A marriage license is the government’s authorization for a couple to marry in the Philippines. In most cases, you must secure it before the wedding ceremony, wait through a mandatory 10-day posting period, and use it within 120 days after issuance. The process is handled by the Local Civil Registrar, but documentary checklists, appointment systems, and fees differ among cities and municipalities. This guide explains the national legal requirements, the usual city hall procedure, additional documents for young applicants, previously married persons and foreigners, and the situations in which Philippine law allows marriage without a license.

What Is a Marriage License?

A marriage license confirms that the Local Civil Registrar has received the couple’s sworn applications and checked the documents relating to their age, identity, residence and civil status.

It is different from a marriage certificate:

Document	When obtained	Purpose
Marriage license	Before the wedding	Authorizes the couple to marry
Marriage certificate	Signed during the wedding and registered afterward	Records and proves that the marriage took place
PSA marriage certificate	After the registered record is transmitted to the Philippine Statistics Authority	Nationally issued certified copy of the marriage record

Under Articles 2 to 4 of the Family Code of the Philippines, a valid marriage license is ordinarily a formal requisite of marriage. A wedding celebrated without one is generally void from the beginning unless it falls within a specific statutory exception. (Lawphil)

This is why couples should never rely on promises that an organizer, fixer, solemnizing officer or city hall contact can “process the license later.” A license must normally exist when the marriage is celebrated.

Who Can Apply for a Marriage License in the Philippines?

Both parties must be at least 18 years old and must have no legal impediment to marry each other.

A person below 18 cannot validly marry even with parental permission. Article 35 of the Family Code treats such a marriage as void, while Republic Act No. 11596, enacted in 2021, prohibits and penalizes child marriage and its facilitation. (Lawphil)

Legal impediments may include:

An existing valid marriage
A prohibited blood or family relationship
Lack of the required legal capacity
A prior marriage that has not been legally terminated and properly recorded
Absence of a judicial declaration required before entering a subsequent marriage

Being separated from a spouse for many years does not make a person single. Unless the prior spouse has died or the marriage has been legally dissolved through a process recognized in the Philippines, the person remains married.

Where to Apply for a Marriage License

Article 9 of the Family Code requires the application to be filed with the Local Civil Registrar of the city or municipality where either applicant habitually resides. Once issued, the license may be used anywhere in the Philippines. (Lawphil)

For example:

A Quezon City resident marrying a Cebu resident may apply in Quezon City or Cebu.
After issuance, the couple may use the license for a wedding in Bohol, Tagaytay or another Philippine locality.
The wedding venue does not necessarily determine where the license application must be filed.

“Habitual residence” means the place where the applicant genuinely and ordinarily lives. Local civil registrars commonly ask for an identification card showing the address, a barangay residency certificate, or another document proving residence.

Do not assume that every Local Civil Registrar accepts nonresidents simply because the wedding venue is located there. Check the current citizen’s charter of the relevant city or municipality before securing documents or booking a seminar.

Marriage License Requirements at a Glance

The following is the usual current checklist. The Local Civil Registrar may require additional copies, photographs, forms or supporting records.

Requirement	Who normally submits it	Important details
Marriage license application, commonly Municipal Form No. 90	Both applicants	Each applicant completes a separate sworn application
Birth certificate	Both applicants	PSA-issued copy is generally preferred
Baptismal certificate	Applicant without an available birth certificate	Must usually be certified by the custodian of the church record
PSA Certificate of No Marriage Record or CENOMAR	Both applicants	Many LGUs require a recently issued original
Valid government ID	Both applicants	Used to verify identity, age and address
Proof of residence	At least the applicant whose LGU is processing the application	May be an ID, barangay certificate or similar record
Responsible parenthood and family planning seminar certificate	Both applicants	Required before issuance of the license
ID photographs	Both applicants	Size and number vary by LGU
Parental consent or advice	Applicants within the applicable age group	Rules differ for ages 18–20 and 21–25
Marriage counseling certificate	Applicants requiring parental consent or advice	Separate from the general responsible parenthood seminar
Previous-marriage records	Widowed, annulled, divorced or formerly married applicants	Must establish that the prior marriage no longer prevents remarriage
Foreigner’s legal-capacity document	Each foreign applicant	Issued or recognized through the foreigner’s embassy, consulate or applicable national process

Quezon City’s current checklist, for example, requires completed application forms, birth or baptismal certificates, an original CENOMAR, valid identification, photographs and the applicable seminar certificates. Other LGUs use similar core requirements but may differ in the number of copies, accepted IDs and document-validity periods. (Quezon City Government)

Birth Certificate or Baptismal Certificate

Article 12 of the Family Code directs the civil registrar to require the original birth certificate or, if it is unavailable, a baptismal certificate or properly certified copy. (Lawphil)

In practice, obtain a clear PSA birth certificate early. Common problems include:

Blurred or unreadable entries
Different spellings across the birth certificate, ID and CENOMAR
An incorrect date or place of birth
A first name, middle name or surname discrepancy
A birth record that has not yet been endorsed to the PSA
A foreign birth record requiring apostille, authentication or translation

The Family Code provides alternative proof when a birth or baptismal record has been destroyed, lost or requested but not received after at least 15 days. This may involve an affidavit and the sworn declarations of two adult witnesses. Because Local Civil Registrars carefully examine these cases, applicants should disclose the missing record before the planned filing date rather than arriving with an improvised affidavit.

PSA CENOMAR

A CENOMAR is the PSA certification showing that no marriage record under the person’s name was found in the PSA database as of the date of issuance. It may be requested through the PSA’s civil registry document services. (Philippine Statistics Authority)

The CENOMAR requirement is based on civil-registration regulations, including OCRG Memorandum Circular No. 2006-1, which is referenced in PSA Memorandum Circular No. 2018-18.

A CENOMAR is not a court judgment and does not conclusively determine marital status in every situation. It may fail to reflect:

A recently registered marriage not yet transmitted to the PSA
A marriage recorded under a misspelled or different name
A foreign marriage not yet reported to Philippine authorities
A marriage contained only in a damaged, delayed or unendorsed local record

Some LGUs require the CENOMAR to have been issued within the previous six months. That is a local documentary policy rather than a universal validity period stated in the Family Code, so confirm the acceptable issuance date before ordering it.

Responsible Parenthood and Family Planning Seminar

Section 15 of Republic Act No. 10354, the Responsible Parenthood and Reproductive Health Act of 2012, requires marriage-license applicants to receive instructions on responsible parenthood, family planning, breastfeeding, infant nutrition and related subjects. A certificate of compliance is required before the Local Civil Registrar issues the marriage license. The law states that the instruction and certificate are to be provided free of charge. (Lawphil)

LGUs use different names for this requirement, including:

Pre-marriage orientation
Family planning seminar
Responsible parenthood seminar
Pre-marriage counseling
PMOC or pre-marriage orientation and counseling

Appointment schedules can be a major bottleneck. Some LGUs conduct seminars only on designated days or require online registration. Complete the seminar early enough that it does not delay the filing or release of the license.

Additional Requirements Based on Age

Applicants Aged 18 to 20: Parental Consent

An applicant who is at least 18 but below 21 must obtain written consent from the father, mother, surviving parent, guardian or person having legal charge, in the order stated in Article 14 of the Family Code.

The consenting person may:

Appear personally before the Local Civil Registrar; or
Execute an affidavit in the presence of two witnesses before an official authorized to administer oaths.

The affidavit or recorded consent is attached to the marriage-license applications. (Lawphil)

A marriage celebrated by a person aged 18 to 20 without the required parental consent is not automatically treated in the same way as a marriage involving a child below 18. It is generally voidable under Article 45 of the Family Code and may be challenged through an annulment case, subject to the statutory rules on who may file and when.

Applicants Aged 21 to 25: Parental Advice

An applicant aged 21 to 25 must ask a parent or guardian for advice regarding the intended marriage.

The application should include:

A sworn statement that parental advice was requested
The written advice, if given
A statement that the parent or guardian refused to provide advice, if applicable

Parental advice is not the same as parental consent. A parent cannot permanently prevent an adult applicant aged 21 to 25 from marrying. However, when the advice is unfavorable or is not obtained, the license cannot be issued until three months after completion of the 10-day publication period. (Lawphil)

Additional Marriage Counseling for Applicants Aged 18 to 25

When parental consent or parental advice is required, Article 16 also requires a marriage-counseling certificate issued by an authorized priest, imam, minister or duly accredited marriage counselor.

If only one applicant falls within the relevant age group, the other applicant must still attend the counseling. Failure to submit the certificate delays issuance for three months after completion of publication. (Lawphil)

This age-based marriage counseling is legally distinct from the responsible parenthood and family planning instruction required of marriage-license applicants generally.

Requirements for Previously Married Applicants

A person who has been married before must prove that the prior marriage no longer creates a legal impediment.

If the Previous Spouse Died

The usual requirements are:

PSA death certificate of the deceased spouse
PSA marriage certificate from the previous marriage
CENOMAR or Advisory on Marriages reflecting the prior record
Additional identity or civil-registry documents requested by the LCR

Article 13 permits an affidavit when the death certificate cannot be secured, stating the circumstances, the applicant’s actual civil status, and the deceased spouse’s name and date of death. In practice, expect careful verification before an alternative is accepted. (Lawphil)

If the Previous Marriage Was Annulled or Declared Void

A court decision alone may not be enough. PSA Memorandum Circular No. 2018-18 directs civil registrars to require the original or certified copy of the Judicial Decree of Annulment, Judicial Decree of Nullity or Judicial Decree of Absolute Divorce, as applicable, and to verify its authenticity. The decree is issued after compliance with the registration, property and presumptive-legitime requirements imposed by the Family Code and court rules.

The applicant should ordinarily have:

Certified copy of the court decision
Certificate of finality
Judicial decree of annulment or declaration of nullity
Proof that the judgment and decree were registered
PSA marriage certificate bearing the proper annotation
Updated CENOMAR or Advisory on Marriages

Do not schedule a new wedding merely because the judge has issued a favorable decision. The decision must become final, the decree must be issued, and the required civil-registry annotations must be completed.

If There Was a Foreign Divorce

The requirements depend heavily on the applicant’s citizenship and the circumstances of the former marriage.

A foreign national may be asked for:

Final foreign divorce decree
Evidence that the divorce is effective under the foreigner’s national law
Certificate of legal capacity to marry
Apostille or authentication
Certified English translation
Former marriage certificate and other embassy-required documents

A Filipino previously married to a foreign citizen generally cannot rely on the foreign divorce decree alone when applying for another Philippine marriage license. The foreign divorce and the foreign spouse’s national law must ordinarily be proved and judicially recognized in a Philippine Regional Trial Court, followed by registration and annotation of the marriage record.

In Republic v. Manalo, the Supreme Court held that Article 26 of the Family Code may apply even when the Filipino spouse participated in or initiated the foreign divorce, provided a valid foreign divorce capacitated the foreign spouse to remarry. Philippine courts must still recognize the decree and the applicable foreign law before the Filipino spouse’s capacity to remarry is properly established. (Supreme Court E-Library)

Marriage License Requirements for Foreigners

Article 21 of the Family Code requires each foreign applicant to submit a certificate of legal capacity to contract marriage issued by the foreigner’s diplomatic or consular officials. Stateless persons and refugees may instead submit an affidavit explaining the circumstances establishing their capacity to marry. (Lawphil)

The exact name and form of the document vary by nationality. It may be called:

Certificate of legal capacity to marry
Certificate of no impediment
Certificate of freedom to marry
Affidavit of legal capacity to contract marriage
Consular certificate regarding marital status

Some embassies issue a certificate after checking national records. Others do not certify marital status and instead provide or recognize a sworn affidavit. For example, official United States guidance has stated that locally notarized legal-capacity affidavits may be accepted under Philippine civil-registration procedures. Applicants should verify the current rule with both their embassy and the specific Local Civil Registrar. (U.S. Embassy in the Philippines)

LGUs commonly request additional foreigner documents, such as:

Original passport and photocopy of the biographical page
Latest Philippine entry stamp
Valid visa, visa extension or Alien Certificate of Registration, when applicable
Birth certificate
Foreign civil-status record
Divorce decree or death certificate of a former spouse
Certified English translation of documents in another language

Foreign public documents from an Apostille Convention country generally require an apostille from that country’s competent authority rather than Philippine embassy authentication. Documents from nonparty countries may need the traditional authentication or legalization process. The receiving Local Civil Registrar should confirm the exact treatment of each document before it is sent to the Philippines. (Philippine Embassy New Delhi)

Step-by-Step Marriage License Application Process

Choose the proper Local Civil Registrar. File in the city or municipality where either applicant habitually resides.
Obtain the LGU’s current checklist. Check its citizen’s charter, online portal or Civil Registrar’s Office. Confirm the accepted age of PSA documents, photograph specifications, seminar schedule and number of photocopies.
Secure PSA and supporting documents. Order birth certificates, CENOMARs, prior marriage records and death certificates early. Resolve obvious name or date inconsistencies before filing.
Complete the required seminars. Attend the responsible parenthood and family planning instruction. Applicants requiring parental consent or advice must also comply with the applicable marriage-counseling requirement.
Prepare special documents. Obtain parental consent, parental advice, court decrees, annotated records, foreign legal-capacity certificates, apostilles or translations when applicable.
Appear before the Local Civil Registrar. Both applicants ordinarily appear personally, present the originals and complete separate sworn applications. Some LGUs permit online encoding or document uploads, but still require personal appearance and submission of originals. Quezon City, for example, offers online preliminary processing followed by an in-person stage. (Quezon City Government)
Pay the prescribed fees. The Local Civil Registrar issues an order of payment or directs the applicants to the city or municipal treasurer.
Wait through the 10-day posting period. The civil registrar posts a notice containing the applicants’ names, residences and relevant application details for 10 consecutive days. The notice allows persons who know of a legal impediment to report it. (Lawphil)
Claim and inspect the marriage license. Many LGUs release the license on or after the 11th day, provided all requirements have been satisfied. Check the spelling of the names, license number, place of issuance and expiration date immediately.
Give the license to the authorized solemnizing officer. Confirm the wedding date falls within the 120-day validity period and that the solemnizing officer is legally authorized to perform the marriage.

How Long Does It Take?

For an uncomplicated application with complete documents, the legal minimum is generally a little more than 10 days because the notice must be posted for 10 consecutive days before issuance.

Actual preparation may take longer because of:

Limited seminar schedules
Delayed PSA document delivery
CENOMAR or birth-certificate discrepancies
Verification of court decrees
Embassy appointments
Apostille or authentication processing
Translation of foreign documents
The three-month delay involving missing or unfavorable parental advice
The three-month delay involving a missing age-based counseling certificate

A realistic plan is to begin gathering documents several weeks before the preferred filing date. Cases involving a prior foreign divorce, an unannotated court judgment or missing civil-registry records may require months rather than weeks.

Marriage License Fees

Article 19 allows the Local Civil Registrar to collect fees prescribed by law or regulation but prohibits additional sums in the nature of a fee or tax for issuance of the license.

The license must be issued free to indigent applicants who have no visible means of income or whose income is insufficient for subsistence, as established by affidavit or oath before the civil registrar. The civil registrar must also prepare the legally required forms and administer the relevant oaths without charge, and application documents are exempt from documentary stamp tax. (Lawphil)

The final out-of-pocket cost varies because couples may separately pay for:

PSA certificates
Photocopies and photographs
Notarization outside the civil registrar’s office
Apostilles, authentication or translations
Barangay certificates
Local filing or license fees established by the LGU

The responsible parenthood instruction and corresponding certificate under Republic Act No. 10354 should be provided free.

How Long Is a Marriage License Valid?

A marriage license is valid for 120 days from its date of issuance, not from the filing date, seminar date or intended wedding date.

It may be used anywhere in the Philippines during that period. It is automatically cancelled upon expiration and cannot simply be extended. If the wedding does not occur before the expiry date, the couple must normally file a new application, submit the required documents and complete a new posting period. (Lawphil)

Couples should avoid applying too early when the wedding date is still uncertain. At the same time, they should not wait until the last minute because an unexpected documentary discrepancy can prevent release.

When Is a Marriage License Not Required?

Articles 27 to 34 of the Family Code recognize limited exceptions, including:

A marriage where either or both parties are at the point of death
A marriage involving a party whose residence is so remote that there is no means of transportation to enable personal appearance before the civil registrar
Certain marriages performed by a ship captain, airplane chief or military commander under the conditions specified by law
Marriages among Muslims or members of ethnic cultural communities solemnized according to applicable customs, rites or practices
A marriage between a man and woman who have lived together as husband and wife for at least five years without any legal impediment to marry each other (Lawphil)

These exceptions are narrowly interpreted.

The Five-Year Cohabitation Exception

Article 34 does not mean that any couple who has dated, lived together occasionally or had children for five years can skip the license.

The couple must have:

Lived together as husband and wife for at least five continuous years
Been legally free to marry each other throughout the required period
Had no existing marriage or other legal impediment
Executed the required sworn affidavit
Been examined by a solemnizing officer who also executes the required sworn statement

In Niñal v. Bayadog, the Supreme Court ruled that years of cohabitation while one partner remained legally married to someone else could not be counted toward the five-year exception. (Supreme Court E-Library)

In Republic v. Dayot, the Court held that a false affidavit claiming five years of cohabitation could not replace a marriage license. Because the exception’s requirements were not genuinely present, the marriage was void for lack of a license. (Supreme Court E-Library)

The Article 34 affidavit is therefore not a shortcut for avoiding the posting period, seminars or documentary requirements.

Common Marriage License Problems to Avoid

Using Different Names Across Documents

Compare every document before filing. A missing middle name, inconsistent suffix, nickname, typographical error or changed surname can trigger further verification.

Use the name appearing in the controlling civil-registry record unless it has been lawfully corrected or changed.

Assuming a CENOMAR Automatically Means “Single”

A CENOMAR reports what the PSA database contains. It does not erase an existing marriage, foreign marriage or unendorsed local record.

Disclose every previous marriage even if it does not yet appear on the CENOMAR.

Presenting Only an Annulment Decision

A favorable decision does not by itself establish completion of all post-judgment requirements. Obtain the certificate of finality, judicial decree, registration records and annotated PSA marriage certificate.

Treating Separation as Termination of Marriage

Legal separation, physical separation and abandonment do not dissolve the marriage bond. A legally separated person generally cannot remarry while the spouse is alive and the marriage remains valid.

Using an Expired License

The 120-day period is mandatory. A ceremony performed after expiration is effectively a ceremony without a valid license unless an actual statutory exemption applies.

Failing to Verify the Solemnizing Officer

A religious solemnizing officer should have a valid Certificate of Registration of Authority to Solemnize Marriage or CRASM and must act within the authority and territorial limits stated in it. PSA guidance specifically reminds couples to verify this authority because it is a formal requisite of marriage. (Philippine Statistics Authority)

A license does not cure the lack of authority of the person performing the ceremony.

Paying a Fixer for an “Instant Marriage License”

The 10-day posting requirement cannot lawfully be erased through payment. False applications, fabricated licenses and false Article 34 affidavits can create serious problems involving the validity of the marriage and possible civil, administrative or criminal liability.

What Happens After the Wedding?

During the ceremony, the couple must personally declare before the solemnizing officer and at least two adult witnesses that they take each other as husband and wife.

The marriage certificate is then signed by:

Both spouses
At least two witnesses of legal age
The solemnizing officer

For an ordinary licensed marriage, the solemnizing officer must transmit the required copies to the Local Civil Registrar of the place where the wedding occurred no later than 15 days after the ceremony. The officer retains the original marriage license and the required file copies. (Lawphil)

For marriages exempt from the license requirement, civil-registration rules generally provide a 30-day registration period. (Quezon City Government)

The marriage will first appear in the records of the Local Civil Registrar. PSA availability is not immediate because the local record must still be processed and transmitted. Couples needing early proof may request a certified copy from the Local Civil Registrar while waiting for the PSA copy.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many days does it take to get a marriage license in the Philippines?

The law requires a 10-day public posting period. Many LGUs release the license on or after the 11th day, provided the documents and seminars are complete. Special cases can take longer.

Can we get married immediately after applying?

Ordinarily, no. The license is issued only after completion of the 10-day posting period. Applicants affected by parental-advice or counseling deficiencies may face an additional three-month delay.

Do both applicants need to appear at city hall?

Yes, personal appearance of both applicants is ordinarily required because each must submit a separate sworn application and the civil registrar must verify identity and capacity. An online application usually does not eliminate the in-person stage.

Can we apply where the wedding will be held?

Only when that city or municipality is also the habitual residence of either applicant or the LGU otherwise has a lawful process applicable to the couple. The basic rule is to apply where either party habitually resides. Once issued, the license is valid nationwide.

Is a CENOMAR required from both applicants?

Local Civil Registrars generally require one for each applicant under PSA civil-registration regulations. A previously married applicant may also need an Advisory on Marriages and the documents proving termination of the earlier marriage.

Is parental consent required if I am already 21?

Parental consent is required for applicants aged 18 to 20. Applicants aged 21 to 25 must seek parental advice instead. Unfavorable or unavailable advice delays issuance but does not give the parent a permanent veto over the adult applicant’s marriage.

Can a foreigner marry in the Philippines on a tourist visa?

Foreigners may marry in the Philippines if they meet the legal-capacity and documentary requirements. The Local Civil Registrar commonly checks the passport, entry record, legal stay and certificate or affidavit of legal capacity. Requirements vary by nationality and LGU.

Can we use the marriage license after 120 days?

No. It is automatically cancelled upon expiration. A new application and posting process are normally required.

Do we need a license if we have lived together for five years?

Only when every requirement of Article 34 is genuinely satisfied, including continuous cohabitation for at least five years during which both parties were legally free to marry each other. A false affidavit cannot lawfully replace a license.

Is the marriage license the same as the PSA marriage certificate?

No. The license authorizes the wedding. The marriage certificate records the completed wedding, and the PSA certificate is the nationally issued copy of the registered marriage record.

Key Takeaways

A marriage license is normally required before a wedding in the Philippines.
Apply with the Local Civil Registrar where either applicant habitually resides.
Both applicants must be at least 18 and free from legal impediments.
Usual requirements include sworn applications, birth records, CENOMARs, IDs, proof of residence and seminar certificates.
Applicants aged 18 to 20 need parental consent; those aged 21 to 25 must seek parental advice.
Previously married applicants must prove that the prior marriage was legally terminated and properly recorded.
Foreigners generally need a certificate or accepted equivalent showing legal capacity to marry.
The mandatory posting period is 10 consecutive days.
The license is valid nationwide for 120 days from issuance and cannot be extended.
Marriage without a license is valid only within the narrow exceptions expressly provided by law.