Getting married abroad
What is it?
How wonderful that you are getting married abroad. It is important that you can prove that you are not married and do not have a registered partnership with anyone else. You can do this with a certificate of no impediment or a certificate of marital status. You can request these certificates from your local municipality.
What should I do?
- If you live in the Netherlands, you can apply for the certificate at your local municipality.
- If you are a Dutch citizen living abroad, you can request an extract from the Personal Records Database (BRP) from an RNI municipality.
- Do you not live in the Netherlands and have you never lived in the Netherlands? Then request the certificate from the Dutch embassy or consulate in the country where you are getting married.
What do I need?
- Valid identification for you and your partner.
The municipality may request the following documents from you and your partner:
- A recent copy of the birth certificate.
- If you have been married before: a divorce certificate or death certificate.
- If you or your partner live abroad: proof from that country stating your place of residence, nationality, and marital status.
Foreign deeds or other foreign documents must be written in Dutch, English, French, or German. If this is not the case, you must first have the documents translated by a translator certified in the Netherlands. Sometimes you must have foreign deeds legalized in the country of origin. Check with the municipality for more information.