Subsequent certification of a marriage contracted abroad

Contact the registry office of your place of residence.

Please contact the registry office for information on the documents required for the application for subsequent certification of a marriage concluded abroad. The following are usually required

• Marriage certificate (marriage certificate) of the marriage concluded abroad, if necessary with certification by the competent foreign authority (apostille) or legalization by the German diplomatic mission abroad,
• Valid identity card, passport or travel document,
• naturalization certificate, citizenship certificate, if applicable,
• Translations of all documents in foreign languages by sworn translators in Germany.

Other additional documents required:

if the spouses were born in Germany:

• the birth certificates.

If the spouses were born abroad:

• the birth certificates, if necessary with certification by the competent foreign authority (apostille) or legalization by the German diplomatic mission abroad.

If one spouse has already been married:

• Certified copy from the marriage register of the last previous marriage with a note of dissolution,
• alternatively or in the case of previous marriages abroad: proof of the conclusion and dissolution of all previous marriages - for example marriage certificates, death certificates, all divorce decrees (complete and with a note from the court stating when the judgment became legally binding / "final judgment"),
• If applicable, recognition of the foreign divorce by the President of the Higher Regional Court.

If one spouse has already entered into a registered civil partnership:

• Proof of the establishment and dissolution of all civil partnerships.

The subsequent certification of a marriage concluded abroad costs EUR 64.00 to EUR 127.00; the amount of the fee depends on the administrative effort in the individual case.

There are no deadlines to be observed.

• § Section 34 of the Civil Status Act (PStG)

Informal application - each of the two spouses is entitled to apply; if both are deceased, their parents and children are also entitled to apply.

The advantage of subsequent certification is that the German registry office can issue a German marriage certificate if required.

03.01.2023