الزواج – التسجيل

When applying, you must submit

• if you have German citizenship and are entering into your first marriage:
  • valid identity card or passport
  • extended registration certificate (not older than 4 weeks)
• if your birth was certified in Germany:
  • current certified excerpt from the (electronic) register of births or current certified copy from the register of births (in paper form) from the registry office of the place of birth
• if your birth was certified abroad:
  • current birth certificate
• if you were already married or in a civil partnership, you will also need
  • Marriage certificate and final divorce decree or
  • Proof of the establishment and dissolution of the civil partnership or
• if you are a widow or widower
  • the marriage certificate or
  • proof of the establishment of the civil partnership and
  • the death certificate of the deceased
• If your divorce took place abroad, you should ask the registry office in advance whether a recognition procedure is required. Please bring the following with you
  • all marriage certificates
  • all legally binding divorce decrees (with facts and reasons for the decision)
• if you as the future spouses have children together or have custody of children from previous marriages, you will also need
  • Birth certificates of the children
• if one of the spouses is from abroad, the following are required
  • valid identity card, passport or other proof of identification
  • Proof of nationality, if this is not evident from the identity card or passport
  • extended registration certificate (not older than 4 weeks)
  • birth certificate
  • certificate of no impediment to marriage
  • foreign language documents

Please note:

For future spouses from countries where certificates of no impediment to marriage are issued, it is advisable to seek advice from the registry office about exemption from the obligation to present a certificate of no impediment to marriage. This is issued by the President of the competent Higher Regional Court. The registrar records the application and forwards it.

For foreign-language documents, the registry office generally requires complete translations into German, prepared by a translator publicly appointed and sworn in Germany. Foreign documents often also require certification by the competent foreign authority. In such a case, the registry office will draw your attention to this.

• Further documents:
• The registry office may request further documents, such as the naturalization certificate.

The costs vary depending on the federal state. Your local registry office will be happy to provide you with information.