Foreigner marrying in the Philippines: 2026 requirements

A foreigner marrying in the Philippines needs a certificate of legal capacity to contract marriage from their own embassy or consulate before the Local Civil Registrar will issue a marriage license (Family Code, Article 21). Countries that don't issue one use a sworn substitute: Americans swear an affidavit before a US consular officer, and British nationals use a UK Certificate of No Impediment or an embassy affidavit. Everything else follows the normal license process: apply together, wait 10 days, marry within 120.

Rules for each embassy change, so treat the country notes below as a starting point and check your embassy's own page before you book flights.

What documents does each partner need?

The legal capacity certificate is the one only the foreigner needs. The Filipino partner's side is the same as for any civil wedding. Registrars commonly ask for documents issued within the last six months, and foreign documents in another language need an official English translation, as PSAHelpline's guide notes.

What is the certificate of legal capacity to contract marriage?

Article 21 of the Family Code says a foreign partner must, "before a marriage license can be obtained, ... submit a certificate of legal capacity to contract marriage, issued by their respective diplomatic or consular officials." It's how a Philippine registrar knows the foreigner is free to marry under their own country's law: old enough, single, and not barred by an earlier marriage.

You'll see it called a CLCCM, LCCM, certificate of no impediment or certificate of free status. The idea is the same.

Two exceptions in the law itself:

• Stateless persons and refugees "submit an affidavit stating the circumstances showing such capacity to contract marriage" instead (Article 21).
• A dual citizen marrying as a Filipino can usually use Filipino documents, if they can prove their Philippine citizenship.

Can a local notary sign the substitute affidavit?

Not as a rule. During the pandemic, the PSA let registrars accept affidavits in lieu of the certificate that were notarized by a Philippine notary. That ended in 2023. PSA Memorandum Circular 2023-23 says registrars could accept locally notarized affidavits "until 31 October 2023," and that afterward "foreign citizens who wish to obtain marriage license in the Philippines shall be required to comply with Article 21."

In practice, that means the document should come through the foreign partner's embassy or consulate, or through a route the PSA has set for that country. Some guidance for US citizens still mentions local notarization, so ask your registrar before you rely on it.

Country notes: US, UK and an example of a standard certificate

United States

The US doesn't issue a certificate of legal capacity, because it has no national marriage register. Instead, the US citizen signs an affidavit in lieu of the certificate. With the PSA's local-notarization exception gone, the safe route is to sign it before a US consular officer at the US Embassy in Manila or the consular agency in Cebu, by appointment. Bring your US passport and proof that any earlier marriage ended. The affidavit is your sworn statement, not a US government check of your status, and it doesn't fix an earlier marriage or an incomplete divorce (Respicio & Co., 2026). Check the embassy's current notarial page for the fee and the booking link.

United Kingdom

The PSA set the UK route out in Memorandum Circular 2023-23, after the British Embassy explained that the UK has no central marriage register:

• Living in the UK: get a Certificate of No Impediment from your local UK register office and have it apostilled.
• Living in the Philippines or anywhere else outside the UK: swear an Affidavit of Freedom to Marry at the British Embassy in Manila, by appointment. The embassy's notarial services guide has the current fee and forms.

UK councils say the CNI can only be issued after your notice has been on display for about four weeks, so start that well before you travel.

Denmark, as an example of a standard certificate

Countries with a national register usually issue the certificate directly. The Royal Danish Embassy in Manila issues it on the day of the appointment for ₱2,300 (January 2026), after the Danish partner gets a marital status certificate from Denmark and has it legalized. It's valid for four months from that Danish certificate's date.

Most European, Asian and Australian embassies work along those lines. Look for a page called "marriage in the Philippines" or "certificate of legal capacity" on your embassy's site, and book early: some only take appointments a few weeks out.

What if the foreign partner was divorced?

That's fine, as long as the divorce is final and valid under their own country's law. Bring the final decree, not an interim order, apostilled and with an English translation if needed. A widowed partner brings the late spouse's death certificate, also apostilled or authenticated.

The harder case is the Filipino partner. Divorce between two Filipinos isn't available under the Family Code, but there's one opening: when a Filipino was married to a foreigner and the marriage was ended by a valid divorce abroad, the Filipino "shall have capacity to remarry under Philippine law" (Article 26). The Supreme Court held in Republic v. Manalo (2018) that this applies even when the Filipino filed the divorce. But the divorce must first be recognized by a Philippine court and annotated on the PSA record. Until then, the registrar treats the Filipino as still married. Talk to a lawyer before you set a date.

How does the license process work for a mixed couple?

The same as for any couple, once the capacity document is in hand:

1. Get the legal capacity certificate or substitute, plus apostilled divorce or death papers if needed.
2. Get the Filipino partner's PSA birth certificate and CENOMAR.
3. Attend the city's pre-marriage seminar together.
4. Both of you appear at the Local Civil Registrar where either of you usually lives (Article 9) and file the application.
5. Wait out the 10-day posting (Article 17).
6. Claim the license. It's valid anywhere in the Philippines for 120 days (Article 20).

Our marriage license guide has the fees and the step-by-step. If the foreign partner is flying in, plan the trip around steps 3 to 6: the seminar date, the filing, the posting and the ceremony can take two to three weeks before you even get to the wedding.

What about a church wedding?

Parishes add their own layer on top of the civil license. The Manila Cathedral and St. Michael the Archangel Parish in BGC both ask every foreigner for:

• Clearance from the diocesan chancery office.
• A certificate of free status or legal capacity from their embassy.
• A certificate of freedom to marry from their home parish, or an affidavit of free status.

Foreigners living in the Philippines also need banns from their local parish. If the foreign partner isn't Catholic, the marriage needs the bishop's permission or a dispensation, arranged through the parish. The Manila Cathedral asks foreigners for proof of a chancery visit just to reserve a date, so start there. See our church wedding requirements guide and marriage banns guide.

Will the marriage be recognized abroad?

A marriage valid in the Philippines is generally recognized in other countries, but each has its own process for registering it or using it for a spouse visa. You'll need the PSA marriage certificate, which takes months to come out (our marriage certificate guide has the timeline), and often an apostille on it. Check the foreign partner's home country requirements before the wedding, not after.

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