Getting married abroad

What is it?

How nice that you are getting married abroad. It is important that you can prove there that you are not married or in a registered partnership with someone else. This is done with a declaration of unmarried status or a declaration of marital competence. You can apply for these declarations at the municipality.

What to do.

  • If you live in the Netherlands, apply for the declaration at the municipality.
  • If you are a Dutch citizen living abroad, ask for an extract from the Basisregistratie PersonenBRP) at an RNI municipality.
  • Do you not live in the Netherlands and have never lived in the Netherlands? Then apply for the certificate at the Dutch embassy or consulate in the country where you are getting married.

What do I need?

  • A valid ID of you and your partner.

The municipality may ask for the following documents from you and your partner:

  • A recent copy of the birth certificate.
  • If you were previously married: a divorce certificate or death certificate.
  • If you or your partner live abroad: a certificate from that country showing your place of residence, nationality and marital status.

Foreign deeds or other foreign documents must be in Dutch, English, French or German. Is this not the case? Then you must first have the documents translated by a translator who is sworn in the Netherlands. Sometimes foreign documents must be legalized in the country of origin. Check with the municipality.

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