Retrospective registration of a marriage contracted abroad

A marriage contracted abroad is generally recognised in Germany provided it was validly contracted in accordance with the legal provisions of the country in which the marriage took place. Furthermore, there must be no impediments to marriage under German law. It is also a prerequisite that both spouses were eligible to marry under the law of their respective countries of origin and were therefore permitted to enter into marriage.

If you were married outside Germany and at least one of you holds German nationality at the time of application, it is possible to have the marriage registered retrospectively at the relevant German registry office.

Stateless persons, stateless foreign nationals and foreign refugees who are habitually resident in Germany may also apply for retrospective registration.

As a general rule, the registry office in the place of residence is responsible. If the person does not have a place of residence in Germany, responsibility is determined by their last habitual residence in Germany. If they do not have a habitual residence in Germany either, Registry Office I in Berlin is responsible for processing the application.

There is no obligation to have a marriage contracted abroad registered retrospectively.