Civil Wedding Requirements: Philippines

Are you and your partner planning to have a civil wedding in the Philippines? If yes, read on! For today’s post, I’ll be sharing with you the documents that you need to tie the knot civilly.

What is a Civil Wedding Ceremony?

A civil wedding ceremony is basically one that is officiated by a government official or a religious body. It’s usually done in the city hall but may also be held in a different location if you wish to do so. There are many reasons why some couples opt for a civil wedding, some are the following:

It’s easy to organize and is less expensive than having a church wedding

If you and your partner want to get married but are on a budget, having a civil wedding is for you. It’s easy to organize, less expensive, and is a legally-binding marriage. With your creativity and resourcefulness, you’ll surely be able to pull a simple yet wonderful civil wedding.

There are no restrictions when it comes to wedding venues

Since it’s a non-religious event, you can conduct the ceremony in your backyard, on the beach, or wherever you feel like having it.

It’s a good option during the pandemic if you’re not in a rush to have your church wedding

If the pandemic or your current circumstances don't permit you and your partner to have a church wedding yet, opting for a civil one is a great alternative.

Who can Officiate a Civil Wedding in the Philippines?

• Mayors of cities and municipalities

• Municipal judges and justices of the peace

• Ship captains, airplane chiefs, military commanders, consuls, and vice-consuls (for marriages on the verge of death and marriages between Filipino citizens overseas)

• Presiding Justice and the Justices of the Court of Appeals

• Chief Justice and Associate Justices of the Supreme Court

• Priests, rabbis, ministers of the gospel of any denomination, church, religion, or sect who are duly registered.

Civil Wedding Requirements in the Philippines

• PSA (former NSO) Birth Certificate- you can also order this online at psaserbilis.com.ph

• Certificate of No Marriage (CENOMAR)

• Pre-Marriage Counseling Certificate

• Marriage License Application Form

• Barangay Certificate of Residency

• Community Tax Certificate (CEDULA)

• 2 Valid IDs

• Barangay Tree Planting Certificate

• 1x1 photos

Additional Requirements that may Apply to Others

• Notarized Parental Consent- if you or your fiancé falls below the age of 25;

• Certificate of No Impediment to Marriage (CNI)- if your partner is a foreign national. You can get this from the embassy after you submit your accomplished CNI application and other requirements;

• Death Certificate of Deceased Spouse- if your former partner is deceased.

What is the process of applying for a Marriage License in the Philippines?

• Go to your city or municipality’s Local Civil Registry (LCR) office and express your intent to get married. They will give you a checklist of requirements to use as a guide;

• Visit the city or rural health office to schedule your pre-marriage counseling. After you attend this, you will get your Certificate of Attendance for Pre-Marriage Counseling which is one of the required documents;

• Go back to the LCR office and submit all your requirements. They will then give you a marriage license application form for you to accomplish. Double-check everything before submitting the form;

• Go the Accounting Office and pay for the marriage fees (we paid a total of 550.00);

• Bring the receipt to the LCR office. After that, you can come back after ten days to get your marriage license.

Please take note:

• The marriage license is valid only within 120 days upon issuance, so it would be wise to set a date within that period;

• Once you get your marriage license, you can get married anywhere in the Philippines;

• Remember to bring two witnesses during the ceremony.

Is there anything else that I have to do after the Civil Wedding?

After the ceremony, you can go back to the LCR and submit your signed Certificate of Marriage. They will then give you a statement of account, which will include the solemnization and sponsor fees. Pay this at the accounting office, then bring them back the receipt. If you want to get your Marriage Certificate from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) in 2-3 weeks, you can ask for an endorsement letter from the LCR.

Whether you’re going for a civil wedding, a church wedding, or both, remember that at the end of the day, the marriage matters more than the wedding. Happy planning! Feel free to share this post to those who might need it. Civil wedding requirements in the Philippines

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