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To enter into a marriage or civil partnership abroad, German citizens may require a certificate of no impediment to marriage. This also applies to foreign nationals who wish to marry in Germany.

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.

Getting married as a foreigner in Germany:

If you want to get married in Germany as a foreigner, you must present a certificate of no impediment to marriage from the country of which you are a citizen; this is a requirement of German marriage law. In this certificate, the competent home authority must confirm that there is no legal impediment to marriage under your home law. Nationals of countries whose law does not provide for a certificate of no impediment to marriage require instead a formal exemption from the obligation to provide a certificate of no impediment to marriage; this exemption is granted by the President of the Higher Regional Court. Please ask the registry office for details.

Getting married abroad as a German:

If you are a German citizen and wish to marry or establish a civil partnership abroad, please enquire with the competent foreign authority as to whether a certificate of no impediment to marriage is required there. The certificate is issued by the registry office of your German place of residence if there are no obstacles to the intended marriage or civil partnership under German law. Due to international treaties, especially with our immediate neighboring countries, there are some special features in this area about which your registry office can inform you. The above also applies to homeless foreigners, persons entitled to asylum as well as foreign refugees and stateless persons with habitual residence in Germany.

As a rule, the identity card or passport of the spouses is required. Additional documents may also be required. It is best to seek advice.

If no exemption from fees is provided for within the framework of intergovernmental agreements, the issuing of a certificate of no impediment to marriage for Germans costs 52.00 euros, if foreign law is also to be observed 64.00 to 127.00 euros.

Obtaining a certificate of no impediment to marriage for foreign nationals costs 52.00 euros.

The certificate of matrimonial capacity for Germans to marry abroad is valid for a period of six months from the date of issue. The validity of the certificate of no impediment to marriage for foreigners for marriage in Germany depends on the duration stated in the certificate of no impediment to marriage; however, it is valid for no longer than six months.

Exemption from the requirement to produce a certificate of no impediment to marriage by the President of the Higher Regional Court is also only valid for a period of six months.

• Issuing a certificate of no impediment to marriage
• 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.
• As a rule, the identity card or passport of the spouses is required. Additional documents may also be required.
• If no exemption from fees is provided for within the framework of intergovernmental agreements, the issuing of a certificate of no impediment to marriage costs 52.00 euros for Germans and 64.00 to 127.00 euros if foreign law is also to be observed. Obtaining a certificate of no impediment to marriage for foreign nationals costs 52.00 euros.
• responsible: The registry office of the German partner's place of residence or habitual abode is responsible for issuing a certificate of no impediment to marriage for Germans.

The registry office of the German partner's place of residence or habitual abode is responsible for issuing a certificate of no impediment to marriage for Germans.

As a foreigner, you can also obtain information there about the certificate of no impediment to marriage in your home country, which you must then obtain from your competent home authority.