Marriage Registration in Germany

Getting married in Germany: Standesamt, required documents, procedure and deadlines.

1. 1
   Contact the Standesamt

   Contact the Standesamt of your place of residence to inquire about required documents. Each Standesamt may require additional documents, especially for international marriages. Also ask about available appointment dates.

   💡 Popular dates (Saturdays, summer months) are often booked 6 months in advance — plan ahead.
2. 2
   Obtain required documents

   Obtain the required documents: valid passport, proof of residence, birth certificate (not older than 6 months), if necessary certificate of marital capacity from your country of origin. For divorce/widowhood: corresponding certificates.

   💡 Birth certificates from your country of origin should be obtained as international (multilingual) documents — this will save translation costs.
3. 3
   Certification/Apostille

   Foreign documents must generally be certified translated and provided with an apostille or legalization. For documents from non-Hague Convention countries, legalization by the embassy is required.

   💡 You can find certified translators through the state justice administration database at justiz-dolmetscher.de.
4. 4
   Registration for marriage

   Register the marriage personally at the Standesamt. Both partners must be present and submit all documents. The registration fee is approximately 40-60 €. The Standesamt will check marital capacity.

   💡 The registration is valid for 6 months — the wedding must take place within this period.
5. 5
   Schedule an appointment

   After successful review of documents, schedule your wedding date. You can choose the Standesamt of your place of residence or another Standesamt in Germany. Clarify the number of guests and possibly an interpreter.

   💡 If one partner does not speak German, a certified interpreter must be present at the wedding — organize this in advance.
6. 6
   Wedding ceremony

   The Standesamt wedding is the only legally binding marriage in Germany. Bring valid identity documents and two witnesses. The ceremony usually lasts 20-30 minutes.

   💡 Witnesses have not been legally required since 1998, but most couples choose them anyway.
7. 7
   Marriage certificate and name change

   After the wedding you will receive a marriage certificate. If you wish to change your name, apply for this at the Standesamt. You will then need to update your personal ID, bank account, insurance and other documents with your new name.

   💡 Order several certified copies of the marriage certificate right away — you will need them for many administrative proceedings and address changes.