How Foreigners Can Get Married to Filipinas in the Philippines

Getting married in the Philippines is not that easy. It’s not like Las Vegas, where you can book a chapel immediately and say I do’s. You need to pass documents, attend a seminar, and even plant a tree before getting a marriage license. If you are a foreigner with a Filipina Fiancé, here’s our guide on How Foreigners Can Get Married to Filipinas in the Philippines.

Photo by Drew Coffman

Photo by Drew Coffman

The difference between a Filipino-Filipino and a Filipino-Foreigner Marriage is the “Legal Capacity to Contract Marriage. Since the Philippines has no records of the foreigner being able to marry, he needs to get one from his country or embassy. It’s also to make your marriage more legally binding, and there is no one to object when the wedding comes.

Marriage License Requirements for a Foreigner

1. Certificate of Legal Capacity to Contract Marriage

This is the most important requirement a foreigner must have when you intend to marry in the Philippines. It’s a certificate stating there are no legal impediments to your marriage; no marriage objections, especially where you reside and are not currently married to another person.

If you are not yet in the Philippines, it’s better to contact your Embassy here or check your government’s website on the requirements or process. This may take a few days or months, so you need to be prepared. Please note that some can’t give a “Certificate of Legal Capacity to Contract Marriage” but another statement. Here are some websites you can refer to:

Please make note of the following:

  • Some embassies may ask for documents of your Filipina partner

  • Some may need an appointment and personal appearance (of you and your partner)

  • Some may accept applications through courier or online

  • The Certificate may be good for 4 – 6 months, depending on the Embassy

  • If it’s not in English, please double-check with the Local Civil Registrar (LCR); you will be submitting your marriage license if it needs to be translated and notarized (usually, it needs to be in English)

  • Also, ask if your LCR accepts something other than a Certificate of Legal Capacity to Contract Marriage like an Affidavit In Lieu of a Certificate of Legal Capacity to Contract Marriage

2.  Birth Certificate from your Country

3.  PSA Certificate of No Marriage – you can ask your fiancé to get this for you; this is to certify that you have not been married or not married in the Philippines. Even if it’s your second time here, you will still need this

4. Passport Copy

5. Photo – 1x1 or 2x2

6. Divorce Decree – if divorced, it must have a statement that Marriage is terminate. Please note that divorce is not legal in the Philippines; if you have been married in the Philippines and have made a divorce out of the country, it may not be effective here.

7. Judicial Decree of Annulment – or Declaration of Nullity of Previous marriage, if annulled

8. Death Certificate – if widowed, you must present a Death Certificate of your deceased wife

Marriage License Requirements for a Filipina

You can double-check with your Local Civil Registrar as some may not be listed here:

1. PSA Birth Certificate

2. PSA CENOMAR

3. Valid ID

4. Community Tax Certificate – CEDULA or CTC

5. Photo – 1x1 or 2x2

6. Death Certificate – if widowed, you must present a Death Certificate of your deceased husband

7.  Parental Consent – aged 18 – 21, both parents need to have an appearance when applying or make an Affidavit of Consent (allowing their child to marry). two witnesses and Notarized must also sign the affidavit.  In case one has passed away, or one of them is absent, then one needs to be making the Affidavit.

8. Parental Advice – if aged 22 – 25, parents need personal appearance or write written parental advice that they know their child is getting married. If they won’t agree to the marriage, then the child needs to have a sworn statement stating that she told her parents, but they were against it. Please note that the processing of the marriage license will take 3 months if the parents are against the marriage.

9. Barangay Certificate – if required

Marriage License Requirements to be done by the Bride and Groom

1. Marriage License Application Form – from the Local Civil Registrar

2. Certificate of Attendance in Pre-Marriage Counseling – you can ask the LCR for the schedule and book this (it’s done usually once a month)

3. Personal Appearance

Additional Marriage License Requirements to be done for Catholic Weddings

1. Baptismal Certificate of Bride and Groom

2. Confirmation Certificate

3. Permit to Marry – for those outsides of Parish

4. Pre-Cana Seminar

5. Pre-Nuptial Investigation of the Priest

6. Public Banns

Photo by Sandy Millar

Photo by Sandy Millar

Steps on How Foreigners Can Get Married to Filipinas in the Philippines

STEP 1: Decide if you would have a Civil or a Church Wedding.

I have seen Foreigner-Filipina Church Weddings than Civil Weddings, though. But it’s more time-consuming, especially as you need to go through seminars and interviews.

STEP 2: Gather all the requirements. Please take note of the validity of the documents; once they are not valid, you might be asked to get them again:

  • Legal Capacity Certificate – may be up to 6 months

  • Certificate of No Marriage - may be up to 6 months

STEP 3: Submit your requirements to the Local Civil Registrar of the Filipina’s hometown or residence. There will be a certain fee to pay. The marriage license will be available after 10 days; however, you might need to attend a seminar first. Please schedule with the LCR.

Sometimes, a Marriage License can be processed without the certificate of attendance for counseling.  However, they would only be released if you have one. For example, you passed all your requirements on February 1; the Marriage License will be available on February 11. However, if the seminar is on February 13, you can get it only once you are done with that.  

STEP 4: Attend the seminar(s). Once you get a certificate, you can submit it to the LCR and claim your marriage license.

Please note that the marriage license is good for 120 days only.

STEP 5: Prepare for a marriage ceremony. With a marriage license, you can marry anywhere in the Philippines. The following are the ones where Filipinos usually booked. You can get

  • Judge

  • Mayor

  • Minister or Pastors authorized by the church

  • Priests

You can contact their office to know how much the fees are as well as their available schedules. Common where people can marry are:

  • Mayor’s Office

  • Court

  • Church

  • Garden or Resort

STEP 6: Attend your marriage ceremony with the presence of the solemnizing officer as well as 2 witnesses of legal age. Say your I DO’s and sign the marriage contract. Congratulations! You are official!

The Marriage Contract will usually be available in a few months. After that, the Foreigner must report or register their Marriage in the Embassy or Consulate. Here’s a guide on getting a Marriage Certificate.

Photo by Alvaro CvG

Photo by Alvaro CvG

That’s How Foreigners Can Get Married to Filipinas in the Philippines. It can’t be done in less than a week, so you need more time in the Philippines. In case you have questions, please feel free to message me through my e-mail or Instagram. Good luck!

About the Writer

lyzaPaloma.jpg

Hey, I’m Lyza! I once was a person who just imagined going to places “one day” but decided to pursue my dreams. My first travel abroad was in Japan, solo, last 2018, and I fell in love with the experience. I aim to visit 10 countries before turning 30 and 2 new places in the Philippines every year. Besides traveling, I love organizing trips, taking pictures, reading, and making new friends. Follow my adventures through my Instagram.

 

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