Marriage Registration Philippines

How to Register Your Marriage in the Philippines

The proposal has happened, and it’s time to start preparing for the big day. While planning the wedding can be all bells and whistles, there are certain documents and paperwork that need to be done for your union to be signed, sealed, and delivered. Yes, we’re talking about the marriage license and certificate, which are all needed so your marriage will be registered and legal.

In the Philippines, there are certain requirements and procedures that need to be accomplished before you even think about your wedding day. So what does it take to have your marriage registered in the Philippines? Let’s first discuss what a marriage license and a marriage certificate are.

What is a Marriage License?

A marriage license is considered to be the most important document required for a couple to be allowed to marry in the Philippines. No church, judiciary, or officiant will allow you to marry without this license.

You can apply for your marriage license from the local registry office from where one of you habitually resides. The license is a piece of document stating that both of you are allowed to get married under the Philippine government law.

What is a Marriage Certificate?

The marriage certificate is the document that states your legal contract with each other. The document is a social and legal contract between two individuals that serve as a legal, economic, and emotional agreement.

You will need these documents so you can register your marriage in the Philippines. So now let’s proceed to the process by which you can acquire these two documents.

Marriage Registration for Filipino-Filipino Partners

Step 1: Apply for a Marriage License

Both parties must visit the local civil registrar’s office in the city or town where one of you habitually resides. Apply for a marriage license, provided that the following requisites are met by both parties:

• that the marrying couple are female and male in gender;
• that the marrying couple are at least 18 years old and above;
• that the marrying couple is not related by blood up to the 4th degree;
• that the marrying couple are both Philippine citizens;
• that the marrying couple has a certificate of Family Planning and Marriage seminar, acquired from the local city Social Welfare Services office. 

 The following documents must also be provided:

• Application Form
• Community Tax Certificate (Cedula)
• Recent 1×1 Photo
• PSA (formerly NSO) Authenticated birth certificate
• CENOMAR (Certificate of No Marriage Record)

Important Things to Note:

• If one or both partners have been married before, additional documents are required. This could be the death certificate of a deceased spouse or the judicial decree stating the absolute annulment, divorce, or nullity of the previous marriage.
• If the marrying couple is between the ages of 18 to 21, a written and notarized parental consent must be submitted with the documents; if the marrying couple is between the ages of 22 to 24, a notarized received parental advice must be submitted with the documents.
• If the marrying couple does not have a certificate of Family Planning and Marriage, the release of the marriage license will be delayed up to 3 months.

Once the requirements are submitted, along with the application form for the marriage license, you will have to wait 10 business days or 2 weeks for the document to be issued.

Once you have the marriage license, you can then proceed with the marriage ceremony.

The marriage license must be used within 120 days from the issuance, otherwise it will be deemed null and void.

Step 2: Get Married

A marriage ceremony must be officiated by a member of the local judiciary, which includes: priests, imams, rabbis, consul generals, or ministers of registered churches or religious sects. The place of ceremony must be in a court or church. Exceptions are made when the location of the ceremony is far from the nearest court or church, or if the religious sect or priest allows it.

After the wedding vows and traditions are done, the marriage certificate must be signed by the marrying couple, as well as signed by the officiant, and two witnesses, both of legal age.

Step 3: Register the Marriage Certificate

Within 15 days of the marriage certificate signing, the document must be forwarded to the city hall and registered at the local civil registry office where the marriage or wedding took place.

Marriage Registration for Filipino-Foreigner Partners

The steps to registering your marriage in the Philippines if one of you is a Filipino and the other is a foreigner is basically the same, except for one important piece of document required from the foreign partner.

This document is called the Certificate of Legal Capacity to Contract Marriage. This document is issued by the consular representative of the foreign national’s home country or the country of his/her citizenship. 

The Philippine government requires this document to all foreign nationals who wish to marry a Filipino in the Philippines to confirm that the said foreign national is not legally married to someone else. 

Once the Certificate of Legal Capacity to Contract Marriage is ready, all the necessary steps to acquiring the marriage license and marriage certificate must be complied with for the marriage to be registered in the Philippines.

Marriage Registration for Foreigner-Foreigner Partners

Two foreign nationals who want to get married and register their marriage in the Philippines are advised to consult with a lawyer as the government rule regarding this may change anytime. However, if both foreign nationals are residents of the Philippines, they can request to have their marriage registered at their respective embassy or consulate located in the Philippines.

Most foreigners who have their wedding ceremony in the Philippines have the celebration in the country but register their wedding certificate in their place of origin. Foreign nationals can have their civil wedding in their home country before or after the ceremony taking place in the Philippines.

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The marriage license and marriage certificate are two of the most important documents you’ll need to have your union legalized. While they may take a lengthy process to acquire and accomplish, once you’ve completed them, the next steps to think about will be your wedding day, and of course, the rest of your lives together.

Disclaimer: The process and requirements mentioned above are according to the Philippine law and subject to change without prior notice.