As a rule, the following documents are required to register the marriage:

• if you have German citizenship and are entering into your first marriage:
  • valid identity card or passport
  • extended registration certificate from the registration office of your main residence (usually not older than 4 weeks)
• if your birth was registered in Germany:
  • certified excerpt from the (electronic) register of births or certified copy from the register of births (in paper form) from the registry office of the place of birth
• if your birth was notarized abroad:
  • current birth certificate
• if you were already married or in a civil partnership, you will also need
  • Marriage certificate and final divorce decree or
  • Proof of the establishment and dissolution of the civil partnership or
• if your former partner has died in the meantime:
  • the marriage certificate or
  • proof of the establishment of the civil partnership and
  • the death certificate of the former partner
• If your divorce took place abroad, you should ask the registry office in advance whether a recognition procedure is required. For this purpose, please submit
  • all marriage certificates
  • all legally binding divorce decrees (with facts and reasons for the decision)
  • if applicable, a complete translation by a sworn translator in Germany
• if you and your future spouse have children together or have custody of children from previous marriages, you will also need
  • Birth certificates of the children and
  • Proof of joint custody
• for a partner from abroad are required
  • valid identity card/passport or other proof of identification
  • Proof of nationality if this is not evident from the identity card or passport
  • Extended registration certificate from the registration office of the main residence (usually not older than 4 weeks)
  • birth certificate
  • Certificate of no impediment to marriage, if applicable
  • Foreign language documents with translation, if not on an international form

Notes:

For partners from countries where certificates of no impediment to marriage are issued, it is advisable to seek advice from the registry office about exemption from the obligation to present a certificate of no impediment to marriage. This is issued by the President of the Higher Regional Court. The registrar takes the application and forwards it.

For foreign-language certificates, the registry office generally requires complete translations into German, prepared by a publicly appointed and sworn translator in Germany. Foreign documents often also require certification by the competent foreign authority. In such a case, the registry office will draw your attention to this.

• Further documents:
  • The registry office may request additional documents, such as the naturalization certificate.