If you are a German citizen wishing to get married abroad and the foreign authorities require a certificate of no impediment to marriage, you can apply for a certificate of no impediment to marriage.
If you wish to marry abroad as a German citizen, the requirements for marriage are determined by German law.
The certificate of no impediment to marriage confirms that there is no impediment to marriage under 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 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.
If you have more than one nationality, the law of the country with which you are most closely connected will apply.
A certificate of no impediment to marriage can also be issued if the certificate is required to establish a civil partnership abroad.
The registry office in whose jurisdiction the person entering into the marriage has their domicile or habitual residence is responsible for issuing the certificate of no impediment to marriage. If the person entering into the marriage has neither domicile nor habitual residence in Germany, the place of the last habitual residence is decisive. If the person entering into the marriage has never or only temporarily resided in Germany, the registry office I in Berlin is responsible.
More Information
Publisher
Rhineland-Palatinate
Last update or date of publication
Contact
The government service telephone number 115 – your point of contact for questions related to the federal, state and local.
Monday through Friday from 8:00 to 18:00 (and beyond these times in some regions).
Call 115 nowGovernment service telephone number calls are charged at local rates.
Preconditions
- 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 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 marry abroad.
The amount of the fees varies depending on the fee schedule
Basis for legal action
Legal Remedies
Application for a court decision in accordance with § 49 of the Civil Status Act (PStG).
Deadlines
6 months
The certificate of no impediment to marriage is valid for 6 months.
Processing time
Depends on the individual case.
