How to Verify Marriage Registration with the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA)

Philippine legal guide — practical, step-by-step, and up to date as of 2025. This is general information, not legal advice.

Quick answers

Definitive proof your marriage is in PSA records: a PSA-issued Marriage Certificate (on security paper).
Fastest cross-check if you’re unsure: request an Advisory on Marriages (formerly called a CENOMAR result for marriages). If your marriage appears there, PSA has it.
If there’s “No record”: verify with the Local Civil Registrar (LCR) of the place of marriage, then ask for endorsement to PSA or file delayed registration if it was never filed.
Married abroad: your marriage appears in PSA only after a Report of Marriage (ROM) is filed with a Philippine embassy/consulate and transmitted to PSA.

Key agencies & documents

PSA (Philippine Statistics Authority): National custodian of civil registry records (births, marriages, deaths). Issues certified copies on security paper (SECPA).
LCR (Local Civil Registrar): City/municipal office where the marriage took place (or where a Report of Marriage is first recorded for marriages abroad). Keeps the local registry book and transmits records to PSA.
Marriage Certificate (PSA copy): The gold standard to prove PSA registration.
Advisory on Marriages: A PSA document listing all marriages of a person as found in its database. Useful for verification and legal due diligence.
Certificate of No Marriage Record (CENOMAR): Confirms no marriage on record; practically superseded by the Advisory when checking an individual’s marital history.

Legal foundation (what the law requires)

Family Code of the Philippines: The officiant must prepare the marriage certificate immediately after the ceremony and send copies to the LCR within 15 days for registration.
Act No. 3753 (Civil Registry Law), as amended; R.A. 10625 (created PSA): Establish the civil registration system and PSA’s authority to issue certified copies.
R.A. 9048 / R.A. 10172: Allow administrative correction of clerical/typographical errors (and in limited cases, day/month of birth and sex) on civil registry entries without court action—used when fixing minor errors blocking PSA encoding or matches.
P.D. 1083 (Code of Muslim Personal Laws): Recognizes Muslim marriages; still registered with the LCR and transmitted to PSA.

How marriage records flow (so you know where to check)

Solemnization (judge, priest, imam, etc.).
Officiant files the signed marriage certificate with the LCR within 15 days.
LCR registers the event in the local civil registry (assigns registry book entry details).
LCR transmits to PSA in batches (electronic and/or endorsed paper images).
PSA encodes/indexes the record; it becomes retrievable nationwide.

Practical timeline: Many records show up at PSA a few weeks to a few months after LCR registration. Recent marriages may not appear immediately in PSA even if they’re already in the LCR.

Verification paths (choose what fits your situation)

A) Standard: Request a PSA Marriage Certificate

Where: Any PSA CRS outlet or through PSA’s official online request channels (delivery available).
What to bring: 1 government-issued ID. If you’re a representative, bring an authorization letter and photocopy of an ID of one contracting party (best practice; some channels will require it).
Result: If PSA issues the certificate, your marriage is registered in PSA. If “No record found,” proceed to section D below.

B) Cross-check: Request an Advisory on Marriages for either spouse

Use this when: You only need to confirm appearance of the marriage in PSA or check if there are prior marriages.
Result: If the marriage appears with the correct details, PSA has it. If it says “No record,” go to section D.

C) Verify first at the LCR (especially for recent marriages)

Visit/call the LCR of the place of marriage. Ask for:
- Confirmation of LCR registration (book/entry/year and date of registration).
- Status of transmittal to PSA (when/what batch).
If registered locally but not yet in PSA, request a follow-up endorsement/transmittal to PSA.

D) If PSA says “No record” — what to do

Check timing and spelling: Recent marriages may not be uploaded yet; also ensure names are exactly as on IDs (middle names, hyphens, suffixes Jr./III).
Confirm LCR registration: If the LCR has it, ask them to endorse or re-endorse to PSA and give you a reference (transmittal date/batch).
If LCR has no record:
- Ask the officiant/church for a certification and copy of the marriage entry.
- File a Delayed Registration of Marriage at the LCR of the place of marriage (requirements typically include: accomplished marriage certificate, affidavits explaining the delay, IDs, proof of solemnization such as church/solemnizing officer certification, and witnesses if required).
Name/date errors: Use R.A. 9048/10172 administrative correction at the LCR to fix typos that prevent PSA matching; major/substantive corrections require court petition.
Get a PSA “Negative Result” (if issued) to attach to your LCR follow-up—some LCRs ask for this when endorsing.

E) Married abroad (Report of Marriage)

Your marriage won’t exist in PSA unless a Report of Marriage (ROM) is filed with the Philippine embassy/consulate with jurisdiction over the place of marriage.
Steps:
1. File ROM with the embassy/consulate (usually within 1 year of marriage; late ROMs are accepted with explanation/affidavits).
2. The foreign service post transmits the ROM to the LCR of Manila (or designated LCR) and then to PSA.
3. Verify by requesting a PSA ROM copy (it appears as a marriage certificate with ROM details) or an Advisory on Marriages.
No PSA record yet? Follow up with the consulate on transmittal status, then ask the LCR/PSA route for endorsement.

Who may request and ID rules (practical)

Best practice: Either spouse should request. If a third party must request, prepare an authorization letter signed by a spouse plus photocopies of valid IDs (requester and authorizer).
Bring originals of IDs when claiming in person or upon delivery.
Minor spouses / sensitive cases: Expect stricter identity/authorization checks.

Typical processing & fees (what to expect)

CRS outlets: If the record is already in PSA, same-day or scheduled release is common.
Online requests: Delivery takes several business days, depending on location.
Fees: There’s a per-copy fee (and delivery/service fees online). Rates change; confirm current amounts when you apply.

Common issues and how to avoid them

Name mismatches: Use the exact spelling, middle name (mother’s maiden surname), suffix (Jr./III), and marriage date/place.
Multiple first names/surnames or hyphens: Try the exact version on the marriage certificate filed with the LCR.
Recent marriage not yet in PSA: Allow time, then ask the LCR to endorse; bring your LCR registry details when you request again from PSA.
Church vs. civil details differ: The LCR entry controls what PSA will show; correct the LCR first.
Annulment/nullity/divorce annotations: PSA will annotate your marriage record only after the final decree/judgment (and, for foreign divorces, a Philippine court recognition case) is registered with the LCR and then transmitted to PSA. Request a PSA copy “with annotation” to verify the update.

Step-by-step checklists

1) Newlyweds (married in the Philippines)

Wait a few weeks, then request an Advisory on Marriages (or marriage certificate) from PSA.
If no record, visit the LCR:
- Get registry book/page/entry and date of registration.
- Ask when it was transmitted to PSA; if not yet, request endorsement.
Re-request from PSA after endorsement/processing.

2) Married years ago but “no PSA record”

Go to the LCR where you married; search old registry books.
If found, ask LCR to endorse to PSA and give you proof of transmittal.
If not found, gather proof (officiant/church certification, witnesses) and file Delayed Registration of Marriage, then have it endorsed to PSA.
Re-request a PSA Marriage Certificate.

3) Married abroad

Ensure a Report of Marriage was filed with the Philippine embassy/consulate.
Ask for transmittal status to the LCR/PSA.
Request a PSA ROM/marriage certificate or Advisory on Marriages.
If absent, follow up for endorsement.

What a PSA Marriage Certificate shows

Names of the spouses (with middle names), dates/places of birth, citizenship, civil status before marriage, date and place of marriage, officiant, witnesses, and notes (e.g., marginal annotations for annulment/nullity or court-recognized foreign divorce).
It is printed on PSA security paper with serial features; government and private institutions generally require this for legal transactions (SSS/GSIS, PhilHealth, Pag-IBIG, passports, visas, bank matters, property registration, dependent benefits, etc.).

Fixing errors that block PSA verification

Typos/clerical errors (e.g., a letter off in a name): File a petition under R.A. 9048 at the LCR where the marriage is registered (or where the record is kept).
Substantive errors (e.g., completely different person, status issues): Usually require a court petition.
Once corrected/annotated at the LCR, the update must be endorsed to PSA; then request a PSA copy with the annotation.

Practical tips

Keep copies: Save scans/photos of your LCR-stamped marriage certificate, registry details, and any endorsement letters.
Use consistent identity: Align your names across IDs before re-requesting from PSA.
Name after marriage: Philippine law does not require a wife to take the husband’s surname; choose the convention you’ll use consistently across records.
For urgent needs: Bring LCR proof of registration when requesting at a PSA outlet; it helps staff verify and advise on endorsements.

Sample follow-up memo you can bring to the LCR

Subject: Request for Endorsement/Transmittal of Marriage Record to PSA Parties: [Full Name of Husband], [Full Name of Wife] Date & Place of Marriage: [Date], [City/Municipality], [Province] LCR Details: Registry Book/Year: []; Page/Entry No.: [] Request: Kindly endorse/re-endorse our registered marriage record to the Philippine Statistics Authority for inclusion in the PSA database. We attach copies of our IDs and any PSA negative results for reference. Contact: [Mobile/Email]

Frequently asked questions

Is an Advisory on Marriages enough for visa/bank/SSS? Most institutions ask for the PSA Marriage Certificate. The Advisory is helpful for verification, but the certificate is the primary document.

Can anyone request my marriage certificate? In practice, PSA and delivery partners require valid IDs and may require authorization when the requester is not one of the spouses. To avoid delays, have a spouse request or provide a written authorization and ID copies.

How long until a recent marriage appears in PSA? It varies. It depends on how quickly the officiant filed, the LCR registered, and the transmittal to PSA. If you’re on a deadline, go to the LCR early and ask for endorsement.

My marriage was annulled/nullified; how do I verify that in PSA? After your final court decree (and for foreign divorces, after Philippine court recognition), have the decision registered with the LCR of the place where the marriage was recorded. Once endorsed to PSA, request a PSA marriage certificate with annotation.

Bottom line

To verify registration with certainty, get a PSA Marriage Certificate or, at minimum, an Advisory on Marriages. If the record isn’t found, the LCR is your best ally: confirm local registration, correct any errors, and have the record endorsed to PSA. For marriages abroad, make sure a Report of Marriage was filed and transmitted.