Administrative services A-Z

Forms:
Online process available:
Written form required:
Personal appearance required:

If you want to marry in Germany as a foreign national, the requirements for marriage are determined by the law that applies in your home country.

This regulation is intended to prevent the marriage from being recognized in Germany but not in your home country. It is of great importance, especially for future children, that a marriage contracted in Germany is also recognized in the country of origin of the foreign parent.

Therefore, you must always submit a certificate of marriageability from your home country. With this certificate of marriageability, the competent authority in your home country confirms that there are no obstacles to your intended marriage under the law of your home country.

If you have more than one nationality, the law of the country with which you have the closest connection is to be applied. If you also have German citizenship, this takes precedence.

In individual cases, you can apply for an exemption from the obligation to present a certificate of marriageability. This is done at the President of the competent Higher Regional Court in whose district you have registered the marriage.

This is possible for you if you belong to one of the following groups of persons:

• Nationals of states whose authorities do not issue certificates of marriageability.
• Nationals of states that issue certificates of marriageability, but if this is objectively impossible. This applies, among other things, to situations in which foreign law denies marriage for reasons that are incompatible with the freedom of marriage guaranteed by the Basic Law, for example, if the foreign home law prohibits remarriage after a divorce.

They do not need a certificate of marriageability and exemption if they belong to the following group of persons:

• Recognized persons entitled to asylum,
• foreign refugees,
• homeless foreigners, and
• Stateless persons with permanent residence in Germany.

Their status must be proven by an appropriate travel document.

If you apply for an exemption from the certificate of marriageability, the President of the Higher Regional Court will check in place of the foreign authority whether there is an obstacle to marriage under your home country's law or whether a requirement for marriage is missing. There must also be no obstacle to marriage under German law. Thus, it may have to be checked whether any previous marriages have been effectively dissolved in this context.

The exemption is valid for a period of 6 months.

To obtain an exemption from presenting or proving a certificate of marriageability, the following requirements must be met:

• You have registered a marriage with the relevant registry office.
• There must be no impediment to marriage under German law, for example:
  • if one of the persons wishing to enter into marriage with each other is already married to a third person or is living in a civil partnership
  • if the persons are related to each other in a straight line as well as between siblings of the same parents or siblings who have only one parent in common
  • if any previous marriages have not been validly dissolved
  • if one of the persons has been previously adopted by the other person

To apply for the exemption, you will need:

• Proofs in the original, certified copies are usually not sufficient:
  • on identity, nationality and parentage and marital status
    • Passport,
    • identity card or
    • suitable identification document
  • If necessary for dissolution of previous marriages: Marriage certificate and, for example, death certificate, transcript from the marriage register or divorce decree with legal effect.
• The documents must not be older than 6 months - from the time they are issued to the time they are presented to the registry office. Your registry office will inform you in which form (for example, with apostille or legalization) the documents can be used.
• Proof of earnings for both fiancées, showing the monthly net income, for the calculation of the processing fee for the court decision
• Current residence certificates from the German registration office with explicit indication of marital status for both fiancées, provided they have their residence in the Federal Republic of Germany
• For foreign fiancées still residing abroad: an original certificate of residence issued by the competent home authority with a translation into the German language

• For the exemption from the presentation/proof of the certificate of marriageability: EUR 15.00 to EUR 305.00.
• In case of refusal or withdrawal of the application: half of the fee for granting the exemption, but at least EUR 15.00

You can only submit the application for exemption via the registry office. You also do not have to address preliminary and factual inquiries to the Higher Regional Court, but exclusively to the registry office.

• Register your marriage at the registry office responsible for you.
• Apply there for exemption from presentation/proof of the certificate of marriageability (application form). It is not possible to apply directly to the Higher Regional Court. The registrar's office is your sole point of contact in the exemption procedure.
• The registrar's office prepares the application and advises you in individual cases on any documents that are still required.
• The registrar's office forwards your application with the complete documents and evidence to the competent Higher Regional Court.
• The president of the Higher Regional Court will check in place of the foreign authority whether there is an obstacle to the marriage according to your home country's law or whether a prerequisite for marriage is missing.
• You will receive a decision informing you of the decision on your application.
• You will also receive a notification of costs. Pay the fees.

You do not have to observe any deadlines. However, be sure to plan for the possible duration of the procedure in your wedding preparations.

the registry office responsible for you

• Article 13 Introductory Act to the German Civil Code (EGBGB)
• §§ Sections 1306 to 1309 of the German Civil Code (BGB)
• § Section 4 of the Judicial Administration Costs Act (JVKostG)
• Schedule of Costs, No. 1330 in Annex to Section 4 (1) of the Judicial Administration Costs Act (JVKostG)
• Article 12 Geneva Refugee Convention (GRC)
• § Section 12 (3) of the Civil Status Act (PStG)
• § Section 23 Introductory Act to the Courts Constitution Act (EGGVG)

• Information on the certificate of marital capacity Exemption for foreigners in the portal of the Ordinary Jurisdiction of the State of Brandenburg

Federal Ministry of the Interior, for Construction and Home Affairs