Here’s a comprehensive, practice-oriented legal article on marrying in the Philippines as a foreign national. It’s written for laypersons but faithful to Philippine law and procedure. (General information only; not legal advice.)

Marriage Requirements for Foreign Nationals in the Philippines

1) Legal framework in a nutshell

Family Code of the Philippines – core rules on capacity, consent, licenses, solemnizing officers, and registration.
Special laws – e.g., PD 1083 (Code of Muslim Personal Laws) and statutes protecting minors (e.g., the child marriage prohibition).
Conflict-of-laws rule – a foreigner’s capacity to marry (age, freedom to marry, impediments) is generally governed by their national law; the marriage’s formal validity is governed by the law of the place where the marriage is celebrated (lex loci celebrationis). This is why local civil registrars ask for proof of the foreigner’s legal capacity from their embassy.

2) Who can marry (capacity and consent)

Minimum age: 18. Anyone below 18 cannot marry; such a marriage is void, and facilitating child marriage is a criminal offense.
Parental involvement (Philippine rule, regardless of nationality):
- 18–21 years: Parental consent required.
- 21–25 years: Parental advice required (failure doesn’t bar marriage, but the license can be delayed).
Freedom to marry: Both parties must be single, divorced (with proper recognition, where required), or widowed.
Foreign divorces and prior marriages:
- If the foreigner was previously married and is divorced under their national law, that typically establishes freedom to marry here (show the final divorce decree, duly apostilled/officially authenticated and translated if needed).
- If the Filipino partner had a prior marriage dissolved abroad, the Filipino generally needs a Philippine court judgment recognizing that foreign divorce before the LCR will issue a license to remarry.
Same-sex marriages: As of now, Philippine law does not allow same-sex marriages to be solemnized in the Philippines, even if one party is a foreign national.

3) What documents a foreign national typically prepares

Expect the local civil registrar (LCR) to require:

Passport (original + photocopies of bio page and latest entry stamp).
Proof of legal capacity to marry issued/acknowledged by your embassy/consulate in the Philippines.
- Names vary by country: “Certificate of Legal Capacity to Contract Marriage (CLCCM)”, “Affidavit in Lieu of Legal Capacity,” etc.
- This document confirms you are legally free to marry under your national law.
Proof of civil status:
- Never married: often covered by the embassy’s capacity certificate; some LCRs also ask for a home-country “no marriage record” or equivalent.
- Divorced: final divorce decree (or dissolution judgment), apostilled/authenticated; official translation if not in English/Filipino.
- Widowed: death certificate of prior spouse (apostilled/authenticated; translated if needed).
Birth certificate (apostilled/authenticated and translated if needed) – requested by many LCRs.
Recent ID photos (passport-size), and sometimes proof of local residence (e.g., lease, hotel certification, or barangay certificate).
Parental consent/advice if you’re within the relevant age brackets (notarized; plus parents’ IDs).

Apostille/Authentication: Foreign public documents usually need apostille (or, if your country isn’t in the Apostille Convention, consular authentication). Non-English/Filipino documents need official translation.

For the Filipino partner (if any):

PSA CENOMAR (Certificate of No Marriage Record) or PSA Marriage Certificate with annotation of dissolution, as applicable.
PSA Birth Certificate.
Valid government ID.

4) The marriage license (civil requirement)

Where to apply: At the LCR of the city/municipality where either party resides. If the foreigner is a short-term visitor with no local residence, file where the Filipino fiancé(e) resides.
Ten-day posting period: After filing your application, the LCR posts your intent to marry for 10 consecutive days.
Premarital seminar: Most LCRs require attendance at a family planning/responsible parenthood or pre-marriage counseling seminar.
Validity: The license is typically valid for 120 days nationwide from issuance. If it expires, you must re-apply.
Fees: Modest LCR fees plus seminar fees (vary by locality).

License-free situations (limited, fact-specific): Philippine law excuses the license only in narrowly defined cases (e.g., marriages in articulo mortis under strict conditions; marriages of certain cultural/religious communities per special laws; couples who have cohabited for at least five years with no legal impediment may execute the required affidavits under Article 34 of the Family Code). These are closely scrutinized—expect the LCR to demand strict proof.

5) Religion-specific and special regimes

Catholic/other Christian weddings: You still need a civil marriage license (unless you qualify for a statutory exception). The church will require canonical documents (e.g., recent baptismal & confirmation certificates, canonical interview, pre-Cana seminar, freedom-to-marry proof for the foreigner, and dispensations if interfaith). The marriage certificate must be registered with the LCR after the rite.
Muslim marriages (PD 1083): Governed by the Code of Muslim Personal Laws for Muslims. Requirements and solemnization are handled by proper Muslim authorities; documentation is still registered so you obtain a civil registry record.
Embassy/consular marriages inside the Philippines: Some embassies can marry their own nationals under their national law. Whether that ceremony is recognized for Philippine civil registry purposes depends on the specific facts and documents. When in doubt—and especially for a mixed-nationality couple—it’s simpler to marry before a Philippine-authorized solemnizing officer using a Philippine marriage license, then register locally.

6) The ceremony and the officiant

Authorized officiants include:
- Judges (within their court’s jurisdiction),
- Priests, ministers, rabbis, imams duly authorized to solemnize marriages,
- Certain officials authorized by law (e.g., city/municipal mayors).
- Special emergency cases (e.g., ship captains/aircraft chiefs or military commanders) only under very strict, in-articulo-mortis conditions.
Witnesses: At least two witnesses of legal age.
Essential formalities: Personal appearance, free and informed consent in the presence of the officiant, and the exchange of vows.
After the rite: The officiant prepares and files the Certificate of Marriage with the LCR for registration (generally within 15 days). You can later request a PSA Marriage Certificate.

7) Immigration and post-marriage items (for foreign spouses)

Visa/Stay: Marriage to a Filipino does not automatically grant residency. Common pathways include a 13(a) immigrant visa (spouse of a Filipino), or other appropriate visas through the Bureau of Immigration.
Name change: If the foreign spouse changes their surname due to marriage, update your passport and immigration records pursuant to your national procedures; locally, update bank/SSA/ACR I-Card (if you have one) as applicable.
Tax, property, and regimen: Absent a valid prenuptial agreement, the default property regime is generally the absolute community or conjugal partnership depending on the timing and circumstances—this matters for property purchases and estate planning.

8) Practical timelines

Gather documents in your home country (apostille/authentication + translations).
Arrive in the Philippines with your passport and embassy legal capacity document (or plan an embassy appointment in Manila/Cebu/Davao).
Apply for the license at the LCR; attend seminar; wait the 10-day posting.
Get the license (valid ~120 days).
Solemnization (civil or religious).
Registration by the officiant; later request your PSA Marriage Certificate.

9) Common roadblocks (and how to avoid them)

No embassy capacity paper: Many LCRs won’t accept your application without it. Check your embassy’s current practice (some issue an affidavit instead of a certificate).
Unrecognized prior divorce (Filipino spouse): Secure judicial recognition of the foreign divorce before applying.
Document issues: Missing apostille/authentication or non-English documents without official translations will stall your application.
License expired: Watch the 120-day validity.
Minor/age issues: Under 18 is categorically barred; 18–21 or 21–25 triggers parental consent/advice rules.

10) Step-by-step checklist (foreign national marrying in the Philippines)

Passport valid; entry status in order.
Embassy appointment: obtain Certificate/Affidavit of Legal Capacity to Marry.
Collect birth certificate, civil status proof (divorce decree/death cert), all apostilled/authenticated; arrange translations if needed.
If your partner is Filipino: get PSA CENOMAR/PSA Birth Certificate (and court recognition of foreign divorce if applicable).
File marriage license application at the LCR (where you or your fiancé(e) resides).
Attend premarital seminar; complete the 10-day posting.
Receive the license; schedule ceremony with an authorized officiant (and complete any church/mosque requirements if religious).
After the wedding, ensure registration at the LCR; later, obtain PSA Marriage Certificate.
Handle immigration/visa updates and any name-change steps.

11) Frequently asked, straight answers

Can tourists marry in the Philippines? Yes—if they submit the required documents and complete the license process.
How long must I be in the country? Long enough to (a) obtain/submit documents, (b) finish the 10-day posting, and (c) hold the ceremony before the license expires.
Do we need a prenuptial agreement? Optional. If used (e.g., for property or inheritance planning), sign before the wedding and register it with the appropriate registries to bind third parties.
Will my home country recognize the marriage? Usually yes if valid where celebrated; check your country’s reporting/registration requirements (some require you to report the marriage to your home registry or embassy).

12) Model LCR-ready filing bundle (foreign national)

Passport (bio page + latest entry stamp).
Embassy Certificate/Affidavit of Legal Capacity.
Birth Certificate (apostilled/translated as needed).
If previously married: apostilled divorce decree/death certificate (+ translation).
Two 2×2 or passport photos.
Local address/Barangay Certificate (if asked).
Parental consent/advice (if age-triggered) with IDs.
Fee payment receipts; seminar certificate.

Final notes

Requirements can vary slightly by city/municipality (forms, seminar schedules, small add-ons like residence proof). Build a few extra days into your plan.
Keep originals + multiple photocopies of everything.
For edge cases (mixed religion, special license-free scenarios, complicated prior marriages), a short consult with a Philippine lawyer or the LCR saves time.

If you want, tell me your nationality, civil status history, and target wedding city, and I’ll tailor this into a precise, step-by-step plan with a document checklist you can print and bring to the LCR.