Marrying across countries: the rules on this page
Marrying in each country
- Philippines: Apply for a marriage licence at the civil registrar where the Filipino partner lives. The application is posted publicly for 10 days (you shouldn't leave the country meanwhile); the licence is then valid for 120 days anywhere in the Philippines. https://mexicope.dfa.gov.ph/consular-section/requirements-for-foreigners-marrying-filipinos-in-the-philippines
- France: One of you must live in the town (or a parent must). The banns are posted for 10 days at the town hall, and the civil ceremony there is the legal one. https://www.service-public.fr
- United Kingdom: Both of you give notice at the register office where you live, after living there at least 7 full days; the wedding can be 29 days later. If one of you is subject to immigration control, you give notice together at a designated office, and the Home Office can extend the wait to 71 days. https://www.gov.uk/marriages-civil-partnerships
- Thailand: Register the marriage at a district office (amphur or khet) with your legalised papers and two witnesses — only the registration makes it legal. Some offices ask for extra papers: call ahead. https://www.gov.uk/guidance/confirm-youre-free-to-get-married-in-thailand
- Japan: Submit the marriage registration (kon'in todoke) at a city or ward office with two witnesses' signatures — there's no minimum stay. You receive a certificate of acceptance. https://www.moj.go.jp
- United States: Get a marriage licence from the county clerk where you'll marry; waiting periods and validity differ by state. https://www.usa.gov
- Germany: Register your intent to marry at the registry office (Standesamt) where one of you lives; the office checks your papers before setting a date. https://www.auswaertiges-amt.de
- Elsewhere: Ask the civil registry where you'll marry for its notice period and papers — foreigners usually need proof they're free to marry.
Before the wedding — papers
- As a Filipino: PSA birth certificate and certificate of no marriage (CENOMAR), and the pre-marriage counselling certificate; parental consent (18–21) or advice (21–25) if young.
- As a French citizen: a copy of your birth certificate under 3 months old, ID and proof of address.
- As a British citizen: passport and proof of address — you give notice in the district where you live.
- As a Thai citizen: ID card and household registration (tabien baan).
- As a Japanese citizen: your family register copy (koseki) if you don't register in your home town.
- As a US citizen: ID for the county marriage licence.
- As a German citizen: a current certified copy from the birth register and proof of address.
- As a local citizen: your birth certificate and ID, as the civil registry asks.
- A certificate of legal capacity to contract marriage from your own embassy in the Philippines (bring your birth certificate and any divorce or death certificate) — required before the licence.
- US citizens: an affidavit in lieu of the certificate of legal capacity — it can be notarised locally in the Philippines; ask the civil registrar what it must include.
- A birth certificate under 6 months old (translated and legalised or apostilled), plus a certificate of custom and a certificate of single status from your embassy or consulate.
- A visa that lets you marry in the UK (usually a marriage visitor visa) unless you're exempt, your passport and proof of address.
- An affirmation of freedom to marry and a certified passport copy from your embassy in Thailand — then a certified Thai translation, legalised by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
- A certificate of legal capacity to marry (kon'in yōken gubi shōmeisho) from your embassy, with a Japanese translation.
- US citizens: the US embassy stopped issuing the marriage affidavit on 1 September 2025 — bring a notarised, apostilled single-status affidavit or a state certificate from the US.
- Your passport for the county marriage licence; rules differ by state.
- A certificate of no impediment from your country (or an exemption from the Higher Regional Court), with a certified translation.
- Proof that you're free to marry (a certificate of no impediment or single status) from your country, apostilled or legalised, and translated.
- French citizens marrying abroad: first get a certificate of capacity to marry from the French embassy or consulate for the place of marriage — banns are posted for 10 days and you may be interviewed.
- Filipinos marrying abroad: get a certificate of legal capacity to contract marriage from the Philippine embassy or consulate there (posted for 10 working days).
- From the French embassy there: a certificate of capacity to marry — after 10 days of banns and a possible interview. It's also the certificate of legal capacity the local office asks for (in Thailand, have it translated and legalised by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs).
- From the Philippine embassy or consulate there: a certificate of legal capacity to contract marriage (posted for 10 working days) — it's the certificate the local office asks for (in Thailand, have it translated and legalised by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs).
- Germans marrying abroad: ask your registry office (Standesamt) for a certificate of no impediment (Ehefähigkeitszeugnis) if the country asks for one.
After the wedding — make it count at home
- French citizens: ask the consulate to transcribe the marriage into French civil records (2–6 months; about 2 if you got the certificate of capacity first). You'll need the transcription for the French family book and a spouse visa.
- Filipinos: file a Report of Marriage with the Philippine embassy or consulate so it's recorded with the PSA.
- Japanese citizens: submit the marriage registration at the embassy or your town office within 3 months so it appears in your family register.
- British citizens: nothing to register in the UK — keep the certificate (translated if needed).
- US citizens: nothing to register in the US — keep the certificate, apostilled if the country is a member.
- Germans: you can have the marriage recorded in a German register (Nachbeurkundung) — useful later for proof.
- Koreans: report the marriage (hon-in sin-go) through the embassy or in Korea.
- Ask your embassy whether you must register the marriage at home.
The visa that follows
Same-sex marriage is legal in: United Kingdom, Ireland, France, Germany, Spain, Portugal, Greece, Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, Austria, Switzerland, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Finland, Iceland, Malta, Slovenia, Estonia, Liechtenstein, Andorra, United States, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Uruguay, Cuba, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Taiwan, Thailand.
- In France the civil ceremony must come first — a religious ceremony alone isn't a marriage.
- A church wedding is legally valid if the officiant is authorised and you have the licence.
- A religious or traditional ceremony alone isn't a legal marriage — register at the district office.
- Only the registration at the city office makes you married — the ceremony is optional.
- Check whether a religious ceremony alone is legally valid there — usually you also need the civil registration.
- Bring the final divorce decree or the death certificate for every earlier marriage, with translations.
- A Filipino who divorced abroad needs the foreign divorce recognised by a Philippine court before remarrying; a Filipino whose marriage was in the Philippines needs an annulment or nullity decree.
- “Marriage agencies” that ask for money before you've met — a common romance scam.
- Online “proxy marriages” — many countries don't recognise them, and they can sink a spouse visa.
- Fixers promising to skip the posting period or the embassy certificate — the marriage can be void.