Chinese couples no longer have to get birth permissions before they want in vitro fertilization (IVF).

我国夫妇在想要进行试管受精前，可以不再需要获得准生证明。

However ID cards, a valid¹ marriage certificate, and a written commitment to China's family planning policy are still required documents that must be presented.

不过，夫妻双方仍须提供身份证、结婚证，并且还须书面承诺符合计划生育的政策。

The birth permission, a way for the authorities to control the population, means couples are allowed to have children legally. Parents will get fined if they have babies without it.

准生证明是当局政府控制人口的一种方式，有了它就意味着夫妻双方可以合法生育子女。如果父母的孩子没有这项证明，他们就会遭到罚款的处罚。

In most regions of the country, the permission is part of a family planning service certificate which will be checked in a series of procedures: pregnancy² test, child delivery, maternity³ insurance application, etc.

在我国大部分地区，准生证是计划生育服务证的一部分，在孕检、分娩、申请生育保险等一系列程序中都将查验计划生育服务证。

Applying for the permission can be a very cumbersome⁴ procedure, especially with many couples not living and working in their hometown.

申请准生证的程序非常繁琐，特别是对许多没有在家乡生活和工作的夫妇来说。

They have to make many trips between their hometown and where they currently live to complete the application.

他们必须在家乡和目前生活的地方多次往返，以此来完成申请工作。