Getting married abroad

How nice that you are getting married abroad. It is important that you can prove there that you are not married or in a registered partnership with someone else. This is done with a declaration of unmarried status or a declaration of marital competence. You can apply for these declarations at the municipality.

Unmarried declaration

An unmarried declaration is an excerpt from the Basic Records Database (BRP), indicating your marital status. 

Certificate of marital competence

A declaration of marital competence states that you are not currently married and that you and your partner may marry each other according to Dutch law.

Request

Unmarried declaration

  • You request an extract from the Basic Records of Persons (BRP) online.
  • You choose the extract for international use.

Extract of Basic Registration of Persons (BRP).

Do you live abroad as a Dutch citizen? Then request an extract from the Basisregistratie Personen (BRP) from an RNI municipality.

Certificate of marital competence

  • To do so, make an appointment by calling 14 079.

Terms

  • You or your partner have Dutch nationality.
  • You or your partner is registered in the Basisregistratie Personen (BRP) of the municipality of Zoetermeer.
  • Don't live in the Netherlands (anymore)? Then apply for the certificate in the municipality where you last lived before moving abroad.
  • Do you not live in the Netherlands and have never lived in the Netherlands? Then apply for the certificate at 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.

Do you no longer have the e-mail? If so, call phone number 14 079. A staff member can change or delete the appointment for you.

Register marriage or registered partnership concluded outside the Netherlands?

Use the form below (in Dutch or English)

Bring

You and your partner need:

  • A valid identification document.
  • A copy of the birth certificate. You can get this in the municipality where you were born*
  • An extract from the Basic Registration of Persons (BRP). This must show your nationality, marital status and any previous marriages or partnerships.*
  • Possibly a certificate of dissolution of your previous marriage. You can get this in the municipality where your previous marriage was contracted 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 both have Dutch nationality? Then you do not need to submit any documents.

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

Costs

You pay the fee when you apply for the certificate. At the counter, you can only pay by debit card or cash.

DescriptionCosts
Certificate of marital competence€ 29,00
Extract of basic records (online request)€ 10,53

Price changes and typographical errors reserved.