Marriage Ability Testimony
Some Germans may want to get married abroad.
To do so, in some countries you need a "Marriage Capability Certificate."
The certificate confirms:
The persons are allowed to marry according to German law.
In some countries, the spouses also need an additional
certificate from the German consulate.
A consulate is the representation in another country.
This means:
The German consulate is the representation for Germany
in the other country.
Some people may want to get married in Germany.
But they do not have the German citizenship.
These persons also need a Ehe-Fähigkeits-Zeugnis.
With this certificate the authority from the home country of the person confirms:
The person may marry.
There is no legal reason against it.
You don 't get a Marriage Capacity Certificate from the authority in your home country?
Then you have to apply for it.
You must apply to the President of the Supreme Court.
Maybe 2 men want to get married?
Or 2 women want to get married?
But in the home country the marriage between
persons with the same sex is not allowed?
Then the persons do not need to have a Marriage Capability Certificate.
The Marriage Capability Certificate is valid for 6 months.
Note:
You need information about the requirements for marriage as a foreigner?
Then ask at the consulate of your country.
Or at the embassy of your country.
Note:
You want to get married abroad.
And the authorities in the country do not want a marriage certificate?
But the authority wants a "single certificate".
Single means:
You are not married yet.
Then you ask at the citizen office in your city.
There you will get an extended registration certificate.
What is the procedure?
You can apply for the marriage certificate at your registry office.
You can do it in person.
And you can do it in writing.
Required documents
For a Marriage Eligibility Certificate, you will need these documents:
- A valid identity card or a valid passport.
- An extended registration certificate from your registration office.
The registration certificate must not be older than 4 weeks.
The registration certificate is not the same as the residence permit for persons from abroad.
- Your birth certificate or
- A certified printout
from the birth register from the registry office
of your birth or
- A certified copy from the birth-register
Certified means:
An official person must confirm
that the transcript says the same as the original.
This can be done by the staff at the registry office.
Notice:
You may also need to show other documents.
For example, a certificate of naturalization.
Or other documents for the foreign spouse.
This can be different for each country.
However, we can only clarify this during the personal interview
at the registry office.
Forms
Costs and fees
Does the certificate of no impediment to marriage only have to comply with German law?
Then the certificate costs 65 euros.
The rules are in this law: § 5 paragraph 1 PStGDVO
Does the certificate of capacity to marry also have to take foreign law into account?
Then the certificate costs 110 euros.
The rules can be found in this law: § 5 paragraph 1 PStGDVO
Laws
These laws are important for the certificate of no impediment to marriage:
- landesrecht-bw .de/PstG (opens in a new tab)
- landesrecht-bw .de/PStV (opens in a new tab)
- landesrecht-bw .de/BGB (opens in a new tab)
- landesrecht-bw .de/PStGDV (opens in a new tab)
Contact
- and all registry offices in the districts of Stuttgart
Translated and checked by the Braunschweig Office for Light Language
© Lebenshilfe Braunschweig
Pictures © Lebenshilfe für Menschen mit geistiger Behinderung Bremen e.V.,
Illustrator Stefan Albers, Atelier Fleetinsel, 2013