resulted in the other party refusing to divorce, which was only resolved after considerable trouble. They then recommend a “lower-risk,” more covert illegal method called “skill-based entry.”

Through another social channel, the reporter contacted “Mr. Qin,” who clearly stated he does not recommend “marriage migration” but promotes the so-called “compliant and safe” “skill-based entry” scheme. The entire operation bypasses educational and residency restrictions, relying on illegal manipulations: first arranging for the applicant to register with a sponsoring organization, paying social security contributions in Shenzhen for the child’s mother; then having her participate in a vocational skills competition for nannies, and directly obtaining the title of “Shenzhen City Technical Expert.” With this title, she can apply through the approved talent introduction channels for “skill-based entry” in Shenzhen; once the mother obtains Shenzhen hukou, the child can be registered as a dependent.

“Mr. Qin” said that clients do not need relevant skills or work experience—just follow their instructions for exams, and everything else is handled. The total cost is around 300,000 to 400,000 yuan, paid in installments according to progress. To prove the scheme’s feasibility, his colleagues even provided successful case examples: a certificate showing Xiao participated in a vocational skills competition and was recognized as a “Shenzhen City Technical Expert”; another report for talent introduction in Shenzhen was also based on this title, successfully completing the household registration process.

“Mr. Qin” introduces the skill-based household registration process. Photo by Upstream News Chief Reporter Niu Tai

Public information shows that “skill-based entry” is an important part of Shenzhen’s talent introduction system, aimed at attracting professionals with solid technical skills and high-level professional qualifications in specific fields. However, the illegal operations of these agencies have turned this policy, which is meant to support the real economy and select skilled talents, into a tool for gray industry profits. The so-called “arranged exams” involve manipulating competitions and predetermined awards, allowing unqualified individuals to obtain official honors and qualifications, thus bypassing the talent policy system and involving illegal activities such as contest fraud and forged application materials.

Before publication, the reporter reported the above Shenzhen household registration gray market chaos to Shenzhen police.

Chief Reporter Niu Tai