Getting married abroad

How nice that you are getting married abroad. It is important that you can prove that you are not married and do not have a registered partnership with someone else. You do this with a declaration of unmarried status or a declaration of capacity to marry. You can request these declarations from the municipality.

Declaration of unmarried status

A declaration of unmarried status is an extract from the Municipal Personal Records Database (BRP), stating your marital status. 

Certificate of marital competence

A declaration of legal capacity to marry states that you are not currently married and that you and your partner are permitted to marry under Dutch law.

Apply

Declaration of unmarried status

  • You can request an extract from the Municipal Personal Records Database (BRP) online.
  • You choose the extract for international use.

Extract from the Municipal Personal Records Database (BRP)

Are you a Dutch citizen living abroad? Then ask an RNI municipality an extract from the Municipal Personal Records Database (BRP).

Certificate of marital competence

  • To make an appointment, please call 14 079 .

Terms

  • You or your partner have Dutch nationality.
  • You or your partner are registered in the Municipal Personal Records Database (BRP) of the municipality of Zoetermeer.
  • Do you not (any longer) live in the Netherlands? Then request the declaration in the municipality where you last lived before you left for abroad.
  • If you do not live in the Netherlands and have never lived in the Netherlands, request the declaration from the Dutch embassy or consulate in the country where you are getting married.

You can get the statement in 9 languages:

  • Dutch
  • English
  • French
  • German
  • Spanish
  • Portuguese
  • Italian
  • Turkish

Change or delete appointment?

Once you have made an appointment you will receive a confirmation e-mail. This e-mail also contains a link that allows you to change or delete your appointment.

If you no longer have the email, please call 14 079. An employee can change or delete the appointment for you.

Registering a marriage or registered partnership entered into outside the Netherlands?

What you need to bring

You and your partner will need:

  • A valid identification document.
  • A copy of the birth certificate. You can obtain this from the municipality where you were born*
  • An extract from the Personal Records Database (BRP). This must state your nationality, marital status and any previous marriages or partnerships.*
  • Possibly a certificate of dissolution of your previous marriage. You can obtain this from the municipality where your previous marriage was entered into or where your previous partner died*
  • Do you live abroad? Then you also need proof that you live there and proof of your nationality and marital status, issued by the authorities of that country.

* Have you both lived in the Netherlands since birth and do you both have Dutch nationality? Then you do not need to submit any documents.

You must bring the original documents (so no copies). Are the documents not in Dutch, English, French or German? Then you must first have them translated by a sworn translator in the Netherlands before you can use them. Sometimes legalisation of the documents is necessary. This depends on the country of origin of the documents.

Costs

You pay the costs when you apply for the statement. At the counter you can only pay by debit card or exact change.

DescriptionCosts
Certificate of marital competence€ 29,80
Extract from basic administration (online application)€10.71

Price changes and typographical errors reserved.