
In the Philippines, a marriage certificate is a legal document that shows a social union or a legal contract between two people who have gone through a wedding ceremony. It is issued after the marriage and certifies the union. The processing time for a marriage certificate varies depending on the location of the wedding. If the marriage occurred in Metro Manila, it may take around a month to obtain the certificate. On the other hand, if the marriage took place in the province, it may take longer as the documents need to be transmitted to the central office in Manila. The certificate can be requested from the local municipality or the Local Civil Registry Office (LCRO), but it may not be PSA-certified immediately and could take up to 6 months to become available.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Time to get a marriage certificate after the wedding | 15-30 days for a non-PSA-certified copy, 2-3 months for a PSA-certified copy |
| Time to get a PSA marriage certificate after marriage in Metro Manila | Around a month |
| Time to get a PSA marriage certificate after marriage outside Metro Manila | 6 months |
| Fee for one copy of the certificate | Php365 |
| Fee for delivery within the Philippines | Php330 |
| Fee for delivery outside the Philippines | USD 20.30 |
| Fee for delivery to a government agency address | Php300 |
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What You'll Learn

Marriage certificate vs marriage license
In the Philippines, there is no distinction between a marriage contract and a marriage certificate; they are the same document with different names. However, they differ from a marriage license. The license is obtained before the wedding, while the certificate/contract is issued after the marriage. The marriage license verifies that a couple is legally allowed to marry, while the certificate proves that the wedding has taken place and that the couple is legally married.
In the Philippines, a marriage certificate, also known as an NSO marriage certificate, is a legal document that shows a social union or a legal contract between two people who have generally undergone a wedding ceremony. It contains the couple's names, the date and place of marriage, and the signatures of the couple, the officiant, and the witnesses. The wedding officiant is responsible for submitting the Certificate of Marriage (COM) to the local Civil Registry Office (LCRO) for registration and endorsement to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA). The document is only considered valid after it has been signed by all the necessary parties and submitted to the LCRO within 15 days of the wedding (or 30 days for exceptional cases).
After the LCRO receives the COM, it typically takes 2-3 months to receive the PSA marriage certificate. The waiting time is longer than for an LCR-issued certificate because the LCRO forwards the COM to the PSA by batch. If you are in Manila and choose a delivery service, it might take 3-4 working days to receive the certificate. If you are outside of Manila, the posting time may be extended to 3-8 working days. It is recommended to check the status of your request through legitimate online service portals such as PSA Serbilis and PSAHelpline.
In the United States, the difference between a marriage license and a marriage certificate is similar to that in the Philippines. A marriage license is a legal permit that allows a couple to marry, while the marriage certificate confirms that the marriage has taken place and is legally recognized. The cost of obtaining a marriage license varies from state to state, typically ranging from $35 to $150. Similarly, the cost of a marriage certificate also differs depending on the state, with prices ranging from $5 to $26. The marriage certificate includes details such as the date, time, and place of the wedding, as well as the name of the officiant. It is required for various purposes, including sharing health benefits, filing taxes, applying for loans or mortgages, and changing one's name after marriage.
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How to get a marriage certificate
In the Philippines, a marriage certificate, also known as a marriage contract, is a legal document that confirms a couple's marital status. It is issued by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) and contains the couple's names, the date and place of their marriage, and the signatures of the couple, the officiant, and witnesses.
Step 1: Obtain a Marriage License
Before the wedding, ensure you have obtained a marriage license, which verifies that you and your partner are legally allowed to marry.
Step 2: Register the Marriage
After the wedding ceremony, the marriage must be registered with the Local Civil Registry Office (LCRO) of the city or municipality where the wedding took place. The wedding officiant is responsible for submitting the Certificate of Marriage (COM) to the LCRO within 15 days (or 30 days for exceptional cases) of the wedding.
Step 3: Request a Marriage Certificate
You can request a registered copy of your marriage certificate from the LCRO about 15 days after the marriage registration. This copy will not be PSA-certified yet. It is recommended to inquire at your local PSA office about the availability of the certificate, as it usually takes 2-3 months to become available after the marriage.
Step 4: Obtain the PSA-Certified Marriage Certificate
To obtain a PSA-certified marriage certificate, also known as an NSO marriage certificate, you can apply online through authorized platforms such as PSAHelpline.ph or in person at the nearest PSA CRS Outlet. The processing time for a PSA marriage certificate is longer than the LCRO-issued one due to batch forwarding.
Step 5: Provide Required Documents
When applying for a PSA marriage certificate, you must provide valid government-issued IDs of both spouses and the requester (if someone other than the spouses is applying). If applying on behalf of the spouses, an Authorization Letter or Special Power of Attorney (SPA) is also required.
Step 6: Pay the Fees
There is a fee for obtaining a marriage certificate. The cost varies depending on the delivery destination and the number of copies requested. For local requests within the Philippines, the fee is PHP 330.00 for one copy of a marriage certificate. Requests for pick-up at a PSA outlet can be paid online or in person, with a fee of PHP 155.00 per copy.
Step 7: Delivery of the Certificate
The delivery time for your PSA marriage certificate depends on your location. For deliveries within Manila, it may take about 3-4 working days, while deliveries outside Manila may take 3-8 working days. If you are outside the Philippines, please note that PSAHelpline.ph's courier partnerships are currently limited to local deliveries within the country.
Please note that most Philippine government agencies will only accept a PSA copy of marriage certificates for public transactions.
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How long it takes to get a marriage certificate
In the Philippines, a marriage certificate, also known as a marriage contract, is a legal document that shows a social union or a legal contract between two people who have gone through a wedding ceremony. It is different from a marriage license, which is obtained before the wedding and is used to verify that a couple is legally allowed to marry. The marriage certificate, on the other hand, is issued after the marriage to certify that the wedding has taken place and that the couple is legally married.
The process of obtaining a marriage certificate in the Philippines typically involves the following steps:
Submission of the Certificate of Marriage (COM)
After the wedding ceremony, the wedding officiant is responsible for submitting the Certificate of Marriage (COM) to the Local Civil Registry Office (LCRO) for registration. This should be done within 15 days of the wedding, or it will be tagged as delayed.
Requesting a Registered Copy of the Marriage Certificate
You can request a registered copy of the marriage certificate from your local LCRO about 15 days after the marriage registration. This copy will not be PSA-certified yet and will take some time to be endorsed.
Obtaining the PSA Marriage Certificate
The PSA marriage certificate, also known as the NSO marriage certificate, is issued by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) and is the official document confirming the marital relationship between two persons. It typically takes 2-3 months to obtain the PSA marriage certificate after the LCRO has forwarded the COM. The waiting time may vary depending on the location and delivery method chosen. For example, if you are in Manila and choose a delivery service, it might take about 3-4 working days to receive the certificate. If you are outside Manila, the posting time might be extended to 3-8 working days.
It is important to note that there may be additional requirements and fees associated with obtaining a marriage certificate in the Philippines, such as valid government-issued IDs of the couple and the requester, authorization letters, and processing fees.
In summary, while you can request an initial copy of your marriage certificate within 15 days of your wedding, obtaining the official PSA marriage certificate typically takes around 3-6 months due to the processing time and batch forwarding by the LCRO.
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What a marriage certificate is used for
A marriage certificate, also known as a marriage contract in the Philippines, is a legal document that shows a social union or legal contract between two people who have undergone a wedding ceremony. It contains the couple's names, the date and place of marriage, and the signatures of the couple, the officiant, and the witnesses. It is used for various purposes, including:
Proof of Marital Status
A marriage certificate is often required as proof of marital status for various public and private transactions. For example, it can be used to apply for shared health benefits with your spouse, change your maiden name to your spouse's surname, or file taxes jointly.
Applying for Loans and Insurance
When applying for a loan, such as a household loan or mortgage, a marriage certificate may be required to confirm your marital status and financial obligations. It can also be necessary when applying for life insurance benefits or claiming a pension.
Property Purchase
When buying property, a marriage certificate may be requested as proof of your marital status and financial stability. This is especially important when purchasing property jointly with your spouse.
Opening a Joint Bank Account
To open a joint bank account with your spouse, you may need to provide a marriage certificate as proof of your relationship. This allows banks to verify your identity and authorize financial transactions.
Travel and Immigration
When travelling or immigrating to a new country with your spouse, a marriage certificate can be used to prove your relationship and facilitate visa or residency applications. This is particularly important when one spouse is dependent on the other's visa status.
In the Philippines, the processing time for a marriage certificate varies. It typically takes 15-30 days to receive an initial certificate after the wedding, but it may take an additional 2-3 months to obtain a PSA (NSO) marriage certificate. The duration depends on whether the marriage occurred in a province or in Metro Manila, with marriages in the capital city typically being processed faster.
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Where to get a marriage certificate
In the Philippines, a marriage certificate is issued by the Local Civil Registry Office (LCRO) of the city or municipality where the wedding was celebrated. The wedding officiant is responsible for submitting the Certificate of Marriage (COM) to the LCRO for registration and endorsement to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA). The officiant must do this within 15 days of the wedding (or 30 days for exceptional cases) for the marriage to be officially registered.
After the LCRO receives the COM, the marriage details are entered into the register of marriages. The LCRO then issues a marriage certificate, which is forwarded to the PSA for certification and printing on security paper. This process takes an estimated 2-3 months.
You can request a copy of your PSA marriage certificate online or in person at a PSA CRS Outlet. The online platform, PSAHelpline.ph, is authorized by the PSA to accept, process, and deliver online requests for copy issuance of PSA Marriage Certificates. The fee for one copy of a marriage certificate is PHP 365. You can also request a registered copy of the marriage certificate from your local municipality, but this is not yet PSA-certified.
If you are a Filipino citizen who was married abroad, you should report and register the marriage at the local Philippines Embassy by mail, online, or in person. The Embassy will forward the approved Report of Marriage to Manila to become a permanent record of the PSA.
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Frequently asked questions
It takes 15-30 days to get a marriage certificate after the wedding in the Philippines. However, it is not a PSA-certified copy yet and you have to wait for another 2-3 months to get a PSA (NSO) marriage certificate.
The wedding officiant is responsible for submitting the Certificate of Marriage (COM) to the local LCR for registration and endorsement to the PSA. The LCR then forwards the COM to the PSA by batch, and the waiting time to receive the certificate is estimated to be 2-3 months.
A marriage license is obtained before the wedding and is used to verify that a couple is legally allowed to marry. The marriage certificate, on the other hand, is issued after the marriage and proves that the wedding has taken place and that the couple is legally married.









































