Are you a foreigner looking to get married in the Philippines? This guide will walk you through all of the steps, documents, and complex requirements for marriage in the Philippines. Whether you're looking for a church wedding or a civil ceremony, this guide has you covered.
Thanks for the step by step explanation. Very useful information for the sister.
My plan is to move to Manila on January 3. I have been to the Philippines twice before so I know what to expect. My girlfriend and I will get married which is the main reason for me moving. She could not get a visa to come to the UK.
I shall want to get an ACR-I card or a spousal visa if that is a better alternative.
Hi Christopher,
Congratulations on your nuptials. You don't apply for an ACR card until after your first 59 days. You wouldn't arrive on a spousal visa until you are married.
What most folks from the United Kingdom do is arrive visa-exempt as a UK citizen, which gives you 30 days. You can continue to extend your visa (and eventually apply for your ACR-I card) until you get married. Once you get your marriage certificate, you can apply for your 13a probationary visa. After one-year, you can reapply for a 13a permanent.
There are several steps in the process. If you have questions or would like someone to apply for the visas on your behalf, let me know.
Cheers,
Marco
Hi Marco,
My Portuguese boyfriend and I are planning to marry here in the Philippines. We don't know where he can get the legal capacity to contract marriage here in the country. He was advised in his country to have my apostilled birth certificate. I supposed to send it to him, but we postponed it after asking our local civil registry office about the aforesaid document. According to the registry, although he has the paper, he still need to have the legal capacity from the embassy of Portugal here in the country. It is like a different paper from whatever he might have from his country. We are now confuse how and where should we process that paper. Could you please advise us at least on how to deal with this? Our country doesn't have the embassy of Portugal, only consular and according to some, it's no longer working.
Hi Ariana,
This isn't a Philippines question, it's a Portugal government question. Basically you need an official document from Portugal saying that your husband is legally allowed to be married (i.e. he isn't already married in Portugal). I would ask your husband what government agency/department handles official marriage documents from where he is from in Portugal and contact them.
Good luck.
Cheers,
Marco
Thank you Marco. That is very clear.
Hi marco,
What if I got married abroad for a civil wedding and would like to make a wedding official with my family .
What are the process?
We both have our marriage license already.
Thanks
Hi Mary,
Are you already in the Philippines or are you still abroad?
hi marco!
i salute you and 1000 thank yous for all this information that will help me in my mission to marry my filipina angel!
awsome site and work you have done!
kind regards
guillermo
Great to hear Guillermo. Could you do me a favor and share the site on social media for anyone you know who wants to move to the Philippines.
Enjoy your new life with your angel. Cheers,
Marco
I’m currently in the Philippines with my fiancée and we are trying to get married next year.
If the US embassy is not providing help on the Affidavit in Lieu of a Certificate of Legal Capacity to Contract Marriage, where can we obtain the the Affidavit form?
Yup, it's confusing and frankly some municipality officials aren't up to date with the latest. However, the PSA put out MEMORANDUM CIRCULAR NO. 2021-04
stating a “Affidavit in Lieu of a Certificate of Legal Capacity to Contract Marriage” from a local notary can be used. You can download a copy of the of the memorandum to show your local officials here.
I want to marry my Filipina over there in the Philippines but the big problem is I'm not retired, I still work. My work won't allow me to stay there long enough for that 10-day period that you have to wait. My max vacation is 14 days and then you got subtract one day going there and another day going back which only leaves me 12 days max that I can stay there and that includes weekend days. My only expensive option is to go there for a few short days file all the marriage license paperwork then hop on a plane come back home and then turn around and come back within 120 days before the marriage license expires. Crazy!!
Hi James,
Yeah, I understand. Not having enough vacation days makes it very difficult. What country are you from? There are potentially some other ways.