Requirements for obtaining a Marriage License in the Philippines

APPLICATION for MARRIAGE LICENSES AND REGISTRATION OF CERTIFICATE OF MARRIAGE 

Who May Apply:

1. Single, Above 18 Years of Age.
2. Widower or any person allowed by court order/decree with no legal impediments to enter into a marriage.
3. Resident of the City where the application is being submitted.

Note: Persons below 21 years old need parental consent.
Persons 21 years and below 25 years old need advice from parents.

Requisites in Applying for a Marriage License

1.  Original birth certificate or baptismal certificates of the contracting parties or copies of such documents duly attested by the persons having custody of the original.

If either of the contracting parties is unable to produce his birth or baptismal certificate or a certified copy of either because of the destruction or loss of the original, or if it is shown by an affidavit of such party or of any other person that such birth or baptismal certificate has not yet been received though the same has been required of the person having custody thereof at least fifteen (15) days prior to the date of the application, such party may furnish in lieu thereof his current residence certificate or an instrument drawn up and sworn to before the civil registrar concerned or any public official authorized to administer oaths.

The presentation of the birth or baptismal certificate shall not be required if the parents of the contracting parties appear personally before the civil registrar concerned and swear to the correctness of the lawful age of such parties.

2.  If either of the contracting parties has been previously married, the applicant shall be required to furnish, instead of the birth or baptismal certificate, the death certificate of the deceased spouse or the judicial decree of the absolute divorce, or the judicial decree of annulment or declaration of nullity of his or her previous marriage.

3.  In case either or both of the contracting parties, are between the ages of eighteen and twenty-one, a consent to their marriage of their father, mother, surviving parent or guardian, or persons having legal charge of them, in the order mentioned shall be obtained.

4. Any contracting party between the age of twenty-one and twenty-five shall be obliged to seek parental advice upon the intended marriage. If it is unfavorable, the marriage license shall not be issued till after three months following the completion of the publication of the application thereof.

5. In the case where parental consent or parental advice is needed, the parties concerned shall attach a certificate issued by proper authorities to the effect that the contracting parties have undergone marriage counseling.

6. When either or both of the contracting parties are citizens of a foreign country, it shall be necessary for them before a marriage license could be obtained, to submit a certificate of legal capacity to contract marriage, issued by their respective diplomatic or consular officials.

7. The license shall be valid in any part of the Philippines for a period of one hundred twenty days from the date of issue, and shall be deemed automatically cancelled at the expiration of said period if the contracting parties have not made use of it.

Number of Copies to be Accomplished


It shall be the duty of the contracting parties to accomplish four (4) copies of the Application for Marriage License for registration. After the registration, the civil registrar shall distribute copies of the document bearing the civil registry number as follows: first copy to the registrant; second copy to the Office of the Civil Registrar-General; third copy shall be retained for his file; and fourth copy to the solemnizing office

If applicant is a Foreigner, requirements are:
1. Valid Passport

2. Certificate of legal capacity to marry issued by their respective diplomatic or consular officials
3. If divorced, copy of Final Decree of Absolute Divorce
4. Certificate of Family Planning & Marriage Counseling & Responsible Parenthood.




Registration Fees:
Application form - P50.00
Filing Fee - 100.00
Marriage License Fee - 100.00
Registration of Marriage Certificate - 70.00
Issuance of Marriage License should be released after 10 days posting after the Marriage Application was filed. License expires 120 days from the date license was issued.
Registration of Certificate of Marriage shall be in four copies distributed as follows:
1st copy- Local civil Registry
2nd copy- OCRG-NSO
3rd copy- Solemnizing officer/Church
4th copy- Couple