How to Get Married in the Philippines – An

Ultimate Guide
Just by looking at your friend’s share-worthy wedding pictures on Instagram, you
already get the idea that getting hitched can be a memorable experience for anyone.

From DIY wedding projects to other important decisions to make your wedding day
unforgettable, there are many things to keep you busy before you say “I do” to your
special someone.
But preparing for your wedding day is not all beers and skittles. You also need to know
the legal documents and preparations required to ensure a hassle-free wedding
celebration.

If you’re clueless about the things you need to know to get married here in the
Philippines, no need to fret. We at FilipiKnow have scoured the Internet for the best
information that every soon-to-be couples ought to know.

Whether you’re tying the knot with a Filipino, American, or any other foreigner, this
guide is for you!

What you’ll learn:

Part I. Getting Married in the Philippines – Basic Steps and Requirements
Part II. How to Get a Marriage License in the Philippines
Part III. Church Wedding in the Philippines – Procedures & Requirements
Part IV. Civil Wedding in the Philippines – Procedures & Requirements
Part V. How to Get a Marriage Certificate in the Philippines
Part VI. How to Get Married in the Philippines as a U.S. Citizen
Part VII. How to Get Married in the Philippines with a Foreigner
Part I. Getting Married in the Philippines –
Basic Steps and Requirements
If you’re planning to get married in the Philippines, there are few legal requirements
you need to know first, especially if you or your would-be spouse is 25 years old or
below. Here are some of them:

 Marrying parties should be a male and a female, at least 18 years old.

 If you or your partner is 25 years old or below, a parental consent or advice is
needed (See Part II).
 You and your partner must not be related by blood (up to 4th degree) and
should be free of legal impediments, such as being in a previous marriage (unless
annulled, widowed, or divorced).
There are specific requirements that you need to provide once you decide to have a
church wedding (See Part III) or civil wedding (See Part IV) in the Philippines.

But regardless of the type of wedding ceremony, all couples undergo almost the same
process in getting married.

Step 1: Marriage license application (See Part II).

Step 2: Attending of required pre-wedding seminars and counseling (Depending on
your area, this may come before or after applying for a marriage license).

Step 3: Release of marriage license.

Step 4: Marriage ceremony solemnized by an officer registered with the local civil
registrar and in the presence of 2 witnesses of legal age.
Step 5: Getting your official NSO marriage certificate (See Part V).
 

Part II. How to Get a Marriage License in

the Philippines
Marriage license is the most important legal document you need to secure when
preparing for your wedding. After all, you won’t be allowed to have a church or civil
wedding without this license.

To apply for the license, both parties must go to the the local civil registrar of the city,
town or municipality where either the groom or the bride habitually resides. Marriage
license is usually released 2 weeks (10 days) after you apply for it.

Once issued, the marriage license can be used wherever you want to get married in the
Philippines. However, it is only valid within 120 days of issuance and “shall be deemed
automatically cancelled at the expiration of said period if the contracting parties have
not made use of it.”

What You Need:

 Certified true copy of you and your partner’s NSO birth certificates (1 original
and 2 photocopies).  You can get this from the NSO office or apply online through e-
 Census. For more information, you can contact NSO Helpline Plus with telephone
no. (632) 737.1111 or email them at e-census.info@mail.census.gov.ph
 Affidavit of parental consent or advice.  The legal age for marriage in the
Philippines is 18. If either of you are between the ages 18 and 21, a consent from
the father, mother, surviving parent or guardian should be obtained. On the other
hand, if either of you are between the age of 22 and 25, a written parental advice
indicating that your parents are aware of your intent to marry will be required. You
can come with your parents during application or just bring a notarized letter of
consent/advice.
 Certificate of No Marriage (CENOMAR) or Certificate of Singleness (1 original and
1 photocopy).  This document is a proof that you haven’t been married before and
is issued by the NSO.
 Certificate of Attendance in a pre-marriage counseling, family planning, and
responsible parenthood seminar. The pre-marriage counseling  is usually conducted
by the Church or the DSWD for civil marriages. The family planning and responsible
parenthood seminar, on the other hand, is held at the health department
(specifically the Division of Maternal and Child Health) of your municipal/city hall.
Be sure to check the schedules as some are conducted daily while others have a
specific schedule within the week. If you failed to secure the certificates before
applying for a marriage license, you will be asked to attend the required seminars
before your wedding date.
 Community Tax Certificate or  Cedula (1 original and 2 photocopies).
 Barangay Clearance (1 original and 1 photocopy).
 At least 2 valid IDs.
 Recent 1 x 1 photo (colored or black and white).
 Marriage license application form (issues by the LCR office).
Other requirements (in addition to above):

 If annulled, Certificate of Finality of Annulment from the Court (1 original and 2

photocopies) and Certificate of Registration from the Local Civil Registrar (1
original and 2 photocopies). 
 If widowed, Death Certificate of deceased spouse.
For foreigners:

 Certificate of Legal Capacity to Contract Marriage. This document, issued by the

consular office/embassy of the foreigner’s country, serves as a proof of his/her civil
status and eligibility for marriage in the Philippines. For more information, see Part
VI and Part VII.
 A photocopy of passport. 
 
What To Do:
Now that you know the basic requirements to bring, here are the steps you need to
follow in order to get the marriage license:

Step 1: Get an application form (Form 90) from the local registry office.
Step 2: Fill out the form. The left portion of the sheet should be filled out by the groom
while the other half is for the bride.
Step 3: Attach the necessary documents (see list of requirements above) and submit
the accomplished form to either you or your partner’s municipal office. To avoid hassles
and long queues, go to the municipal office either in the morning or right after lunch.
Step 4: Get the claim slip. If you haven’t attended the required seminars yet, the slip
that will be given to you is the one that asks you to attend the  pre-marriage
counseling, family planning, and responsible parenthood seminar (see list of
requirements above). You will then present the certificate of attendance to claim your
marriage license.
Step 5: Wait for 10 days before the marriage license is released. Once issued, the
license will only be valid within 120 days or four months.

Part III. Church Wedding in the Philippines

– Procedures & Requirements
Every Filipina bride has a dream of tying the knot in the church and wearing that long,
elegant wedding dress. And because majority of Filipinos are Catholics, it’s no wonder
why most prefer to get married in popular churches like Manila Cathedral, San Agustin
Church, and the likes.
If you’re one of those lucky few who have a budget big enough for a church wedding,
there are specific requirements aside from the marriage license that you need to fulfill a
month before your actual wedding. This guide will get you started:

 What You Need and What To Do:

 Marriage license. The document must be within 4 months of validity period (see
Part II). If you previously married in a civil wedding, you must submit registered
marriage contract.
 Baptismal and confirmation certificates (6 months validity) . Because marriage is
one of the church sacraments, you and your partner must submit a proof that you
have previously received the sacrament of baptism. The copies that you’ll submit
must be new, acquired 3 months before the wedding, and with an annotation “For
marriage purposes only.” Some parishes can’t issue these documents instantly as
they don’t have digital records of these files yet. Make sure to process these papers
as early as possible.
 Copy of NSO birth certificate and Certificate of No Record of Marriage
(CENOMAR).You can secure these documents either online or by going to the NSO
office. Most churches accept birth certificates as long as they are still within 6
months from the date of issuance. As of this writing, a birth certificate costs
approximately 315 pesos per copy and 415 pesos for every copy of CENOMAR.
 Pre-Cana/Marriage preparation seminar. Because marriage is a lifelong
commitment, this seminar is provided to help couples learn more about each other,
resolve any issues prior to getting married, and gain insights about their future life
together. Topics may include parenting, sexuality, family planning, among others.
Although most parish churches conduct the seminar every month, you should still
ask the church coordinator about the schedules to make sure you won’t miss it.
Some churches also recognize other independent organizations like Catholic
Engaged Encounter (CEE), Center for Family Ministries (CEFAM), and Discovery
Weekend Philippines (DW) which provide seminars or retreats for couples. If you
attend seminars from any of these, you need to submit certificates of attendance
as a proof.
 Canonical interview. This is when you and your partner will meet the parish
priest (or his assistant) of the church you’re marrying in. Request to the church
coordinator to have the interview scheduled 1 to 2 months before your wedding.
The parish may also send you a list of questions before the interview to give you
more time to prepare. During the interview, the priest will explore your decision to
get married by asking questions about your family background, how long you have
known each other, and so forth.
 Marriage Banns. These are written wedding announcements that will posted on
the bulletin boards of the couple’s respective parishes. To obtain the marriage
banns, both the bride and groom must know the specific name of their respective
 parish priest and the address of their parochial church. After receiving these
information, the wedding church will then prepare a letter requesting for the
marriage banns. The banns are posted in the couple’s parishes for three
consecutive weeks, which explains why you need to complete the wedding
requirements a month before the event. After that, you can now retrieve the
letter from the parish office with a reply indicating that no impediments were made
and that the wedding can push through.
 List of principal sponsors and entourage members. The copy of the wedding
invitation along with the official list of entourage members should be submitted to
the parish church where you’ll get married a week before your wedding date. Make
sure to ask the church for any restrictions or additional requirements before
finalizing the list. Note that the names of the principal sponsors are important as
they will be included in the marriage license.
 Confession. Some churches require couples to attend a confession days before
the wedding. Through this event, they will be forgiven of their sins and receive the
most out of the sacrament.
Other requirements:

 ID pictures. Size, color, and number will depend on your church’s requirements.

 List of songs, if applicable.
 Permits for photographers and videographers, if applicable.
Note: If you have other questions, please contact your city hall or church directly. Know
the exact date and time when all the requirements will be released so you can plan
your wedding, hassle-free.

Part IV. Civil Wedding in the Philippines –

Procedures & Requirements
For most Filipinos, a civil wedding is a cheaper, faster, and more convenient alternative
to church wedding. It is usually conducted by a judge of the RTC court, but it can also
be performed by the Mayor of a city. If you’re short on cash or still saving for your
dream church wedding, this option is for you.

Here are the requirements and procedures you need to remember if you’re planning to
have a civil wedding in the Philippines:

What You Need:

  Marriage license (see Part II).
 Certified True Copy of Baptismal Certificate or Birth Certificate of both parties.
 Community tax certificates (CEDULA) of both applicants.
 1 ID photo (colored background or black and white) of each applicant.
 Certificate of Attendance to a wedding seminar. Couples are required to attend
pre-marriage counseling and family planning seminar. These are usually given in
the city hall and are required before you can claim your marriage license. Check
your municipality for a complete list of schedules.
 Letter of Intent to Marry.  As the name suggests, this letter should express your
intent to marry and also includes your name and your fiancee’s name, your
signatures, and your suggested wedding dates.
Other requirements:

 If widowed,  Certified True Copy of Death Certificate of deceased spouse.

 If divorced or annulled, a copy of Final Decree of Absolute Divorce or Court
Decision and Absolute Decree of Finality from the court.
For foreigners:

 Certificate of Legal Capacity to Marry (or Certificate of No Impediment for British

applicants) issued by the consular office/embassy of the foreigner’s country.  For
more information, see Part VI and Part VII.
 Photocopy of  passport (showing the Date of Arrival and Data).
 

What To Do:
Step 1: Go to your civil registrar’s office to apply and pay the required fees for a
marriage license. Beware of swindlers. Make sure you only deal with the staff of the
Civil Registrar’s office.
Step 2: Proceed to the Mayor’s office and submit the Letter of Intent to Marry together
with the marriage license to the secretary.
Step 3: Wait for the confirmation that your suggested wedding dates are available.
Civil weddings are usually officiated by a judge or the Mayor in a city hall court. If you
have a preferred venue, seek the approval of your chosen officiate first.
Step 4: Find at least two people within the legal age who will serve as your witnesses.
If either you or your partner is below 18 years old, a parent or a guardian is required.
Step 5: During your wedding day, you need to pay a filing fee which usually costs 100
pesos. This is to enable them to forward their own facsimile of the marriage contract to
the local civil registrar. You will then get the facsimile of the marriage certificate from
NSO after 1 to 2 months.
 Step 6: Proceed to the official civil wedding ceremony.
 
Part V. How to Get a Marriage Certificate in
the Philippines
A marriage certificate is an important document containing details of your marriage,
signed by the couple and witnesses or all in attendance. You can obtain this document
usually 1 to 2 months after the wedding ceremony (See Part IV).

To process and issue a marriage certificate, the NSO needs the following data from you:

 Complete name of the husband

 Complete name of the wife
 Date of marriage
 Place of marriage
 Complete name and address of the requesting party
 Number of copies needed
 Purpose of the certification
For more information about how to get a marriage certificate in the Philippines, please
visit this link.
 

Part VI. How to Get Married in the

Philippines as a U.S. Citizen
Any person, local or foreigner, who has decided to get married in the Philippines is
required to submit specific requirements. In the case of U.S. citizens, a marriage
license will not be issued unless you already secured a Certificate of Legal Capacity to
Marry.

However, the U.S. Consular Officers cannot make any official certification about your
eligibility to marry a person in the Philippines. What they can only provide is
an Affidavit In Lieu of Certificate of Legal Capacity to Marry.
Some local registrars–specifically in Makati City, Quezon City, and Davao City–refuse to
accept this document as an alternative to Philippine document. Therefore, it is your
responsibility, not the U.S. Embassy’s, to verify with the local registrar the specific
documents they require.

You can get the Affidavit In Lieu of Certificate of Legal Capacity to Marry either from the
U.S. Embassy in Manila or U.S. Consular Agency in Cebu. The latter is open from
Monday through Friday at 9 AM to 11 AM. Take note that this is by appointment ONLY.
You must do this in person and you don’t need to bring your fiance/fiancee with you.
To book an appointment for a Legal Capacity to Marry, here are the following steps:

Step 1:Book an appointment through this website. Select “Request notarial and other
services not listed above.” Print the confirmation of your appointment.
Step 2: During your appointment, don’t forget to bring your confirmation printout
together with your U.S. passport. Other requirements include death certificates and
divorce decrees that show you are free to marry. Also bring $50 (or the Philippine peso
equivalent) or credit card. No need for your fiance/fiancee to appear.
Note: U.S. military personnel should directly contact their personnel office for a list of
additional requirements.
Once you have obtained the Affidavit in Lieu of a Certificate of Legal Capacity to Marry,
you can now apply for a marriage license (see Part II) at the local civil registrar of a city
or municipality where either of you habitually resides.

After that, you and your partner can already marry in a church wedding (see Part III for
complete list of requirements) or civil wedding  (see Part IV for complete list of
requirements).

Part VII. How to Get Married in the

Philippines with a Foreigner
If you’re a Filipino who is planning to marry a foreigner (US. citizen or any other
nationality), take note that there are basic documentary requirements that you need
to obtain. This section will teach you everything you need to know to marry a foreigner
in the Philippines.
What You Need:
In order to apply for a marriage license, your foreign spouse should first obtain a
Certificate of Legal Capacity to Marry from the Embassy/Consulate of his/her country
here in the Philippines. Although it may vary depending on your foreign spouse’s
originating country, here are the following requirements for the Certificate of Legal
Capacity to Marry:

 Certificate of No Impediment (CNI) to Marry – obtainable from the Registrar’s

Office in the prospective foreign spouse’s place of residence.
 Original copy or certified true copy of birth certificate.
 Original copy or certified true copy of divorce decree absolute or
death  certificate of deceased spouse, if applicable.
 A Moral Character Reference, which takes the form of a letter or certificate from
a person of authority, a social worker, health or education officer, or a church
minister who has direct personal knowledge of the prospective foreign spouse’s
character as well as background.