Subsequent certification of a marriage contracted abroad

If you got married abroad, you can have your marriage subsequently entered in a German marriage register under certain conditions.

There is no formal recognition procedure for foreign marriages in Germany. If you got married abroad, you are therefore not obliged to register your marriage in a German marriage register.

However, to make it easier to deal with authorities and other institutions, it may be advantageous for you to register in a German marriage register at your local registry office. You can then have a German marriage certificate issued there. This proves your marriage and provides information about your name.

A marriage concluded abroad is recognized in Germany if the regulations applicable in the country of marriage were observed and the marriage was concluded before a legally authorized person.

Marriage certificates from abroad are generally recognized in Germany in the case of a marriage that is valid in German law, but are often only accepted if their authenticity has been established in a special procedure. For this purpose, an apostille or legalization is helpful, which confirms the authenticity of the document. If the document was not drawn up in German, a translation is often required.

Notes:

• The registry office in whose jurisdiction you have or last had your place of residence or habitual abode in Germany is responsible for subsequent notarization.
• If you have never lived in Germany, the "Landesamt für Bürger- und Ordnungsangelegenheiten - Standesamt I in Berlin" is responsible for you.

Contact the registry office of your place of residence.

• 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 or use of an ID function
• if applicable, naturalization certificate, certificate of citizenship
• if the spouses were born in Germany:
  • certified copies of the birth registers from the registry offices of the places of birth
• if the spouses were born abroad:
  • Birth certificates with certification by the competent foreign authority (apostille) or legalization by the German diplomatic mission abroad
• one spouse has been married before:
  • certified copy from the German marriage register of the last 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, with proof of authenticity (apostille or legalization)
    • complete and with a note from the court stating when the judgment became legally binding ("note on legal force")
  • Recognition of the foreign divorce by the President of the Higher Regional Court, if applicable
• one spouse had already established a registered civil partnership:
  • Proof of the establishment and dissolution of all civil partnerships
• Translations of all documents in a foreign language by sworn translators in Germany
• Further documents may be required in individual cases

• The marriage was entered into abroad and at least one of the two persons has German citizenship or is recognized as a foreign refugee, a person entitled to asylum or a stateless person.

• Request for instructions from the local court responsible for the registry office (civil status court)

• Only the spouses themselves can apply for the marriage to be notarized during their lifetime.
• After the death of both spouses, their parents and children are also entitled to apply.

The advantage of subsequent certification is that the German registry office can issue a German marriage certificate if required.

The text was automatically translated based on the German content.