Getting married in the Philipphines (advise needed)

[moorebwb]

Firstly im new to the forum, 1st post to be exact.

I was married to a Thai national, i am now divorced in the UK, i have my decree absolute coming anyday now, i am planning to get married on the 28th October, firstly is there enough time to achieve this? as due to work very difficult to go back and forward, ill be going to phils for 3 weeks from 11th oct to nov 2nd. i have been with her for almost 3 years, i know i need to get a CNI from the uk, question i need answered mainly is, do i need to be in the philipphines to apply for the cenomar? can i get my fiancee to apply for it, if i send her my divorce cert/CNI? i was reading else where, i can apply for a cenomar online via https://www.ecensus.com.ph/default.aspx is this true? i know mainly the rest of the wedding related work, gaining a marriage permit can be done by here..but will want to push through if possible and get it done for my next trip..grateful for all the help..

cheers Dave

[Terpe]

Firstly im new to the forum, 1st post to be exact.

Hi Dave, welcome aboard Filipino UK

..... i am planning to get married on the 28th October, firstly is there enough time to achieve this?

Between now and then you should have ample time to get to work on an detailed organised plan and secure most of the needed documents.
Here's some useful information from the British Embassy about Marriage in The Philippines

..... as due to work very difficult to go back and forward, ill be going to phils for 3 weeks from 11th oct to nov 2nd.

Generally, with good organisation, and things going fairly smooth along the way, you should have no problems getting married within a 20-30 day timeframe.

Most folks will tell you that 21 days is enough time, and I think on balance that's a reasonable time without major problems.
If you really get slick and smart, keep it simple, secure documents beforehand and plan your dates well you'll find even 14days becomes a possibility.
Just be sure to have ALL the documents needed and that they are all valid.

.....i know i need to get a CNI from the uk

The UK CNI is available from your local registry office. It takes 22 days from time of application. It's 21 days for the 'bans'.
You need to present the UK CNI to the British Embassy in the Philippines to be issued a Philippine version called a Certificate of Legal Capacity to Marry.
This certificate is required by Philippine law for the application of a marriage license.

There's a new system to book an appointment at the British Embassy Consular Section in Manila which should be done through the Clickbook Consular Appointment site.
See this link for details of Online appointment system for Consular services

The local Philippine CNI that is given to you by the British Embassy has a validity of 3 months.
This could be collected by your fiancee at the Embassy as you do not need to be present.

.....question i need answered mainly is, do i need to be in the philipphines to apply for the cenomar? can i get my fiancee to apply for it, if i send her my divorce cert/CNI? i was reading else where, i can apply for a cenomar online via https://www.ecensus.com.ph/default.aspx is this true?

A CENOMAR ( Certificate of No Marriage Record) is available from the National Statistics Office (NSO) and is simply what its name implies.
It is a certification issued by the NSO stating that a person has not contracted any marriage within the Philippines.

As you've guessed, your fiancee can make an online application for your CENOMAR and have it delivered to herself.
You do not need to send any supporting papers

.....i know mainly the rest of the wedding related work, gaining a marriage permit can be done by here..but will want to push through if possible and get it done for my next trip..grateful for all the help..

I suggest you always check the latest information for paperwork needed etc but in principle to apply for the Marriage License you should consider having the following:-

Your birth certificate
Your passport
Your C.N.I.
Your NSO CENOMAR
Your Divorce decree asbsolute (if applicable)

Certificate of 'Pre-Marriage Seminar' (if needed, please check well beforehand)

Her N.S.O. birth certificate (This should be fresh from NSO on latest type of security paper. Check)
Her Passport (or other appropriate ID)
Her Barangay clearance (if needed, please check well beforehand)
Her community tax certificate (often called Cedula)
Her postal I.D. Address
Her cenomar
Her Parents signed advice form (if under 25 years age)
Her Parents I.D.

Apply for the Marriage License in your fiancée's home town at the registry office. (or locality of where marriage will take place)
You might also be requested to attend the "Pre-Marriage Seminar" counselling sessions prior to being allowed to be married. Check and ask when you apply for the marriage license

After you apply for the license there is a mandatory 10 day waiting period while the marriage bans are published
As I'm sure you may know by now, there are always 'local variations' in the Philippines.

After all, if the licence is not issued until after 11,12 or 13 days then it still complies with the legal requirement provided it has been posted continuously for a minimum 10 consecutive days.

Best advice is to always check locally when it actually WILL be issued based on the date of your wedding. If time is very tight then don't plan to have the licence issued on a holiday or weekend if that office is not going to be open.

Also just be sure that you have authorised copies of the Marriage Certificate after the wedding or that you request fast-tracking /Expediting for NSO copies. Quite a few get into a long waiting time for the marriage certificate needed for a visa application. Worth thinking about

Take a look at this thread for information on fastracking the marriage certificate - Advance Endorsement Birth ,Marriage and Death Certificate
You may file for "Advance Endorsement" at the Local Civil Registry Office (LCRO) who will charge a fee for this service.

[moorebwb]

Thank you so much, you have been a brilliant help, and put my mind at piece, ill keep you informed on how everything go's best regards Dave

[moorebwb]

*peace that is

[irishman12]

hi dave ,may i ask what part of phils you are going to?

[moorebwb]

Masbate mate

[moorebwb]

Just another question, on my full birth certificate I have a middle name, but I never use my middle name anywhere else, ie: on my passport, my cards everything..is this a issue when making application for marriage license?

[sweetlove]

Hi Dave, welcome aboard Filipino UK



Between now and then you should have ample time to get to work on an detailed organised plan and secure most of the needed documents.
Here's some useful information from the British Embassy about Marriage in The Philippines



Generally, with good organisation, and things going fairly smooth along the way, you should have no problems getting married within a 20-30 day timeframe.

Most folks will tell you that 21 days is enough time, and I think on balance that's a reasonable time without major problems.
If you really get slick and smart, keep it simple, secure documents beforehand and plan your dates well you'll find even 14days becomes a possibility.
Just be sure to have ALL the documents needed and that they are all valid.



The UK CNI is available from your local registry office. It takes 22 days from time of application. It's 21 days for the 'bans'.
You need to present the UK CNI to the British Embassy in the Philippines to be issued a Philippine version called a Certificate of Legal Capacity to Marry.
This certificate is required by Philippine law for the application of a marriage license.

There's a new system to book an appointment at the British Embassy Consular Section in Manila which should be done through the Clickbook Consular Appointment site.
See this link for details of Online appointment system for Consular services

The local Philippine CNI that is given to you by the British Embassy has a validity of 3 months.
This could be collected by your fiancee at the Embassy as you do not need to be present.



A CENOMAR ( Certificate of No Marriage Record) is available from the National Statistics Office (NSO) and is simply what its name implies.
It is a certification issued by the NSO stating that a person has not contracted any marriage within the Philippines.

As you've guessed, your fiancee can make an online application for your CENOMAR and have it delivered to herself.
You do not need to send any supporting papers



I suggest you always check the latest information for paperwork needed etc but in principle to apply for the Marriage License you should consider having the following:-

Your birth certificate
Your passport
Your C.N.I.
Your NSO CENOMAR
Your Divorce decree asbsolute (if applicable)

Certificate of 'Pre-Marriage Seminar' (if needed, please check well beforehand)

Her N.S.O. birth certificate (This should be fresh from NSO on latest type of security paper. Check)
Her Passport (or other appropriate ID)
Her Barangay clearance (if needed, please check well beforehand)
Her community tax certificate (often called Cedula)
Her postal I.D. Address
Her cenomar
Her Parents signed advice form (if under 25 years age)
Her Parents I.D.

Apply for the Marriage License in your fiancée's home town at the registry office. (or locality of where marriage will take place)
You might also be requested to attend the "Pre-Marriage Seminar" counselling sessions prior to being allowed to be married. Check and ask when you apply for the marriage license

After you apply for the license there is a mandatory 10 day waiting period while the marriage bans are published
As I'm sure you may know by now, there are always 'local variations' in the Philippines.

After all, if the licence is not issued until after 11,12 or 13 days then it still complies with the legal requirement provided it has been posted continuously for a minimum 10 consecutive days.

Best advice is to always check locally when it actually WILL be issued based on the date of your wedding. If time is very tight then don't plan to have the licence issued on a holiday or weekend if that office is not going to be open.

Also just be sure that you have authorised copies of the Marriage Certificate after the wedding or that you request fast-tracking /Expediting for NSO copies. Quite a few get into a long waiting time for the marriage certificate needed for a visa application. Worth thinking about

Take a look at this thread for information on fastracking the marriage certificate - Advance Endorsement Birth ,Marriage and Death Certificate
You may file for "Advance Endorsement" at the Local Civil Registry Office (LCRO) who will charge a fee for this service.

hello sir terpe... i have a question regarding this cni thing... if my fiance get his cni in uk and we book a appointment in British embassy manila to exchange it in phil version can we get it after the appointment or we need to wait couple of days?

[tiger31]

yes iv,e got advice don,t do it lol its a whole lot simpler and a lot easier when it goes wrong

[sweet_mazza]

Hi sweetlove,

you can get the CNI within the day.

[sweetlove]

Hi sweetlove,

you can get the CNI within the day.

thank you so much sis.....