Request a declaration to marry abroad

If you want to get married abroad, you may need a certificate of legal capacity to marry or a declaration of unmarried status. You can request this from the municipality.

Contact

Approach

This is how you apply for a certificate of capacity to marry or a certificate of unmarried status:

Make an appointment with the municipality or request the declaration in writing.
You will need:
- your valid ID
- your birth certificate
- An extract from the basic registration of persons, showing your nationality and marital status
If you have been married before you will also need:
- the divorce certificate or certificate of dissolution of the registered partnership
- the death certificate, if your previous partner has died.
If you are requesting the declaration for someone else, you will need:
- the above-mentioned documents of the person for whom you are requesting the declaration
- a letter in which the person for whom you are requesting the statement gives you permission to do so
- your own proof of identity

Cost

A certificate of capacity to marry costs €29.80. The multilingual model form costs €23.00. You pay when you apply.

(Rates 2025)

Description

As a Dutch citizen, you can get married abroad. The country where you want to get married may ask for permission from your municipality. The municipality can then make a declaration of marital competence or an unmarried declaration for you. This is always multilingual.

A declaration of marital status is valid for 6 months. How long an unmarried declaration is valid varies by country.