Issuance of a marriage certificate for German citizens with residence or habitual abode abroad

Prerequisites

• You must have German citizenship.
• You must be domiciled and habitually resident abroad
• The intended marriage is to take place abroad
• According to German law, no impediment to marriage may stand in the way of the intended marriage

Documents required

The requirements, type and format of the evidence to be provided and the examination of the marriage requirements are based on German law as with a German citizen.

The following must be proven by means of public documents:

• The marital status
• Residence, habitual abode
• Nationality
• The birth
• As well as, if applicable, the last marriage and/or civil partnership and their dissolution
• Possible name changes

Please note

• Forms available: no
• Written form required: Yes
• Informal application possible: No
• Personal appearance required: No

Deadlines

Once issued, the marriage certificate is valid for a period of six months.

Procedure

• You apply for the issuance of a marriage certificate at registry office 1 in Berlin.
• If the examination shows that there are no obstacles to the marriage under German law and if the required personal information has been provided for both spouses, the registry office 1 in Berlin will issue the requested certificate of marriageability.

Processing time

The processing time depends on the individual case.

Fees

There may be costs for the issuance of a marriage certificate. Please contact registry office 1 in Berlin.

Legal remedies

Application to the court in Berlin responsible for civil status cases.

Legal basis

• § 13 Civil Status Act (PStG)
  https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/pstg/__13.html


• § 39 Civil Status Act (PStG)
  https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/pstg/__39.html


• § 1309 paragraph 1 Civil Code (BGB)
  https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/bgb/__1309.html


• Article 13 paragraph 1 Introductory Act to the Civil Code (EGBGB)
  https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/bgbeg/BJNR006049896.html#BJNR006049896BJNG032101123


• Regulation (EU) 2016/1191 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 6 July 2016 to promote the free movement of citizens by simplifying the requirements for the presentation of certain public documents within the European Union and amending Regulation (EU) No. 1024 /2012
  https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/DE/TXT/?uri=CELEX:32016R1191


• Regulation (EU) No. 1024/2012 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 25 October 2012 on administrative cooperation using the Internal Market Information System and repealing Commission Decision 2008/49/EC (“IMI Regulation”)
  https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/DE/TXT/?qid=1672381063881&uri=CELEX:32012R1024

If you want to marry abroad, it may be that there is a legal standard in the intended marriage state that requires the submission of such a certificate.
The authority for issuing a marriage certificate for German citizens with domicile or habitual abode abroad lies with registry office 1 in Berlin.