A doctrine-grounded, practice-oriented guide for couples, counsel, and civil registrars

1) Core rules you cannot bend

No proxy marriages. Philippine law requires the personal appearance of both parties before the solemnizing officer at the ceremony. If one fiancé can’t be physically present at the wedding location, the marriage cannot be validly celebrated there.
Lex loci celebrationis. A marriage is generally valid in the Philippines if it was valid where celebrated and is not contrary to Philippine public policy. Thus, couples can either (A) marry in the Philippines (both present on the day), or (B) marry abroad and then report that marriage to Philippine authorities.

Everything else is logistics.

2) Your two lawful pathways

Path A — Marry in the Philippines (fiancé flies in)

Best if you want a local civil or church wedding and can schedule travel long enough to meet license, posting, and seminar requirements.

Path B — Marry abroad (where the fiancé lives)

Best if travel to the Philippines is difficult. You marry under foreign law then Report the Marriage (ROM) to the Philippine Embassy/Consulate; the PSA later issues your Philippine record.

3) Path A in detail — Marrying in the Philippines

3.1. Marriage license basics

Where to apply: Local Civil Registry Office (LCRO) of either party’s residence.
Personal appearance: Both applicants must personally sign and swear the application (LCROs rarely accept SPA for the absent party; expect in-person appearance).
Posting: Application is posted for 10 consecutive days.
Validity: License is valid 120 days nationwide.

Practical itinerary: Day 1 file; Days 1–10 posting & counseling; Day 11 release; Day 12+ wedding. Build buffer days.

3.2. Minimum documentary set (civil wedding)

For each Filipino applicant

PSA Birth Certificate (recent).
CENOMAR (or PSA Marriage Certificate with PSA-annotated final annulment/nullity; or court-recognized foreign divorce—see §6).
Valid government ID(s) showing residence.
Parental consent/advice (as required):
- 18–20: Parental consent (written, sworn; parent/guardian may appear at LCRO).
- 21–25: Parental advice (written; lack or adverse advice may delay issuance under the rules).
Pre-marriage counseling/seminar certificates (LCRO/City Health/DSWD/POPCOM as locally required).
ID photos if the LCRO asks.

If one party is a foreign national

Passport (bio page).
Certificate/Legal Capacity to Contract Marriage (or embassy’s Affidavit in Lieu if that country has no such certificate). If issued abroad, apostille it; if issued in Manila, present the original.
Birth certificate and proof of civil status (final divorce decree / spouse’s death certificate) — apostilled/consularized if foreign-issued.
Proof of local address if the LCRO requires for venue jurisdiction.

For church weddings, add parish requirements (baptismal/confirmation with recent issuance, canonical interview, Pre-Cana/NFP, banns, freedom-to-marry certificate). The priest/minister must hold authority to solemnize and file the civil registration after the rite.

3.3. Ceremony & registration

Solemnizing officer: Judge/Mayor (civil) or duly authorized religious minister.
Witnesses: At least two, of legal age.
Filing: Officiant files the Certificate of Marriage with the LCRO. After endorsement to PSA, you can request a PSA Marriage Certificate (allow weeks).

3.4. Narrow license-exempt cases (use cautiously)

In articulo mortis (at the point of death) or
Cohabitation of at least five (5) years as husband and wife with no legal impediment during that entire period (Art. 34). These are strictly construed; many LCROs still require documents and affidavits. When in doubt, obtain a license.

4) Path B in detail — Marrying abroad and recognizing it in the Philippines

4.1. Celebrate the marriage under foreign law

Comply with the foreign jurisdiction’s license/notice/ceremony rules. Ensure the Filipino party had legal capacity (e.g., no subsisting Philippine marriage).

4.2. Report of Marriage (ROM)

Where: Philippine Embassy/Consulate with jurisdiction over the place of marriage.
When: Preferably within 1 year (late reports accepted with explanation).
Typical filings:
- Completed ROM forms (often 4 originals).
- Foreign marriage certificate (official copy; apostilled/consularized per that country).
- PSA Birth Certificate(s) of the Filipino spouse(s) or proof of Philippine citizenship.
- Passports and IDs; CENOMAR(s) if required by post.
- Proof of termination of prior marriage, if any (Philippine decree with PSA annotation; or court-recognized foreign divorce).
After ROM: The post transmits to DFA → PSA. Once encoded, request a PSA “Marriage Certificate (Report of Marriage)”.

Remote/online foreign weddings: If valid where celebrated and properly authenticated, they are generally recognized—subject to scrutiny. Expect some LCRO/PSA verification if later used for local transactions.

5) Names, passports, and post-wedding updates

Philippine law allows (does not require) a wife to adopt the husband’s surname; options exist (retain maiden; adopt husband’s; or composite per administrative practice).
Update IDs after you have a PSA marriage record (or ROM proof if the accepting agency allows): PhilID, passport, SSS/GSIS, PhilHealth, Pag-IBIG, BIR, LTO, banks.

6) Prior marriages and capacity (common blockers)

Annulment/Nullity (Philippine): Present the RTC decision and the PSA-annotated previous marriage certificate. The annotation is what LCROs look for.
Foreign divorce: A Filipino relying on a foreign divorce must obtain judicial recognition of that divorce in a Philippine court before remarrying here; then get the PSA annotation. (If the foreign spouse obtained the divorce, Article 26(2) allows recognition—but still needs judicial recognition and PSA annotation.)
Widow/er: Provide the PSA (or apostilled foreign) death certificate of the prior spouse.
Under 18: Marriage is void; no license may issue.

7) Timelines, fees, and local variations

LCRO fees & seminars: Vary by LGU; some require health counseling, HIV/AIDS orientation, or additional clearances for foreigners.
Posting: Mandatory 10 days; license issuance often the next working day after posting ends.
License validity: 120 days.
PSA release: Weeks from LCRO filing (civil) or DFA transmittal (ROM).
Church lead times: Longer (pre-Cana, interviews, banns, dispensations if mixed religion).

Always check the specific LCRO and parish you’ll deal with; practices differ in scheduling and paperwork nuance.

8) Responsible officiants and jurisdiction checks

Civil: A judge may solemnize within his court’s territorial jurisdiction; a mayor/vice-mayor within the LGU. A ceremony outside jurisdiction risks validity issues.
Religious: Minister/priest/imam must have active registration/authority; marriages outside his authority (or without delegation) can be void or unregistrable.
Venue rules: Marriages are generally done at the judge’s chambers/office or a public place, unless the officiant allows another venue per the rules.

9) Special scenarios

Mixed nationality & church dispensations: Catholic marriages with a non-Catholic or non-baptized party may need dispensation or permission; start early with the parish.
Muslim and ICCs/IPs: Personal laws and customary rites may apply; civil registration is still required for PSA recording.
Name/suffix inconsistencies: Ensure first/middle/last and name extension (Jr/II/III) are consistent across PSA records and IDs to avoid LCRO delays.
Pregnancy & in articulo mortis: Emergency rites are possible but scrutinized; paperwork still follows.

10) Frequent pitfalls (and how to avoid them)

Arriving too close to the wedding date → You can’t shortcut the 10-day posting; plan the trip around it.
Unrecognized foreign divorce → Secure Philippine judicial recognition and PSA annotation before applying.
Missing/expired “legal capacity” for the foreigner → Embassy issuance timelines vary; get it early and ensure it’s valid through license filing.
Officiant’s lack of authority or venue outside jurisdiction → Verify before booking.
ROM never reaches PSA → Keep courier receipts; follow up with the Embassy/Consulate and later with PSA.
Assuming proxy/online PH weddings are allowed → They’re not; both must be physically present for a Philippine celebration.

11) Compact checklists you can print

A. Civil wedding in the Philippines (one fiancé abroad)

Fiancé’s flight booked to cover application → posting → ceremony.
PSA Birth & CENOMAR (or PSA-annotated proof of capacity).
Valid IDs; residence proof for LCRO.
Parental consent/advice if age requires.
Foreigner’s passport + legal capacity (apostilled if issued abroad) + civil status proofs.
Seminar completion (slots reserved).
Officiant authority verified; venue in jurisdiction.
Two witnesses of legal age.

B. Marry abroad then ROM

Foreign marriage certificate (official copy).
Apostille/consularization as required.
ROM forms, PSA Birth of Filipino spouse(s), passports, IDs, CENOMAR if required.
Proof of end of prior marriage (with Philippine judicial recognition for foreign divorces).
Track DFA/PSA encoding; obtain PSA “Marriage (ROM)” copy.

12) Templates (adapt quickly)

A. LCRO request for simultaneous filing & seminar scheduling

We intend to marry on [target date]. Kindly schedule our license application and pre-marriage counseling on [dates], noting that one party flies in on [arrival] and departs [departure]. We undertake to comply with the 10-day posting and all documentary requirements.

B. Embassy ROM cover note

Enclosed are ROM forms and apostilled [foreign marriage cert]. Please transmit to DFA/PSA and advise us once the PSA Security Paper is available. Attached are prepaid return mailers and contact details.

13) Names and tax/benefit coordination after marriage

Update BIR (RDO) registration if changing surname; ensure SSS/PhilHealth/Pag-IBIG profiles match to avoid benefit hiccups.
For banks and immigration dossiers (e.g., spouse visas), present PSA marriage (or PSA ROM) and, if applicable, official translations of foreign documents.

14) Bottom line

If the fiancé is abroad, you have two clean, lawful routes:

Bring them home long enough to apply for the license, sit through posting/seminars, and personally appear at the ceremony; or
Marry abroad, then Report the Marriage so it exists in PSA records.

Plan travel around the 10-day posting and 120-day license validity, resolve capacity issues (annulment/nullity/divorce recognition) before filing, and keep a meticulous paper trail. Do that, and your cross-border wedding will register smoothly—civilly and ecclesiastically.