Beantragung der Ausstellung eines Ehefähigkeitszeugnisses für deutsche Staatsangehörige, Staatenlose, heimatlose Ausländer oder ausländische Flüchtlinge im Sinne des Abkommens über die Rechtsstellung der Flüchtlinge mit gewöhnlichem Aufenthalt im Inland

Would you like to apply for a certificate of no impediment? Find out more here.

If you are a German citizen and wish to marry abroad, the requirements for marriage are determined by German law.

You can also apply for a German certificate of matrimonial capacity if you are a stateless person, a homeless foreigner or a foreign refugee within the meaning of the Convention relating to the Status of Refugees with habitual residence in Germany and you need the certificate of matrimonial capacity to marry abroad.

This regulation is intended to prevent the marriage from being recognized abroad but not in Germany. It is particularly important for any future children that a marriage entered into abroad is also recognized in the country of origin of the German parent.

The certificate of no impediment to marriage confirms that there is no impediment to an intended marriage under German law.

The German certificate of no impediment to marriage is valid for a period of six months.

• Proof of identity, nationality and parentage, marital status and, if applicable, dissolution of previous marriage(s)
• All documents must be submitted in the original. The registry office will provide information on the form in which the documents can be used (e.g. with an apostille or legalization).

The application for a certificate of no impediment to marriage requires German citizenship.

You can also apply for a German certificate of no impediment to marriage if you are a stateless person, homeless foreigner or foreign refugee within the meaning of the Convention relating to the Status of Refugees with habitual residence in Germany and you require the certificate of no impediment to marriage to marry abroad.

Fee for issuing the certificate of no impediment to marriageAmount(even if the application is rejected):

EUR 50.00 - Advance payment: No

Amount of costs (variable): plus EUR 40 if a foreign decision in marriage or civil partnership matters is reviewed by the registry office, if a determination by the state justice administration is not required in accordance with Section 107 (1) sentence 1 FamFG,

Amount of costs (variable): plus EUR 40 if an application for recognition of a foreign decision in matrimonial matters is submitted to the state administration of justice.

The amount of the fees is determined by the Lower Saxony Ordinance on Fees and Expenses for Official Acts and Services (General Schedule of Fees - AllGO)

Apply for the certificate to be issued at a German registry office.

• Find out from the foreign registry office where you are getting married whether a German certificate of no impediment to marriage is required
• Apply to the German registry office for the form for issuing the certificate of no impediment to marriage (application form).
• The registrar will prepare the application and advise you.prepares the application and advises you on the documents still required in individual cases.
• The registrar will then examines and decides on the outcome of your application and issues the certificate of no impediment to marriage after a successful examination.

Online application:

• To enable the registry office to confirm your eligibility to marry under German law, enter your personal details in the online form and upload the required supporting documents. This will enable the registry office to contact you after an initial review of your application and inform you which documents must be submitted in the original.
• Please note that you will incur fees for the application in accordance with the scale of fees. If the certificate of no impediment to marriage is sent by post, additional postage costs may apply. The postage costs may only be charged afterwards. The costs will be higher if the certificate is sent abroad.

The certificate of no impediment to marriage is valid for six months.

Application for a court decision

Deadline: 1 month

Issuing a certificate of no impediment to marriage

To enter into a marriage abroad, German citizens may require a certificate of no impediment to marriage.

A certificate of no impediment to marriage is an official certificate confirming that there are no impediments to marriage under German law to a marriage abroad between two persons, at least one of whom is also a German citizen, i.e. in particular that there is no lack of capacity to marry or no prohibition of marriage.

You can also apply for a German certificate of no impediment to marriage if you are a stateless person, a homeless foreigner or a foreign refugee within the meaning of the Convention relating to the Status of Refugees with habitual residence in Germany and you require the certificate of no impediment to marriage in order to marry abroad.

The registry office of the place of residence, the last place of residence or the usual place of residence is responsible. If the person getting married is only staying in Germany temporarily,the registry office I in Berlin is responsible,Schönstedtstr. 5,13357 Berlin

Jurisdiction lies with the municipality, the joint municipality and the city in whose jurisdiction one of the marrying persons has their domicile or habitual residence.

If the person entering into the marriage has neither domicile nor habitual residence in Germany, the place of the last habitual residence is decisive.

If the person entering into the marriage has only stayed in Germany temporarily, the registry office I in Berlin is responsible in accordance with Section 39 (1) of the Civil Status Act (PStG).

Jurisdiction lies with the municipality, the joint municipality and the city in whose jurisdiction one of the marrying persons has their domicile or habitual residence.

If the person entering into the marriage has neither domicile nor habitual residence in Germany, the place of the last habitual residence is decisive.

If the person entering into the marriage has only stayed in Germany temporarily, the registry office I in Berlin is responsible in accordance with Section 39 (1) of the Civil Status Act (PStG).

Forms available: Yes, at the registry office

Written form required: No

Informal application possible: Yes

Personal appearance necessary: Yes

Online services available: Yes