Ehefähigkeitszeugnis Ausstellung für Staatenlose, heimatlose Ausländer und anerkannte Flüchtlinge mit gewöhnlichem Aufenthalt im Inland

§ Section 39 of the Civil Status Act (PStG): "Certificate of no impediment to marriage"

A certificate of matrimonial capacity is a certificate issued by the competent German registry office for marriage abroad. It certifies that there are no obstacles to the intended marriage under German law.

A certificate of no impediment to marriage certifies that there are no legal obstacles to an intended marriage. Whether such a certificate is required depends on the law of the country in which the marriage is to take place.

If you wish to marry abroad, you must enquire with the competent foreign authority whether a certificate of no impediment to marriage is required there.

You can also apply for a German certificate of no impediment to marriage if you are a stateless person, a homeless foreigner, a person entitled to asylum or a foreign refugee within the meaning of the Convention relating to the Status of Refugees with habitual residence in Germany and you require the certificate of no impediment to marriage to get married abroad.

The certificate is issued by the registry office in whose jurisdiction the applicant has their place of residence or habitual abode.

Information on both spouses must always be provided in the certificate of no impediment to marriage, so that proof is also required from both fiancées.

• Valid identity card or passport of the spouses
• Proof must be provided in the form of public documents:
  • the marital status
  • domicile or habitual residence
  • nationality and
  • where applicable, the last marriages and/or civil partnerships and their dissolution

The registry office may require further documents. Ask the registry office for advice in advance.

You can apply for a German certificate of matrimonial capacity if you are a stateless person, a homeless foreigner, a person entitled to asylum or a foreign refugee within the meaning of the Convention relating to the Status of Refugees with habitual residence in Germany and you need the certificate of matrimonial capacity to get married abroad.

Furthermore, the same requirements must be met as when registering for marriage:

• You must both be of legal age.
• You must not be related to each other in a direct line or be full or half siblings.
• If you were already married or in a registered civil partnership, the previous marriage or civil partnership must have been dissolved.

• Examination of the marriage requirements when issuing a certificate of no impediment to marriage, if only German law is to be observed: 44 euros
• Examination of the marriage requirements if foreign law is to be observed: 70-140 euros (depending on the effort involved)
• In individual cases, the fees may increase (inclusion of an application for recognition of a foreign decision in matrimonial matters for submission to the competent judicial authority or review of a foreign decision in matrimonial or civil partnership matters by the registry office: 30 euros)

• Find out from the foreign office where you are getting married whether a German certificate of no impediment to marriage is required.
• Apply to the relevant German registry office for a certificate of no impediment to marriage.
• The relevant registry office will advise you on the documents still required in individual cases.
• Submit all required documents to the registry office.
• If there are no obstacles to marriage, the registry office will issue the certificate of no impediment.

Depending on the individual case.

The certificate of no impediment to marriage is valid for six months from the date of issue.

Application for a court decision.

Deadline: 1 month

A certificate of matrimonial capacity is a certificate issued by the competent German registry office for marriage abroad. It certifies that there are no obstacles to the intended marriage under German law.

The registry office in whose jurisdiction the person getting married has their place of residence (main or secondary residence) or habitual abode is responsible.