You must register your intended marriage in person at the registry office responsible for your place of residence or habitual abode.

To speed up the process, you can submit your desired date for the marriage and the information required to check your eligibility to marry to the registry office in advance.

The place where you register the marriage does not have to be the same place where your marriage is to take place. In principle, you can get married at any registry office in Germany.

Civil marriage and church wedding are independent of each other.

Witnesses do not have to be present at the wedding. However, if you wish, you can appoint one or two people as witnesses.

You can decide whether you want to have a joint or separate family name in your marriage at the time of the wedding or at a later date.

The following individuals may register a marriage:

• Adults

Additional requirements:

• A marriage may not be entered into before the age of majority is reached.
• Marriage is not permitted between relatives in the direct line—for example, parents and their children—or between siblings and half-siblings. This generally applies even if the family relationship was established through adoption.
• Bigamous marriages are not permitted in Germany. A previous marriage must have been dissolved by death, divorce, or another final court judgment before a new marriage can be entered into.

If a previous marriage was dissolved by divorce abroad, the divorce must generally first be expressly recognized in Germany in order for it to take effect here. Exceptions to this principle apply primarily to most countries of the European Union (EU). A previously established civil partnership must also have been dissolved.

• Objection
• Request for a court ruling

If, after completing the check, the registrar determines that the requirements for marriage have been met, you can get married within 6 months. After that, the marriage must be registered again.

• Processing time for the application: up to 4 weeks, depending on the registry office and the specific case

• The registry office within whose jurisdiction one of the parties to the marriage (or engaged couple) has their residence (primary or secondary residence) or habitual residence
• If the place of residence or habitual residence is abroad: the civil registry office that is to perform the marriage

When submitting your application, you must provide:

• If you are a German citizen and are entering into your first marriage:
  • a valid national ID card or passport
  • extended registration certificate (no older than 4 weeks)
• If your birth was registered in Germany:
  • a current certified extract from the (electronic) birth registry or a current certified copy from the birth register (in paper form) issued by the civil registry office of your place of birth
• If your birth was registered abroad:
  • Current birth certificate
• If you were previously married or in a civil partnership, you will also need:
  • Marriage certificate and a 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, as well as
  • the death certificate of the deceased
• If your divorce took place abroad, you should check with the civil registry office in advance to see if a recognition procedure is required. Please bring the following with you:
  • all marriage certificates
  • all final divorce decrees (including the facts of the case and the grounds for the decision)
• If you, as prospective spouses, have children together or have custody of children from previous marriages, you will also need:
  • Birth certificates for the children
• If one of the parties to the marriage is from abroad, the following are required:
  • A valid national ID card, passport, or other form of identification
  • Proof of citizenship, if this is not evident from the national ID card or passport
  • Extended registration certificate (no older than 4 weeks)
  • Birth certificate
  • Certificate of no impediment to marriage
  • Documents in a foreign language

Notes:

For prospective spouses from countries that do not issue certificates of no impediment to marriage, it is recommended to consult with the registry office regarding an exemption from the requirement to submit a certificate of no impediment to marriage. This exemption is granted by the president of the competent Higher Regional Court. The registrar will accept the application and forward it.

For foreign-language documents, the registry office generally requires complete translations into German, prepared by a translator who is 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 inform you accordingly.

• Additional documents:
• Under certain circumstances, the registry office may request additional documents, such as the naturalization certificate.

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

• Card payment (debit, credit, Visa, Mastercard, etc.)
• Mobile payments
• Cash payments are not possible!