Nachbeurkundung einer im Ausland geschlossenen Ehe

If you got married abroad, you can have your marriage registered retrospectively at a German registry office.

Marriages contracted abroad are generally recognized in Germany. However, German nationals have the option of having such marriages entered in the marriage register of their German registry office upon application; this also applies to stateless persons, homeless foreigners and foreign refugees with a habitual residence in Germany.

Please contact the registry office for information on the documents required for the application for subsequent certification of a marriage concluded abroad. The following are usually required

• Marriage certificate (marriage certificate) of the marriage concluded abroad, if necessary with certification by the competent foreign authority (apostille) or legalization by the German diplomatic mission abroad,
• Valid identity card, passport or travel document,
• naturalization certificate, citizenship certificate, if applicable,
• Translations of all documents in foreign languages by sworn translators in Germany.

Other additional documents required:

if the spouses were born in Germany:

• the birth certificates.

If the spouses were born abroad:

• the birth certificates, if necessary with certification by the competent foreign authority (apostille) or legalization by the German diplomatic mission abroad.

If one spouse has already been married:

• Certified 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 decrees (complete and with a note from the court stating when the judgment became legally binding / "final judgment"),
• If applicable, recognition of the foreign divorce by the President of the Higher Regional Court.

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

• Proof of the establishment and dissolution of all civil partnerships.

The subsequent certification of a marriage concluded abroad costs EUR 64.00 to EUR 127.00; the amount of the fee depends on the administrative effort in the individual case.

There are no deadlines to be observed.

• Marriage Registration of marriages concluded abroad by Germans without domestic residence
• Properly issued marriage certificates (marriage certificates) from abroad are generally recognized in Germany. There is no obligation for subsequent certification.
• 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 notarizations of the foreign certificate will therefore no longer be necessary.
• The subsequent certification of a marriage concluded abroad costs between 64.00 and 127.00 euros; the amount of the fee depends on the administrative effort involved in the individual case.
• Responsible: Registry office of the place of residence

Contact the registry office of your place of residence.

Informal application - each of the two spouses is entitled to apply; if both are deceased, their parents and children are also entitled to apply.