Prerequisites
- You must register the planned marriage at the registry office at the place of residence of one of the spouses.
- If you would like to get married in another registry office, you will receive a certificate from your local registry office confirming registration and verification of your ability to marry.
- If one of you speaks little or no German, you must bring a sworn interpreter.
Documents required
well in advance:
- Registration of the marriage at the registry office of the main or secondary residence of one of the spouses.
on the day of the marriage:
- Confirmation of the date from the registry office where the marriage is to take place,
- ID card or passport.
Please note
- The marriage usually takes place in the registry office. You can ask your registry office whether marriages outside the registry office are also offered and which locations are possible. Appointments are also offered on some Saturdays.
- It is not permitted to release pigeons in front of Hamburg's registry offices and town halls.
- You are not allowed to throw rice or other food in or in front of Hamburg's registry offices and town halls.
- In the event of an acute, life-threatening illness, your marriage can, under certain circumstances, be held at very short notice in hospital, a care facility or at home. The registry office at your place of residence is responsible for registering the marriage. Please contact your local registry office immediately by phone or email.
- Two foreign nationals can also marry before a marriage official duly authorized by the government of their home country in the form prescribed by the law of that country, provided that one of the engaged couple is a national of that country and neither of the parties to the marriage is also a German citizen. A marriage in a German registry office is then no longer necessary.
Deadlines
The marriage registration is valid for 6 months.
