Initial information on marriage with a foreign connection

If one of the future spouses has a foreign connection and wishes to marry in Germany or abroad, different individual documents are required.

Description

If you want to get married in Germany or need a certificate of no impediment to marriage for a marriage abroad and one of the partners has a foreign connection, the documents you need to submit can vary greatly. This is why you need a personalised application.

Before you can get married, you must register your marriage at the relevant registry office. This procedure checks whether all requirements are met or whether there are any obstacles to marriage. You must prove your "eligibility to marry" with various documents.

Both future spouses must be of legal age and legally competent. They must not be too closely related and must not be living in an existing marriage or registered civil partnership.

If you do not have German citizenship, the marriage requirements according to the laws of your home country must also be observed.

Births, marriages or divorces abroad may be registered with different authorities than in Germany.

Foreign divorce decrees may not be recognised in Germany without further ado because the procedures in the various countries can be very different.

All of this must be taken into account by the registry office where you want to get married.

Prerequisites

A so-called marriage with a foreign connection exists if one of the future spouses

  • has a foreign nationality
  • was not born in Germany or was adopted abroad
  • has entered into a previous marriage/ civil partnership abroad
  • a previous marriage/ civil partnership was divorced abroad

The laws of the home country or the country in which the birth, marriage, civil partnership or divorce took place must then be observed. It is also taken into account which documents can be obtained from the respective country.

Required documents

We ask for your understanding that due to the large number of cases with an international dimension, it is not possible to provide advice by telephone. Please use our contact form to obtain binding information on the required documents. If you require a certificate of no impediment to marriage, live abroad and your last place of residence was Munich, please select Munich or Pasing in the quick check question "Place of residence". Then please enter your current address.

If you have problems with the contact form or do not understand the content, you can alternatively book an appointment for a fee-based personal consultation. Please enter your registration address below. You will find the link to book an appointment online under the contact details of the relevant registry office.

Duration & Costs

Processing time

The registry office will analyse your details and you will receive information that is tailored to your personal circumstances. We therefore ask for your patience.

Fees

Written information about required documents: 25 euros

The information fee is offset against the fee for the marriage registration or the certificate of no impediment to marriage if

  • the application is submitted to the same registry office
  • the payment receipt is also submitted

Payment methods available

Questions & Answers

Can I obtain the information from any registry office in Munich?
No. The registry offices in Munich and Munich-Pasing have separate districts. The jurisdiction for marriage registration depends on your place of residence.
Only the Munich-Pasing registry office is responsible for Munich districts 21 (Pasing - Obermenzing), 22 (Aubing - Lochhausen - Langwied) and 23 (Allach - Untermenzing).
For all other districts, only the Munich registry office is responsible.

Legal basis

§§ Sections 12, 13, 39 of the Civil Status Act

Related services

Change in the marriage or civil partnership register

Would you like to change or correct your entry in the marriage or civil partnership register? Then you can report this online.

Conversion of registered civil partnership into marriage

If you are in a registered civil partnership, you can have it converted into a marriage.

Certificate of no impediment to marriage

Do you want to get married abroad? Then you will need a certificate of no impediment to marriage in many countries.

Registration of a marriage

Before the marriage, the engaged couple must register their marriage at the relevant registry office.

Marriage with a foreign partner

If you want to get married in Munich but do not have a main residence or secondary residence in Munich, you must fulfil certain requirements.

Counselling and equality for LGBTIQ people

We offer counselling and information on the topics of sexual and gender identity.

Notification of a marriage contracted abroad

If German nationals have entered into a marriage or civil partnership abroad, they can have this subsequently certified in Germany.

Change of name in a civil partnership

You can choose a joint surname after the civil partnership has been established or discard it again after the civil partnership has been dissolved.

Registration of a marriage with a foreign connection

If you want to get married, you must register this in advance at the relevant registry office. If you have a foreign connection, this must be taken into account.

Change of name after marriage or divorce

Have you got married and would like to choose a joint surname or give it up again after the marriage has ended?