Ehe: Nachbeurkundung von Eheschließungen im Ausland

You got married abroad and you are not sure if the marriage is valid here?

A marriage contracted abroad is recognized here if the regulations applicable in the country of marriage have been observed and the marriage was contracted before a legally authorized person. The marriage certificate is generally regarded as proof of this. If the certificate was not written in German, a translation is required in many cases. In the case of documents from some countries, the document should be provided with an apostille (authentication) or legalization. You can obtain more detailed information about this from us by telephone, in person or by e-mail.

In addition, you have the option of making a declaration regarding the use of your name in the marriage (see under "i Where can I find out more?").

You are not obliged to apply for the post-certification. But the post-certification has advantages, of course: You have the possibility to have a marriage certificate issued by us at any time, in case your foreign certificate is lost, and you have a German certificate as proof of your marriage, which makes it easier to deal with authorities and other institutions.

• Marriage certificate (marriage certificate)

  about the marriage concluded abroad, if necessary with authentication by the competent foreign authority (Apostille) or legalisation by the German mission abroad

• valid identity card, passport or travel document
• naturalisation certificate, nationality card, if applicable
• Translations of all documents in foreign languages by translators sworn in at home
• at the birth of the married couple in Germany:

  certified copies of birth registers from the registry offices of the places of birth

• at the birth of the spouses abroad:

  the birth certificates with authentication by the competent foreign authority (Apostille) or legalisation by the German mission abroad

• Has a spouse ever been married before:
  • 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 - e.g. marriage certificates, death certificates, all divorce decrees (complete and with a note from the court stating when the judgment became legally binding ("final judgment"))
  • Recognition of the foreign divorce by the President of the Higher Regional Court, if applicable
• Had a spouse already established a registered civil partnership:

  evidence of the establishment and dissolution of all civil partnerships

• further documentation

  Additional documents may be required in individual cases.

A subsequent certification is possible in the following cases:

• You have married abroad and one of you both has German citizenship or is a stateless person, a homeless foreigner or a foreign refugee, or
• You have married in front of an authorized person of a government of the state to which one of you belongs, where neither of you had German citizenship at the time of the marriage, e.g. two Turkish citizens who married at the Turkish Consulate General.
• One of you must be resident in Bremen.

• At least one spouse must appear in person at the registry office.
• The required documents must be compiled during the visit.
• The registrar checks whether the certification by a German registry office is possible.
• If the requirements are met, the entry can be made in the marriage register.
• If required, the registrar's office will issue a marriage certificate after the registration has taken place.

Notes/special features

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

If proof is required, marriage certificates can be requested in each case.

If the marriage was contracted abroad, an application can be made to the registry office in the place of origin for the marriage to be subsequently recorded in the German marriage register.