Eheregister, Beurkundung einer Heirat im Ausland durch ein deutsches Standesamt

• § 34 Personenstandsgesetz (PStG) – Eheschließung im Ausland
• Verordnung (EU) 2016/1191 (EU_ApostilleVO)
• Sächsisches Kostenverzeichnis (SächsKVZ), Lfd. Nr. 75 Personenstandsrecht, öffentliches Namensrecht

If you got married abroad, you can apply to the registry office in your home town for the marriage to be subsequently notarised in the German marriage register (subsequent notarisation).

There is no obligation for subsequent certification - properly issued marriage certificates from abroad are generally recognised in Germany. However, subsequent entry in the marriage register can be advantageous because the local registry office can then issue you with a German marriage certificate. Any translations and legalisations of the foreign certificate are therefore not necessary.

Contact point

The registry office of the town or municipality is responsible for notarisation,

• in which you have or last had your place of residence or
• Have your habitual residence.

If this does not apply to you, please contact the registry office I in Berlin:

->Registry Office I in Berlin
Amt24-Informationen

• Certificate of marriage concluded abroad, if necessary with certification by the competent foreign authority (apostille) or legalisation by the German diplomatic mission abroad
• valid identity card, passport or travel document
• certificate of naturalisation, certificate of citizenship, if applicable
• Translations of all documents in a foreign language by sworn translators in Germany

Notes:

• No further legalisation is required for certain public documents from another EU member state.
• In the case of civil status documents from another EU member state, it is possible to obtain translation assistance from the issuing authority at the same time. Apply for the translation and indicate the country in which you wish to use the document. A translation by an interpreter in your home country is then generally no longer required.

Further documents (additional)

If the couple were born in Germany

• the birth certificates

If the spouses were born abroad

• the birth certificates with certification by the competent foreign authority (apostille) or legalisation by the German diplomatic mission abroad

If one of the spouses has been married before

• notarised copy from the marriage register of the last previous marriage with a note of dissolution
• alternatively or in the case of previous marriages abroad: proof of the conclusion and dissolution of all previous marriages - for example, marriage certificates, death certificates, all divorce judgements (complete and with a note from the court stating when the judgement became legally binding / "final judgement")
• recognition of the foreign divorce by the President of the Higher Regional Court, if applicable

If one spouse has already entered into a registered civil partnership:

• Proof of the establishment and dissolution of all civil partnerships

A marriage concluded abroad can only be entered in the German marriage register if it was legally valid. Furthermore, it must not contradict German law.

The subsequent notarisation of the marriage is possible for

• german nationals
• Stateless persons, homeless foreigners or foreign refugees within the meaning of the Convention relating to the Status of Refugees with habitual residence in Germany

Eligible applicants

• each spouse

are both deceased

• their parents
• their children

• Notarisation of a marriage concluded abroad: EUR 100.00
• Additionally:
  • if foreign law is to be taken into account, for each law to be observed: EUR 35.00
  • if the review of a foreign judgement in matrimonial matters or civil partnership matters is to be carried out by the registry office: EUR 35.00
  • if an application for recognition of a foreign judgement in matrimonial matters is to be submitted to the state administration of justice: EUR 33.00
  • if a preliminary examination is carried out with regard to the decision in matrimonial matters for the submission of an application for exemption from the obligation to provide a certificate of no impediment to marriage to the competent Higher Regional Court: EUR 30.00
• Copy of the marriage certificate:
  • one copy: EUR 15.00
  • each additional copy, if requested at the same time: EUR 7.00

Note: The fee depends on the nationality of the spouses at the time of the marriage.

Please call the registry office in advance for details of the procedures and documents required.

• Gather the necessary documents and visit the registry office.
• The registrar will check whether notarisation by a German registry office is possible.
• If the requirements are met, the entry can be made in the marriage register.

If required, the registry office will issue you with a marriage certificate once the entry has been made in the register.

Since 1 January 2009, certified copies from the family register are no longer issued - the registry office continues to keep the data from the family register as marriage entries.

If you require proof, please request a marriage certificate.