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Who needs a certificate of no impediment?

If you wish to marry abroad as a German citizen, the requirements for marriage are determined by German law.

You can also apply for a German certificate of no impediment to marriage if you are a stateless person, a homeless foreigner 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.

This regulation is intended to prevent the marriage from being recognized abroad but not in Germany. It is particularly important for any future children that a marriage entered into abroad is also recognized in the country of origin of the German parent.

For this reason, you must always submit a German certificate of no impediment to marriage to the foreign office where you got married. This certificate of no impediment to marriage confirms that there is no impediment to marriage under German law.

If you have more than one nationality, the law of the country with which you are most closely connected will apply.

• Proof of identity, nationality and parentage, marital status and, if applicable, dissolution of previous marriage(s)
• All documents must be submitted in the original. The registry office will provide information on the form in which the documents can be used (e.g. with an apostille or legalization).

The application for a certificate of no impediment to marriage requires German citizenship.

You can also apply for a German certificate of no impediment to marriage if you are a stateless person, a homeless foreign national 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 marry abroad.

The application can only be made via the registry office.

Preliminary and status inquiries should also not be addressed to the Higher Regional Court, but exclusively to the registry office.

Apply for the certificate to be issued at a German registry office.

• Find out from the foreign registry office where you are getting married whether a German certificate of no impediment to marriage is required
• Apply to the German registry office for the form for issuing the certificate of no impediment to marriage (application form).
• The registrar will prepare the application and advise you on the documents still required in individual cases.
• The registrar examines and decides on the outcome of your application and issues the certificate of no impediment to marriage after a successful examination

Online application:

• To enable the registry office to confirm your eligibility to marry under German law, enter your personal details in the online form and upload the required supporting documents. This will allow the registry office to contact you after an initial review of your application and inform you which original documents must be submitted.
• Please note that you will incur fees for the application in accordance with the scale of fees. If the certificate of no impediment to marriage is sent by post, additional postage costs may apply. The postage costs may only be charged afterwards. The costs will be higher if the certificate is sent abroad.

• Application for a court decision

Deadline: 1 month

A certificate of no impediment to marriage is an official certificate confirming that there are no impediments to marriage under German law to a marriage abroad between two persons, at least one of whom is also a German citizen, i.e. in particular that there is no lack of capacity to marry or no prohibition of marriage.

You can also apply for a German certificate of matrimonial capacity if you are a stateless person, homeless foreigner or 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 matrimonial capacity to marry abroad.

The registry office of the place of residence is responsible

Forms available: Yes, at the registry office

Written form required: Yes

Informal application possible: No

Personal appearance necessary: Yes