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.

Marriages contracted abroad are generally recognized in Germany. However, German nationals have the option of having such marriages entered in the marriage register of their German registry office upon application; this also applies to stateless persons, homeless foreigners and foreign refugees with a habitual residence in Germany.