How to Check if Your Marriage Is Registered with the PSA (Philippines)

This guide explains every practical and legal aspect of confirming that a marriage is on file with the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA). It covers what “registration” means, timelines, how to verify status, what to do if no record is found, special cases (church weddings, marriages abroad, Muslim/IP customary marriages), and how errors and late/delayed registrations are fixed. Philippine law and long-standing civil registry practice are used as the frame of reference.

Why PSA registration matters

Proof for government and private transactions. A PSA-issued Certificate of Marriage (security paper, a.k.a. SECPA) is the accepted proof for passports, visas, benefits (SSS, GSIS, PhilHealth), property, and banking.
The marriage’s validity is not created by PSA registration. A marriage is valid if the essential and formal requisites under the Family Code are present (consent, capacity, authority of the solemnizing officer, marriage license or a valid exception, etc.). PSA registration is the official recording of the event, not the source of validity.
Practical consequences. Without a PSA record, you may face delays or denials in transactions that require a PSA copy or a PSA Advisory on Marriages (AOM).

Key agencies and records

Local Civil Registry (LCR). City/municipal civil registry where the marriage is first recorded. The solemnizing officer files the certificate here.
PSA Civil Registry System (CRS). National database. LCRs regularly transmit events to PSA for inclusion in the central index.
PSA documents relevant to checking status:
- Certificate of Marriage (on PSA security paper): the definitive copy of the marriage record.
- Advisory on Marriages (AOM): a consolidated listing of a person’s recorded marriages; useful to check whether a marriage already appears in the PSA database.
- Certificate of No Marriage Record (CENOMAR): if single, this shows no marriage recorded; once a marriage is recorded, it should change accordingly. (Some offices now use the AOM in lieu of the old CENOMAR naming convention—follow the requesting office’s instruction.)

Legal backdrop (essentials)

Duty to register: The solemnizing officer must submit the marriage certificate for registration with the LCR within 15 days (Family Code; civil registration rules under Act No. 3753).
Transmission to PSA: The LCR transmits registered events to PSA in batches per established schedules.
Late/Delayed registration: If the certificate was not filed on time, the LCR can accept late/ delayed registration upon compliance with evidentiary and procedural requirements.
Corrections:
- Clerical/typographical errors (including day and month, and sex) can be corrected administratively under RA 9048 and RA 10172 through the LCR/PSA route.
- Substantial errors (e.g., identity, nationality, marital status at time of marriage) generally require a court order before PSA can annotate the record.

Expected timelines

LCR registration: Typically soon after the wedding (within 15 days from signing).
PSA availability: After LCR transmittal and PSA encoding, several weeks to a few months is common. Rural/remote LCRs or peak seasons can lengthen this.
Marriages abroad: Expect a longer cycle—documents pass from the Philippine Embassy/Consulate (Report of Marriage) to the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA), then to PSA, before appearing in PSA databases.

Practical tip: If it has been 2–3 months and your PSA copy is still unavailable, move to the diagnostic steps below—starting at the LCR.

How to check if your marriage is registered with the PSA

Step 1: Confirm LCR registration details

Visit or contact the LCR of the place of marriage. Ask for:

Registry Book number and page, local registry number, and date of registration.
Whether the entry has already been transmitted to PSA (and the transmittal/batch number if available).
If not yet transmitted, ask when the next batch will be sent.

If the LCR cannot find your record, you may be dealing with late/ delayed registration or a filing lapse by the solemnizing officer. The LCR will instruct you on the evidence to reconstruct/late-register (e.g., marriage license, church certificate, affidavits of parties/solemnizing officer/ witnesses).

Step 2: Request a PSA record

You can verify PSA status in two ways:

A. Request a PSA Certificate of Marriage

If issued, your marriage is on file in PSA.
If PSA returns “No record found”, proceed to Step 3.

B. Request a PSA Advisory on Marriages (AOM) for either spouse

If your marriage appears in the AOM, PSA has your record (even if the certificate is still in final processing).
If it does not appear, you likely need an LCR endorsement or to wait for the next transmittal.

Identification & authority: PSA releases civil registry documents only to the document owner or authorized representatives (spouse, parent, direct descendant) with valid government ID, and—if by representative—a signed authorization letter/special power of attorney and IDs of both parties.

Step 3: If PSA says “No record found”

Work through these in order:

Recheck with the LCR
- Verify the exact spelling of names, dates, and places; even small discrepancies can lead to a “no match” when PSA searches.
- Confirm transmittal to PSA actually occurred. If not, request that the LCR include your entry in the next transmittal.
Ask for an LCR endorsement to PSA
- The LCR may issue an Electronic Endorsement or Manual Endorsement (depending on the system used) directing PSA to locate or encode the record.
- Keep copies of the LCR’s certified true copy and any endorsement letter.
Manual/Expedite verification at a PSA outlet
- Some PSA CRS outlets accept requests for manual verification when a valid LCR entry exists but is not yet findable in the central index. Bring the LCR certified copy and endorsement.
Late/Delayed Registration
- If the LCR confirms no original registration was ever made, file for late/ delayed registration of marriage with the LCR. Requirements generally include the marriage license (or proof of exemption), church/solemnizing officer certificate, affidavits, IDs, and supporting documents. After LCR approval and transmittal, repeat Step 2.

Special situations

1) Church or religious weddings

The solemnizing officer (e.g., priest, pastor) files the certificate with the LCR. If there’s a gap, request the church to issue certification and assist in late filing if needed.

2) Civil weddings outside your hometown

The LCR of the place where the wedding occurred holds the first record. Verify there even if you reside elsewhere.

3) Marriages of Muslims and Indigenous Peoples (IP) under customary law

These are registrable with the LCR (or Shari’a court channels as applicable) and then transmitted to PSA. If not found at PSA, confirm registration at the appropriate local registry/Shari’a court and request endorsement.

4) Marriages celebrated abroad

Ensure you filed a Report of Marriage (ROM) with the Philippine Embassy/Consulate with jurisdiction. Follow up the ROM’s path: Post → DFA Office of Consular Records → PSA. If PSA still has no record, request the Post/DFA to retransmit/endorse.

5) Annulments, nullity, legal separation, divorce (foreign or local)

Court decisions (or recognized foreign divorces) must be registered/annotated on the PSA marriage record.
To check: request a PSA Certificate of Marriage and see if annotations appear on the margin (case title/number, court, date). If not, coordinate with counsel to transmit the decision/entry of judgment for annotation via the LCR/PSA channel.

Common errors and how they are corrected

Misspellings, wrong dates, transposed details
- File a petition for correction under RA 9048/10172 at the LCR. After approval and PSA annotation, request a new PSA copy.
Wrong civil status, nationality, or identity
- These are substantial and usually need a court order. The decision must be forwarded for PSA annotation before it reflects on your PSA copy.

Always bring supporting IDs and copies of the original LCR record when seeking corrections or endorsements.

Practical checklist (step-by-step)

Wait a reasonable period after the wedding (often a few weeks to a couple of months for PSA appearance).
Confirm LCR registration: get registry number, book/page, and date; verify transmittal to PSA.
Request from PSA:
- Primary: Certificate of Marriage.
- If negative or for quick status: AOM for either spouse.
If not found: secure LCR certified copy and endorsement; request manual verification at a PSA outlet.
If never registered: file late/ delayed registration at the LCR; after approval/transmittal, repeat Step 3.
If details are wrong: file administrative correction (RA 9048/10172) or pursue court correction; wait for PSA annotation, then re-request.

Frequently asked questions

How long until my PSA marriage certificate becomes available? It varies. After LCR registration, allow several weeks to a few months for PSA encoding. Marriages reported from abroad generally take longer.

Will a “no record” response annul my marriage? No. It only means PSA has not yet indexed the record (or there is an error/late filing). Validity turns on the Family Code requisites, not PSA appearance.

What’s faster for checking—Certificate vs. AOM? An AOM can be a quick way to see if PSA has indexed any marriage for a person. For transactions, you’ll still need the Certificate of Marriage.

Can someone else request my PSA document? Yes, if they are an authorized representative with your signed authorization/SPA and valid IDs (yours and theirs). Direct ascendants/descendants and spouses are typically allowed requestors.

My marriage was a church wedding and the priest says it was filed—PSA still has none. What now? Confirm LCR registration and secure LCR endorsement to PSA. If no LCR entry exists, process delayed registration with the LCR, with the church assisting.

I changed my name after marriage. Does PSA update that? The marriage certificate simply records the event. Name change usage (e.g., for passports/banks) follows administrative practice and agency rules; PSA does not “change your name” by itself.

How do I know if my annulment/nullity is reflected? Your PSA marriage certificate should show an annotation. If absent, coordinate with your lawyer and the LCR to have the final decision and entry of judgment transmitted and annotated.

Document and information you’ll typically need

Valid government-issued ID of the requesting party
Full names of both spouses (as they appeared on the certificate)
Date and place of marriage
Name of the father and mother (often asked for search precision)
LCR details: registry number, book/page, date of registration (if available)
Authorization/SPA and IDs, if using a representative
For special cases: LCR certified true copy, endorsement letter, court orders/decisions, Report of Marriage and DFA/consular receipts, church certifications

Bottom line

Verify LCR registration first; 2) request a PSA Certificate of Marriage or AOM; 3) if not found, obtain LCR endorsement or process late/ delayed registration; 4) correct any errors via RA 9048/10172 or court order; and 5) for overseas or special marriages, ensure the proper Report/registration and transmittal path is completed.

Following this sequence eliminates most delays and ensures your marriage appears correctly in the PSA Civil Registry System.