A Certificate of No Marriage Record (CENOMAR) is an official document issued by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) certifying that a person has not contracted any marriage. In legal parlance, it serves as proof of "Single Status." This document is a mandatory prerequisite for Filipinos planning to marry, whether locally or abroad, and is often required for visa applications, loan processing, and professional licensing.

Under Philippine law, specifically the Family Code of the Philippines, a person must possess the legal capacity to marry. A CENOMAR provides the evidentiary basis that no prior subsisting marriage exists which would render a subsequent marriage bigamous or void.

Core Requirements for Application

To obtain a CENOMAR, the applicant must provide specific information and supporting documents to ensures the accuracy of the records search.

1. Personal Information Required

The applicant must fill out a request form (either manually at a PSA Census Serbilis Center or online via PSA Serbilis/PSA Helpline) with the following details:

Complete Name: First, middle, and last name of the subject.
Date of Birth: Day, month, and year.
Place of Birth: City/Municipality and Province.
Father’s Full Name: As appearing on the birth certificate.
Mother’s Full Maiden Name: First, middle, and last name before marriage.
Purpose of Request: (e.g., Marriage, Passport Application, Visa, Employment).

2. Valid Identification

The requesting party must present a valid Government-Issued ID. Common acceptable IDs include:

Philippine Passport
Unified Multi-Purpose ID (UMID)
Driver’s License
PhilID (National ID)
Voter’s ID / Certification
PRC ID

Filing via a Representative

If the person named in the certificate cannot personally apply, Philippine administrative rules allow for representatives. However, strict privacy laws (under the Data Privacy Act of 2012) require additional documentation to prevent identity theft and unauthorized access to civil registry records.

Authorization Letter: A signed letter from the owner of the document specifically authorizing the representative to request and receive the CENOMAR.
ID of the Owner: A clear photocopy of the valid ID of the person named in the certificate.
ID of the Representative: The original and a photocopy of the representative’s own valid government-issued ID.

Note for Minors: If the subject is a minor, only the parents, legal guardian, or an institution in charge of the minor may request the document without a specialized power of attorney, provided they present proof of relationship or authority.

Procedural Channels

There are three primary methods to secure a CENOMAR in the Philippines:

Walk-in (PSA Census Serbilis Centers):

Requires an appointment (currently mandated in most branches).
Payment is made on-site.
The document is typically released within the same day or a few working days, depending on the branch volume.

Online Application (PSA Serbilis / PSA Helpline):

The most convenient method for those residing in remote provinces or abroad.
Requires online payment via credit card, GCash, PayMaya, or over-the-counter partners (e.g., 7-Eleven, Bayad Center).
The document is delivered via courier to the specified address.

SM Business Centers:

Many SM Malls act as partner hubs for PSA applications.
The processing time is generally longer (approximately 7–10 working days) as the documents are forwarded to the PSA central office.

Validity and Fees

Validity: Strictly speaking, a CENOMAR does not have an "expiry date" printed on it. However, most requesting agencies (such as Foreign Embassies or the Local Civil Registrar) require the certificate to be issued within the last six (6) months to ensure the information is current.
Fees: As of the current fiscal period, the fee for a CENOMAR is higher than that of a standard Birth or Marriage Certificate due to the more intensive database search required. Costs typically range from PHP 210.00 (walk-in) to PHP 430.00 (online with delivery).

Legal Significance of the "Singularity"

It is important to distinguish a CENOMAR from an Advisory on Marriages. If a person has been previously married but that marriage was legally terminated (via Annulment, Declaration of Nullity, or Recognition of Foreign Divorce), the PSA will issue an Advisory on Marriages instead. This document will list the previous marriage and the subsequent legal instrument that dissolved it, effectively serving as the "CENOMAR" for the purpose of proving the current capacity to remarry.