CERTIFICATE OF LEGAL CAPACITY TO CONTRACT MARRIAGE
Philippine law requires a citizen of a foreign country to obtain a ”Certificate of Legal Capacity to Contract Marriage” (LCM) prior to marriage. This document is issued by the Royal Norwegian Embassy in Manila, provided an original ”Certificate of no impediment to Marriage” (”Attest til bruk for ekteskapsinngåelse etter utenlandsk rett”, previously called ”Ekteskapsattest”) is presented.
From 1 October 2004 this document is issued by the local Population Registry (Folkeregisteret) in Norway, and should be obtained before travelling to the Philippines. The certificate is valid for 4 (four) months. Further information on addresses of folkeregistre/likningskontor and Family affairs, click the websites on the right-hand side links. In addition the following documents should be presented:
- Copy of the Norwegian groom’s/bride’s passport
- Copy of the Filipino groom’s/bride’s passport or his/her birth certificate
- Fee: PHP 1600.-
- Marriage Application Process: Once a Norwegian citizen has obtained the ”Certificate of Legal Capacity to contract Marriage” (LCM), both parties must file an application for a marriage license at the office of the Philippine Civil Registrar in the town or city where one of the parties is a resident. The Norwegian citizen must present:
- Certificate of Legal Capacity to contract Marriage
- divorce decree(s) or death certificate(s), if applicable
- his/her Norwegian passport
- documentation regarding parental consent or advice, if applicable. (Persons aged 18 to 21 must have written parental consent to marry in the Philippines; those aged 22 to 25 must have received parental advice. Philippine law prohibits marriage for persons under the age of 18.).
- pre-marriage counselling seminar. Processing time for a marriage license is 10 days. A judge, a minister or other person authorized by the Government of the Philippines can perform the marriage.
- Further information on either a Civil or Church wedding in the Philippines, please click here.