Registered partnership

What is it?

Don't want to get married but want to make your relationship official? Then you can opt for a registered partnership. To do so, notify the municipality at least two weeks in advance.

How does it work?

Together with the congregation, you will discuss, among other things:

  • the date
  • the location
  • which official you want
  • Who your witnesses will be during the ceremony
  • what the costs are

Importantly:

  • you and your partner are both eighteen years of age or older
  • You are unmarried and not in a registered partnership with someone else

Difference between marriage and registered partnership

There are three differences between marriage and registered partnership:

  • When you get married, you say "yes" to each other. With a registered partnership, this is not required.
  • A registered partnership, if you do not have minor children, can end outside of court. With a marriage, you must always go to court to get a divorce.
  • The registered partnership has no legal separation, marriage does.

What to do?

  • You notify the municipality that you wish to enter into a registered partnership. Do this at least fourteen days in advance in the municipality where you want your partnership to be registered.
  • Indicate who will be your witnesses during the ceremony. These persons must be of age. You may have a minimum of two and a maximum of four witnesses.

Registered partnership with a non-Native

If your partner does not have Dutch nationality, he or she must first submit a "Declaration of No Marriage of Apparition. With this, your partner declares not to enter into a partnership with you for a residence permit. The IND checks this declaration.

You do not need this statement if you:

  • both have the nationality of one of these countries
  • both have permanent residence permits
  • both have indefinite asylum permits
  • want to register a foreign registered partnership older than ten years in the Netherlands
  • want to register a terminated foreign partnership in the Netherlands

What do I need?

  • copy of your birth certificate and that of your partner
  • valid ID of you and your partner
  • copy of the valid IDs of your witnesses
  • if you were previously married or had a registered partnership: proof that it ended, such as a divorce certificate or death certificate

Additional information

  • If you want to convert your registered partnership into a marriage, ask the municipality for a "deed of conversion.
  • Do you both live outside the Netherlands and does at least one of you have Dutch nationality? Then you should file the notification with the municipality of The Hague.
  • A foreign partnership is not recognized if you or your partner is under the age of eighteen.

Other Requirements

  • You may not form a partnership with your own child, brother, sister, parent, grandparent, grandchild, half-brother, half-sister.
  • You may not be forced into a registered partnership.
  • Are you under guardianship? Then you need permission from the curator or district judge.

If you do not meet the Requirements, the Minister of Justice and Security may still give permission. For example, if you are siblings by adoption. This is called marriage dispensation.

Effects of registered partnership abroad

There are countries that do not recognize registered partnerships. This can have consequences if, for example, you want to live in another country. Check with the embassy if this is the case for you.