Getting married in the Philippines does not mean simply having a ceremony with your partner. You have to make full preparations for legal procedures, including getting a PSA marriage certificate. In this passage, we will talk about how to get a marriage certificate, when to get it, how to check a marriage certificate online, and some concerning issues.
What Is a PSA Marriage Certificate?
A PSA marriage certificate, also known as an NSO marriage certificate, is an official document confirming the marital relations of two persons issued by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA). A marriage certificate sample carries the couple’s names, the date and place of marriage, and the signatures of the couple, the officiant, as well as the witnesses. As proof of legal and valid marriage, it is usually used to apply for shared health benefits with your husband/wife, change your maiden name to your spouse’s surname, file taxes jointly, apply for a household loan or mortgage, and prove your new identity.
How Long to Get a Marriage Certificate After a Wedding in the Philippines?
You can request a registered copy of the marriage certificate from the local LCR office about 15 days after the marriage registration. Your wedding officiant is responsible for submitting the Certificate of Marriage (COM) to the local LCR for registration and endorsement to the PSA. It must be done within 15 days (or 30 days for exceptional character’s marriages) after when the wedding ceremony is solemnized. Therefore, getting a marriage certificate after the wedding will take 15-30 days. However, it is not a PSA-certified copy yet and you have to wait for another 2-3 months to get a PSA(NSO) marriage certificate.
Marriage Certificate Requirements in 2024
To get a PSA marriage certificate, applicants must provide basic information about the husband, the wife, and the requester. Therefore, you are supposed to present the following required documents.
- Valid government-issued IDs of the couple, such as Philippine passport, driver’s license, ePHILID, Philippine identification card, PRC ID, UMID, SSS ID, voter’s ID, TIN ID, NBI Clearance, police clearance, etc.
- Valid government-issued IDs of the requester (in the case of applying on behalf of the document owners).
- Authorization Letter or Special Power of Attorney (SPA) from the document owner (in the case of applying on behalf of the document owners).
- A valid passport along with Alien Certification of Registration, Immigrant Certificate of Registration, or a special resident retiree visa (in the case of foreign nationals).
How to Get a Marriage Certificate
Both the spouse and any authorized parties can apply for a marriage certificate, which could be done online or in person.
How to Get a Marriage Certificate Online
PSA launched an online portal, PSA Serbilis, for Filipinos to request a birth certificate, marriage certificate, death certificate, or CENOMAR without stepping out of their home and the document will be delivered. Here are detailed instructions on how to get an NSO marriage certificate.
- Visit the official website of PAS PSA Serbilis and navigate to the “Marriage Certificate” section.
- Read the TERMS AND CONDITIONS as well as DATA PRIVACY NOTICE. Check the box to agree to them and click on the “NEXT” button to continue.
- Answer the questions in the pop-up window and click on the “NEXT” button.
- Fill in the required fields with an asterisk, including the number of copies, the full name of the spouse, place, and date of marriage, the purpose of the request, whom you are applying for, and overseas delivery address (if any).
- Enter your name and provide a delivery address or select an LBC branch to pick up your marriage certificate. Click on the “NEXT” button to proceed.
- Review the details that you have provided and learn about the delivery schedule. If there is anything wrong, roll down and click on the “Edit” button at the end to correct it, otherwise, click on “CONFIRM”.
- View the summary of your request and the total PSA marriage certificate price. Click on “NEXT”.
- Note down the Reference Number on the acknowledgment which will be required for payment or status check.
- Pay the application fees directly online or offline through credit/debit/prepaid cards, e-wallet, banking payment channels, etc.
- Collect the NSO marriage certificate in person or wait for the delivery.
How to Get a Marriage Certificate In Person
Besides getting a PSA marriage certificate online, the document can also be obtained at a PSA outlet through the steps below. Where to get a marriage certificate depends on where you get married.
- Book an appointment on the PSA Online Appointment System.
- Receive a copy of the Appointment Slip by email. You can print it out or save it on your phone and bring it to the PSA outlet. Make sure the whole form, including the QR code, is visible.
- Visit the selected PSA outlet with the required documents as scheduled. It is suggested to arrive about 30 minutes earlier.
- Present the printed or digital Appointment Slip to verify your booking.
- Obtain an application form and fill it out honestly and completely.
- Pay the application fees at the cashier.
- Proceed to the counter and submit the required documents.
- Receive an Official Receipt (OR) which is used to pick up the marriage certificate.
- Return to the PSA outlet and collect the certificate at the Releasing Area on the scheduled date and time of release.
PSA Marriage Certificate Price
The total fees include processing fees, delivery fees, and government taxes. How much it costs to get a marriage certificate depends on the number of copies and where it is delivered. Here is a detailed PSA marriage certificate fees.
| Number of Copies | Delivery Within Philippines | Delivery Outside Philippines |
| 1 copy | PHP 330 | USD 20.3 |
| 2 copies | PHP 610 | USD 40.6 |
| 3 copies | PHP 890 | USD 60.9 |
| 4 copies | PHP 1,170 | USD 81.2 |
| 5 copies | PHP1,450 | USD 101.5 |
| 6 copies | PHP 1,730 | USD 121.8 |
| 7 copies | PHP 2,010 | USD 142.1 |
| 8 copies | PHP 2,290 | USD 162.4 |
| 9 copies | PHP 2,570 | USD 182.7 |
| 10 copies | PHP 2,850 | USD 203.0 |
| 11 copies | PHP 3,130 | USD 223.3 |
| 12 copies | PHP 3,410 | USD 243.6 |
How Long Will I Receive a PSA Marriage Certificate?
The processing time for a PSA marriage certificate is longer than the LCR-issued one. As LCR forwards the COM to PAS by batch, the waiting time to receive the certificate is estimated to be 2-3 months. After applying, if you are in Manila and choose a delivery service, it might take about 3-4 working days to send the certificate. If you are outside Manila, the posting time might be extended to 3-8 working days.
How to Check if a Marriage Certificate Is Available in PSA
To learn about whether the PSA marriage certificate is available, please check the status of your request. Both PSA Serbilis and PSAHelpline are legitimate online service portals for hassle-free processing of civil registry documents, including birth/marriage/death certificates and CENOMAR. Here is how to check a marriage certificate online.
- Check the reference number on the acknowledge or OR after submitting the request.
- Visit PSA Serbilis Website, enter the reference number on the top right corner of the home page, and click on the “GO” button.
- Alternatively, you can also visit PSAHelpline.ph and click on the “Check Status” in the top menu bar. Enter a 10-digit reference number in the box and click on the “Check Status” button.
- View the status of your order. When it says the order is already released, out of delivery, or delivered, you will receive the marriage certificate soon.
What’s the Difference Between a Marriage Certificate, Contract, and License?
In the Philippines, there is no difference between a marriage contract vs marriage certificate and they are the same thing with different names. However, they are completely different from a marriage license. When it comes to marriage license vs marriage certificate, the license must be obtained before the wedding while the certificate/contract is issued after the marriage. Moreover, the marriage license is used to verify that a couple is legally allowed to get married while the certificate proves that the wedding has taken place and you have been legal spouses.
FAQ
📌What happens if your marriage is not registered in the Philippines?
You will not be able to request a marriage certificate and a late registration should be filed.
📌How to register marriage in the Philippines if married abroad?
Filipinos married abroad should report and register the marriage at the local Philippines Embassy by mail, online, or in person. Please check the detailed information on the official website of the embassy.
📌Does the marriage certificate expire?
A3: No, but you might need to request new copies of the certificate when the old copy is unacceptable.
Summary
The marriage certificate, as legal proof of social union or a legal contract between people that creates kinship, must be requested after getting married. The spouse or any authorized representative can request a PSA marriage certificate online or in person and it takes 2-3 months after the wedding. When it comes to how to check marriage certificates online, it can be done on PSA Serbilis Website or PSAHelpline. Please keep track of your application status check and wait patiently.