Notification of a marriage contracted abroad
If German nationals have entered into a marriage or civil partnership abroad, they can have this marriage or civil partnership subsequently certified in Germany.
Course description
Foreign marriage and civil partnership certificates are subject to the free assessment of evidence by German authorities and courts. The regulations for marriage are similar in most countries. Civil partnerships, on the other hand, are regulated very differently. It is therefore difficult for many authorities to assess the legal consequences of a civil partnership entered into abroad, and problems can also arise if the name of the parties is incorrectly stated in a foreign document from the perspective of German law.
In this case, it makes sense to have the marriage/ civil partnership re-certified at the German registry office. All data will be checked and, if necessary, any missing declarations regarding the married name will be made up, and marriage/partnership certificates will be issued from the marriage/partnership register created on application, which are conclusive for and against anyone in Germany.
However, there is no obligation for subsequent notarisation.
A proper foreign marriage or civil partnership certificate is valid as proof of marriage/partnership.
Prerequisites
After marrying abroad, you must have your marital status changed in the register of residents. The Citizens Office is responsible for this.
The following information from the registry office is aimed at German nationals and equivalent persons: upon request, your marriage or civil partnership concluded abroad can be entered in the German civil status register. This is particularly useful if your name or other details are not entered correctly in the foreign certificate. You will then receive a German marriage or civil partnership certificate and the application is admissible if at least one of the two parties has German citizenship. The same applies to stateless persons, homeless foreigners and foreign refugees.
Spouses/partners are eligible to apply. If both are already deceased, their parents and children.
Required documents
Please use our contact form to submit your documents in advance. These can be
- Birth certificate of the spouses/partners
- Foreign marriage / civil partnership certificate
- Court order on the dissolution of the marriage/ civil partnership
- Other documents relating to individual cases
- Foreign-language documents are authorised in multilingual form or together with a translation by a publicly appointed and sworn translator
Questions & Answers
appointments at the registry offices can only be made at the registry office responsible for your home address. Therefore, please check which registry office is responsible for your request before booking. You can find out which registry office is responsible at the bottom of this page. If you book an appointment at the wrong registry office, your request cannot be processed there. In this case, the appointment must be cancelled or rejected on the spot.
Legal basis
§ 34 PStG