Marriage Certificate - Philippines (Manila)

[S_and_C]

Hi everyone,

I am a Canadian citizen, and my fiance lives in the Philippines. We are planning to get married in April 2016, and as soon as we can afterwards, apply for her permanent residence so she can come to Canada.

One of the main documents we need for the PRV is the marriage certificate, since every other document and form (and her new passport) will need to reflect her change in last name and be consistent. However, I have not been able to find a definitive answer on the process of registering our marriage, or how long it takes for the NSO to be able to issue us a marriage certificate. A lot of the information that comes up in searches is a few years old and/or are the bad experience of a single person, so not really official.

Here is what I -think- the process is...

After the ceremony, we can visit the Local Registry Office in Quezon City to register the marriage using the marriage license that we will sign during the ceremony. They can submit to the NSO on our behalf, and we can pay extra to have it expedited, but I don't know how long this process takes. I've also read we can go to the NSO ourselves to submit the record, which might save us some time. Then once a period of time has passed (maybe a week?), we can order the official NSO marriage certificate from the website just as we would easily order a birth certificate, and have it in a few days.

So the big question I have is, what is the current process for registering the marriage in the Philippines, and how long can I expect before we can have the marriage certificate in our hands?

Thanks in advance...

 

[philgoodhusband]

This is not going to be a definitive answer, so I'm not sure this will add anything new to what you've already researched, but I'll share what I can remember from going through the same process. Caveats: 1. Requirements are probably different depending on where you're going to get married; 2. These happened almost a year ago so I'm going by memory which can be faulty.

We got married in a civil ceremony last March, but before that we first had to obtain a marriage license (which is a requirement for the civil rite) from Quezon City Hall. Getting the marriage license itself entails a lot of requirements so be sure to plan ahead for these. Once we had the marriage license, we submitted it to the clerk in the court we were going to get married in. They prepared the marriage contract that we signed during the ceremony.

After that comes the tricky part you described. Usually the process is for the court to forward your documents to the local NSO branch who will then forward it to NSO - Main. Only after NSO - Main has received and processed your paperwork will you be able to order a marriage certificate through normal channels. This will take several months, which you don't want to wait for.

However, as you noted, there is a way to expedite it. In our case, because we learned a little late that the process takes so long, we were told that the court had already submitted our contract to the local NSO branch. So I had to go there to "intercept" it before they send it to NSO - Main. I told the local NSO officer that we needed our marriage certificate urgently for immigration purposes. After paying a nominal fee, we got our certificate after about a week from the local NSO branch.

Ours wasn't necessarily ideal though. You would want to inform the clerk at the court that you will be needing the marriage certificate as soon as possible, and ask them how you can do so. They would be much more familiar with the process, and you probably won't be the first ones they encounter that are in your situation. If you are getting married in church, you might have to ask different people there, but eventually the chain leads to NSO - Main. The key is to not wait until it gets there.

 

[crzy_canadian]

Even though we paid to have our certificate expedited it took 3 months before we had it in hand. Be prepared for delays, government offices in the Philippines are not known for expediency or efficiency.

 

[MrsMelnic8]

Even though we paid to have our certificate expedited it took 3 months before we had it in hand. Be prepared for delays, government offices in the Philippines are not known for expediency or efficiency.

Indeed.. well you can expect is that to make your process expedited you have to do it by yourself with full effort untiringly so it will be processed very quickly

 

[S_and_C]

Hi philgoodhusband. We applied for our marriage license the last time I visited so we already went through that process, and it was a challenge to be sure. Not only the documents but getting the timing right for even going to the Canadian Embassy which had a 2 hour window from 8:30-10:30 in the morning for notary services. We missed it by half an hour the first attempt, so we had to come back the second day. LRO visit was a lot of running around getting things like the cedula and tax certificate, but at least it was all in one place and we got the license applied for. I was only there a week, so my fiance picked up the license about 10 days later.

We will be married by the pastor of her church, but it won't be in the church itself, it's more a garden ceremony. I'm sure he will get us to the first step of going to the LRO, but then we will probably have to ask while we are there how best to proceed with submitting to NSO, indicating as you said, that we would like our marriage certificate as soon as possible for immigration purposes. We also intend on getting a few copies because when applying for some of the other documentation they may keep the source documents. Thanks for the tips though.

MrsMelnic8 and crzy_canadian, I really hope we don't end up having to wait for that long. It would be nice if the CIC would accept a scan of the local marriage certificate, at least so we could start the PRV process, and then later send them the true NSO copy while the rest is processing. I think it's daft that the immigration program isn't more streamlined and would allow people to send in documents as they get them, especially since we are at the mercy of government process and delays in the other country. Then the first 60 days of the sponsor evaluation isn't wasted, but that's just my opinion.

 

[crzy_canadian]

I really hope we don't end up having to wait for that long. It would be nice if the CIC would accept a scan of the local marriage certificate, at least so we could start the PRV process, and then later send them the true NSO copy while the rest is processing. I think it's daft that the immigration program isn't more streamlined and would allow people to send in documents as they get them, especially since we are at the mercy of government process and delays in the other country. Then the first 60 days of the sponsor evaluation isn't wasted, but that's just my opinion.

Yeah I didn't mean to discourage, just an fyi so you're not surprised if things do take longer. I hope yours goes much quicker then ours! Best of luck.

 

[MrsMelnic8]

Hi everyone,

I am a Canadian citizen, and my fiance lives in the Philippines. We are planning to get married in April 2016, and as soon as we can afterwards, apply for her permanent residence so she can come to Canada.

One of the main documents we need for the PRV is the marriage certificate, since every other document and form (and her new passport) will need to reflect her change in last name and be consistent. However, I have not been able to find a definitive answer on the process of registering our marriage, or how long it takes for the NSO to be able to issue us a marriage certificate. A lot of the information that comes up in searches is a few years old and/or are the bad experience of a single person, so not really official.

Here is what I -think- the process is...

After the ceremony, we can visit the Local Registry Office in Quezon City to register the marriage using the marriage license that we will sign during the ceremony. They can submit to the NSO on our behalf, and we can pay extra to have it expedited, but I don't know how long this process takes. I've also read we can go to the NSO ourselves to submit the record, which might save us some time. Then once a period of time has passed (maybe a week?), we can order the official NSO marriage certificate from the website just as we would easily order a birth certificate, and have it in a few days.

So the big question I have is, what is the current process for registering the marriage in the Philippines, and how long can I expect before we can have the marriage certificate in our hands?

Thanks in advance...

Hello there S_and_C,

I would like to share my experience since i have been in your shoes. The good thing is that you have inquired ahead of time and that is a very good step to save more expenses, hassles and disappointments.

The very first thing i suggest you do is to secure your Legal Capacity to Marry Certificate which can be obtained in the Canadian Embassy in Manila, for further locations kindly google it hehe. . This requirement is important for filing your Marriage License this is your requirement and you will pay 50CAD if im not mistaken kindly clarify with their official website . Bring with you your passport for ID purposes when you go to said place.

Before you can get a marriage certificate you first have to get a marriage license which requires documents depending upon your local civil registry. And you being a CAD citizen the Certificate of Legal Capacity to marry is of importance. Marriage license is usually released 2 weeks (10 days) after you apply for it.

Once issued, the marriage license can be used wherever you want to get married in the Philippines. However, it is only valid within 120 days of issuance and “shall be deemed automatically cancelled at the expiration of said period if the contracting parties have not made use of it.”

For more details check this blog :
http://www.filipiknow.net/how-to-get-married-in-the-philippines/

The usual time span here in the Philippines for you to get your marriage contract in an NSO paper (which is the official paper for immigration purposes) is 6 months to 1 year , but you can get yours in a month or less just like what i did.

Since we had a church wedding, the officiating Pastor took the Marriage License the next day and have it received by the Local Civil registrar. i dont know how the process is with civil wedding but i think its faster.
Then after putting a stamp in our papers you can get the license and get an expedite process. Which is first you have to ask your Local civil registry for expedite process. The Local civil registrar will issue an expedite letter for you which will be sent to the main Registry Office in Manila. After the local registar issues an expedite request letter addressing to the main Registar you may get the letter and 1 original marriage license copy and have it sent to the Main registry office in Manila . Mind you, do not let the local registry send it out by themselves for you because the tendency is they are gonna wait for other expedited requests and mail it all together. Thats what makes the process move late. You get the Main address ,ask it from them kindly and tell them you will send it your own. Do not allow unrealible fixers. The best way is do it your own. through the fastest courier. LBC courier is also fast. They would receive it within a day or earlier within the day.

After sending it to the right address ask if the local civil registry have submitted a copy of your original marriage license to the NSO ( National Statistics Office ) in your local province. If they have , then inquire at the NSO if they have received your original Copy , if yes, ask them the probable day for your NSO copy to be entered in their data base system in their computer since you jave had it expedited. They would probably ask you to comeback after 3 days or so to give time for your marriage details be entered in their data base system. When you inquire after 3 days if the file have been entered and they say yes it has been entered then viola! You can print copies of your marriage contract right away on an NSO paper. I suggest you print 3 to 5 copies to avoid more hassle and coming back for more copies since the immigration would require original copies, the passport, etc. So you dont have to fall in line in hundreds just to have it printed since Philippine line up takes forever. Each Marriage contract would cost 140 pesos.

By the way i have gone to the extent of emailing the main registar in Manila about my expedite process inquiry and She was kind to respond after 2 days or 3. She would ask for your license number then be assured she'll work on it. It just needs going the extra mile.

Also do not forget to secure CENOMAR (Certificate of No Marriage) to your fiancé which is also in an NSO paper. It is a requirement for immigration as well as for filing the marriage license. CENOMAR costs 190 pesos i think.

Hope this helps. God bless

 

[MrsMelnic8]

Hi philgoodhusband. We applied for our marriage license the last time I visited so we already went through that process, and it was a challenge to be sure. Not only the documents but getting the timing right for even going to the Canadian Embassy which had a 2 hour window from 8:30-10:30 in the morning for notary services. We missed it by half an hour the first attempt, so we had to come back the second day. LRO visit was a lot of running around getting things like the cedula and tax certificate, but at least it was all in one place and we got the license applied for. I was only there a week, so my fiance picked up the license about 10 days later.

We will be married by the pastor of her church, but it won't be in the church itself, it's more a garden ceremony. I'm sure he will get us to the first step of going to the LRO, but then we will probably have to ask while we are there how best to proceed with submitting to NSO, indicating as you said, that we would like our marriage certificate as soon as possible for immigration purposes. We also intend on getting a few copies because when applying for some of the other documentation they may keep the source documents. Thanks for the tips though.

MrsMelnic8 and crzy_canadian, I really hope we don't end up having to wait for that long. It would be nice if the CIC would accept a scan of the local marriage certificate, at least so we could start the PRV process, and then later send them the true NSO copy while the rest is processing. I think it's daft that the immigration program isn't more streamlined and would allow people to send in documents as they get them, especially since we are at the mercy of government process and delays in the other country. Then the first 60 days of the sponsor evaluation isn't wasted, but that's just my opinion.

Well as far as i have researched , CIC would be more convinced with the hard copy. Hope the tips i shared will help you because i did everything in my capacity to inquire and go extra miles not having fixers so to avoide scams and wasted expenses.good thing you have filed for the marriage license. I suppose you are preparing for the wedding now. Best wishes in advance to you and your fiancé. Always pray and Have faith and do your part. GOD WILL work His ways. God bless

 

[truesmile]

Incidentally, not EVERY document must reflect her "new" family name. In fact, none of them do. Only if you REALLY wish so, does her passport need to reflect that change. There was a forum member here applying around my time, and with GREAT REGRET his wife attempted a passport name change IN Philippines prior to their applying. He calculated that this caused them delays in applying approaching ONE YEAR. Apparently it messed up all her records at NSO . . . what a nightmare!!

 

[MrsMelnic8]

Incidentally, not EVERY document must reflect her "new" family name. In fact, none of them do. Only if you REALLY wish so, does her passport need to reflect that change. There was a forum member here applying around my time, and with GREAT REGRET his wife attempted a passport name change IN Philippines prior to their applying. He calculated that this caused them delays in applying approaching ONE YEAR. Apparently it messed up all her records at NSO . . . what a nightmare!!


So did u send your applications with your maiden name?

 

[truesmile]

That was a "different" forum member than us. My wife changed only her passport, but it was done at the Philippine Embassy - Ottawa. Then we submitted with her "new" family name.

 

[MrsMelnic8]

That was a "different" forum member than us. My wife changed only her passport, but it was done at the Philippine Embassy - Ottawa. Then we submitted with her "new" family name.

I see. So your wife's NBI criminal record stays her maiden name when she submitted her applications? Also her medicals? Coz i did chnged everything to my married name except for my bachelor's degree certificates of course. Should i be worried?

 

[truesmile]

Not if you have all your documents already. The wife of that other forum member had difficulty obtaining something from NSO, it may have been her NBI.

 

[MrsMelnic8]

Not if you have all your documents already. The wife of that other forum member had difficulty obtaining something from NSO, it may have been her NBI.

I see... thanks for the response. Hopefully i did my applications right. God bless

 

[S_and_C]

MrsMelnic8: thanks for the tips. It seems like if we can get the LRO to get the expedite letter and we can either mail it ourselves or present it in person at the NSO office, it should get into their system quicker. Then we can order 5 hardcopies of the NSO official marriage certificate.

truesmile: Wow I can't believe it would take a year to get a new passport. I've looked at the new passport website at "manila(dot)passport(dot)com(dot)ph/passport-fees-info" and it says 7 days processing for expedited service. The process seems to be streamlined by entering most info online and setting an appointment, and then showing up to take your picture and other biometrics. So really I don't see an issue with getting her new passport to reflect her married name. Only thing is that the marriage certificate is required to enable the new name change. Then the other documents like the Police certificate and Medical can have new new name as well since her passport would be the primary ID. The birth certificate of course will always have her maiden name as that is the NSO record.

UPDATE: I also checked and realized that the passport renewal only needs the certified true copy of the marriage contract from the LRO, NSO marriage certificate isn't required. So this is better, as long as other docs such as Police Cert and Medical don't require it. Allows us to do more things in parallel. In this way, we only need the marriage certificate for the PRV application, so if it can be obtained in a few weeks then the timing should work out great.