How a British Citizen Gets a “Certificate of No Impediment” (or Equivalent) to Marry in the Philippines

A comprehensive, practice-oriented legal guide. Philippine context. Not legal advice.

1) Big picture: what Philippine registrars actually ask for

Philippine Local Civil Registry Offices (LCROs) don’t use the UK term “CNI” in their own law. They look for a Certificate of Legal Capacity to Contract Marriage (LCCM) from the foreigner’s embassy/consulate or an equivalent proof that the foreign national is free to marry. For a Brit, that proof is typically one of the following (check with the LCRO that will issue your marriage license):

Path A — UK-issued CNI: A Certificate of No Impediment obtained in the UK from your local Register Office (naming the Philippines as the place of marriage).
Path B — Embassy document in Manila: An Affidavit/Affirmation of Marital Status (often titled “Affirmation that there is no legal impediment to marry”) executed before a British consular officer in the Philippines. Many LCROs accept this in lieu of a UK CNI.

Practice varies slightly by city/municipality. Before you start, ask the specific LCRO that will issue your marriage license which document(s) they accept from British citizens.

2) Who needs this and when

You are a British citizen marrying in the Philippines (civil or religious ceremony).
The Philippine marriage license is issued by the LCRO of the Filipino partner’s residence (or either party’s residence if both are foreigners).
The British document (CNI or consular affirmation) is a supporting document for that license application.

3) Eligibility & age rules (UK + PH)

United Kingdom: From 2023, you must be 18 or older to marry (anywhere), even abroad.
Philippines: Minimum age 18. Those 18–20 need parental consent; 21–24 need parental advice (lack of advice doesn’t void the marriage but can delay the license). Child marriage (<18) data-preserve-html-node="true" is prohibited.

4) Documents checklist (British side)

Bring originals plus photocopies; names must match your passport.

Passport (valid; with visa/entry stamp or ACR I-Card if resident).
Proof of “freedom to marry”:
- If single: declaration in the consular affirmation or as needed by the UK register office.
- If divorced: Final Order (England & Wales) / Decree of Divorce (Scotland) / Decree Absolute (older cases) — the final document, not an interim order.
- If widowed: Death certificate of late spouse + your prior marriage certificate.
- If previous name change: Deed poll or other evidence.
Proof of residence (sometimes required by UK register office when applying for a UK-issued CNI).
Two passport photos (some LCROs ask).
If marrying in the Catholic Church: your parish may ask for a “freedom to marry” letter from your UK parish; check the parish list.

Legalisation (apostille) tip: If you bring a UK-issued CNI or UK civil documents (divorce, death certificate), get them apostilled in the UK. Under the Hague Apostille Convention, a UK apostille makes the document acceptable in the Philippines without further Philippine authentication.

5) Documents checklist (Philippine side)

Your Filipino partner (if any) typically needs:

PSA CENOMAR (or PSA marriage certificate with court-recognized annulment/void marriage annotation or recognized foreign divorce under Article 26).
Valid government ID(s) and birth certificate.
Parental consent/advice, if within the applicable age range.
Pre-marriage counseling/seminar certificate (as scheduled by the LGU).
Community tax certificate (cedula) or other local items the LCRO lists.

6) Two routes for the British proof of capacity

Route A — Get a CNI in the UK (before travel)

How it works (high-level):

Book “notice of marriage abroad” with your UK Register Office (England/Wales) or the equivalent in Scotland/Northern Ireland.
Give notice (you’ll usually have an advertised waiting period, commonly 28 days; it can be longer in some circumstances).
After the waiting period, the Register Office issues your CNI stating you are free to marry in the Philippines (and may name your partner).
Apostille the CNI via the UK FCDO Legalisation Office.
Bring the apostilled CNI to the Philippines for your marriage license application.

Pros: Universally understood by LCROs; done before you fly. Cons: Requires lead time in the UK; you must know where and with whom you’ll marry.

Route B — Make a consular Affirmation in Manila

How it works (high-level):

Book a notarial/affirmation appointment with the British Embassy Manila (consular section).
Bring your passport and proofs (divorce final order/death certificate, etc.).
Execute an Affidavit/Affirmation of Marital Status before the consular officer (oath/affirmation) and pay the consular fee.
The Embassy issues the affirmation (many LCROs accept this in place of a UK CNI).
If your LCRO insists on legalisation, you may be asked to have it apostilled by the UK (consular documents can be apostilled by the FCDO). Many LCROs waive this step for documents issued by the Embassy in Manila—ask your LCRO first.

Pros: Quick in-country solution; no UK waiting period. Cons: A few LCROs prefer a UK-issued CNI; confirm acceptance early.

7) Applying for the Philippine marriage license (civil requirement)

Where: LCRO of the Filipino partner’s residence (or of either party, if both are foreigners).
When: After completing required seminars and submitting documents.
Posting period: There is a statutory 10-day publication/posting period before issuance.
Validity: License is generally valid for 120 days nationwide once issued.
Bring:
- Brit’s CNI or Embassy affirmation (plus apostille if required), passport, and arrival card/visa;
- Filipino partner’s PSA documents;
- Photos, fee, seminar certificate, and any local forms.

8) Wedding day & after

Civil ceremony: Judge/Mayor or authorized officiant solemnizes the marriage.
Religious ceremony: Follow church requirements (Catholic parishes require pre-Cana, baptismal/confirmation certs, and may request a parish “freedom to marry” letter for the Brit).
Registration: The officiant files the marriage certificate with the LCRO → forwarded to PSA.
PSA copy: You can request your PSA marriage certificate a few weeks later (processing times vary).
UK recognition: The UK generally recognizes a marriage validly celebrated under Philippine law—no separate UK “registration” is required. Keep multiple PSA copies (and apostille a PSA copy if you need to use it in the UK for immigration/banking/name change).

9) Special scenarios (and how to handle them)

Previous marriage (British party): Provide the final divorce order or spouse’s death certificate. If the divorce is from a non-UK country, you may need a certified translation and an apostille from that country.
Previous marriage (Filipino party): Philippine law requires a PSA-recorded court decree of annulment/nullity, or Philippine court recognition of a foreign divorce (Art. 26) before remarrying. A mere foreign divorce paper without PH court recognition usually won’t suffice for an LCRO.
Name changes: If your documents show different names, bring Deed Poll (apostilled if UK-issued) or other legal proof tying the identities together.
Residency/long-stay Brits: Bring your ACR I-Card and Philippine address document if the LCRO asks.
Church wedding quirks: Canon law may require a Letter of Freedom from your UK parish, and sometimes a Nihil Obstat/Dispensation for mixed-religion marriages. Coordinate early with the parish.

10) Typical pitfalls (and how to avoid them)

LCRO says “We want an embassy LCCM, not a UK CNI.” Use Route B (consular affirmation). If you already have a UK CNI, politely show the apostille and ask if they will accept it; if not, the affirmation usually resolves it.
LCRO demands an apostille on a consular document issued in Manila. Ask if they will accept the consular document as is. If not, arrange UK FCDO apostille (consular documents are UK public documents). Build in courier time.
Divorce proof is digital (England & Wales “Final Order”). Print the official PDF with reference codes. Some LCROs want a certified copy; bring anything the UK court offers to show finality (and apostille if asked).
Timing squeeze: If you cannot wait for UK CNI timelines, plan for the consular affirmation route to keep your Philippine license timetable.

11) Clean timeline (example plan)

T-8 to -6 weeks (UK): Decide route. If Route A (CNI) → book notice, observe waiting period, obtain apostilled CNI.
T-2 to -1 weeks (PH): If Route B → book consular appointment; prepare UK divorce/death docs, passport, copies.
T-1 week (PH): Attend LGU seminar, submit documents to LCRO; 10-day posting begins.
T-0: Get marriage license, have the ceremony.
T+2–8 weeks: Obtain PSA marriage certificate; apostille a PSA copy if needed for UK immigration/passport/banking.

12) Quick answers to common questions

Do I need both a UK CNI and an Embassy affirmation? Usually one or the other suffices—ask your LCRO which they prefer.
Will the UK register our Philippine marriage? No separate UK registration is required. Keep your PSA marriage certificate (apostilled if you’ll use it in the UK).
What if I’m a dual national (UK + other)? Use your British passport for the British document, and ensure any non-UK civil status papers are properly translated/apostilled.
Fees? Expect three buckets: consular fee (if doing the embassy affirmation), LCRO license fee and seminar fee, and PSA copy fees. Amounts vary by city and change over time.

13) Model email to your LCRO (to confirm acceptance)

Subject: Foreign-national marriage license – British proof of capacity Dear [LCRO Officer/Registrar], I am a British citizen planning to apply for a marriage license in [City/Municipality]. Please confirm which document you accept for a British national: (a) UK-issued Certificate of No Impediment (CNI) with apostille, or (b) British Embassy Manila Affidavit/Affirmation of Marital Status. Kindly advise if you require apostille on the consular affirmation, and any additional local forms. Thank you. [Name | Passport no. | Contact]

14) After the wedding: immigration & name change notes

For UK immigration (spouse/partner routes) you’ll use the PSA marriage certificate (apostilled) plus relationship/financial evidence.
For a UK passport name change, HM Passport Office will rely on your marriage certificate (apostilled if requested) or a deed poll—follow HMPO guidance.
For Philippine immigration (if the Brit will reside): marriage to a Filipino may support 13(a) resident visa; your PSA certificate is essential.

15) Bottom line

The Philippine requirement is an LCCM-equivalent from your embassy or a UK CNI—either is typically acceptable, but ask the LCRO that will issue your license.
Route A (UK CNI) needs UK notice + apostille; Route B (Embassy affirmation) is done in Manila and widely accepted.
Align your documents, apostilles, and timelines with the LCRO’s checklist, and plan for the 10-day posting before the license issues.
Keep multiple PSA marriage certificates (and apostille a copy) for later immigration, banking, and passport tasks.

If you share where you’ll apply, your target ceremony date, and your prior-marital-status documents (divorce/final order, etc.), I can map a date-by-date checklist and tailor your LCRO submission pack.