Getting married outside the Philippines has been on many couples’ bucket lists. But marriage abroad also requires Filipino citizens, whether only one of the spouses is a citizen of the Philippines, to register their marriage in the Philippines for it to be recognized. This is through the process of Report of Marriage at the Philippine Embassy or Consulate in the country where the event happened.
In this article, we’ll walk you through why it’s important, the requirements, and the process of registering your marriage abroad in the Philippines.
What DFA Report of Marriage?
A Report of Marriage is a report or declaration submitted by the married couple detailing that their marriage took place outside the Philippines. This is being filed at the Philippine Embassy or Consulate, which has jurisdiction over the locality where the wedding took place.
This procedure ensures that the marriage is properly reported and registered with the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), the government agency responsible for recording the life events of Filipino citizens. This report usually includes important details such as the date, location, and the identities or personal information of the spouses.
Importance of the Report of Marriage Abroad?
Reporting and registering your marriage with the Philippine Embassy or Consulate ensures proper recognition and documentation of your marriage. Without a Report of Marriage, your union will not be legally recognized under Philippine law, which can lead to complications such as:
Updating your Civil Status;
Applying for Spousal Visa (if married to a foreigner);
Property Inheritance;
Claiming other Spouse benefits and privileges under Philippine law
A PSA-registered Report of Marriage becomes essential for legal transactions like:
Changing your name on Philippine government-issued IDs;
Registering your child’s birth;
Filing of annulment or legal separation;
Taking the time to file and register your marriage ensures your rights as a spouse are protected.
Requirements for the DFA Report of Marriage
Here is the list of documents needed for filing a report of marriage. Provide five (5) copies of each document.
REPORT OF MARRIAGE FORM (Form Rev. 01 24 April 2018)
Five (5) forms should be printed in A4 paper, originally filled out and signed with handwritten/wet signature and item 20 should be notarized by the notary public.
Entries must be TYPEWRITTEN OR PRINTED LEGIBLY.
Entries must be at the time of marriage of the spouses/subject.
MARRIAGE CONTRACT / CERTIFICATE (Original copy should be submitted to the DFA)
For marriage certificates not in English language, kindly submit an official English translation
For marriages solemnized in CHINA, FRANCE, AUSTRIA, NORWAY, DENMARK, FINLAND, SWEDEN, ICELAND, NETHERLANDS and in the MIDDLE EASTERN countries (i.e. Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, et.al.), the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the country of marriage must authenticate the marriage certificate
For marriages solemnized in NEPAL and INDIA, marriage certificate must be attested by the Notary Public in India, and attested by the Ministry of External Affairs of the Nepal / India and authenticated by the Philippine Embassy in New Delhi or the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of India in the Philippines.
For applicants married under the consular jurisdiction of the Philippine Consulate General in Toronto, kindly submit the original certified true copy of marriage license (long form).
For applicants married under the consular jurisdiction of the Philippine Embassy in Mexico, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the country of marriage must authenticate the marriage certificate
For applicants who got married in Indonesia, the Ministry of Human Rights and Justice must also authenticate the marriage certificate
BIRTH CERTIFICATE OF BOTH PARTIES
For Filipino Nationals – Authenticated Birth Certificate from the PSA with QR code
For Foreign Nationals – Birth Certificate issued by the country of birth with official English translation
PASSPORT OF BOTH PARTIES VALID AT THE TIME OF MARIAGE AND CURRENT/VALID PASSPORT OF BOTH PARTIES
Photocopies of data pages
In case of unavailability, execute an Affidavit of Non-submission of Document and attach a copy valid/recent passport or any valid ID.
For applicants in the USA and Canada – kindly submit documents specified in a & b together with any of the following:
Green card and / or permanent resident card
Copy of visa (if tourist, leisure or business purpose)
Job contract or working permit (if working abroad at the time of marriage)
If parties were Filipino citizens and had acquired foreign citizenship (i.e. American, Australian, British or Canadian) after the marriage, submit certificate of naturalization
FIVE (5) RECENT PASSPORT SIZE PHOTOS OF BOTH PARTIES
NOTARIZED AFFIDAVIT OF DELAYED REGISTRATION [required only for applicants who are married for more than one (1) year]
NOTARIZED AFFIDAVIT OF TWO (2) DISINTERESTED PERSONS [required only for applicants who are married for more than one (1) year]
NEGATIVE CERTIFICATE OF MARRIAGE RECORD FROM THE PSA WITH QR CODE (CRS FORM NO. 3)
REMINDERS: (For previous marriage)
For Annulled or Legally Separated Filipino Spouse – submit copy of DFA Authenticated Marriage Contract issued by the PSA with QR code with proper annotation;
For Divorced Filipino Spouse who has no marriage in PSA – submit copy of Divorced Decree / Certificate validated by the Regional Trial Court nearest the spouse’s place of residence in the Philippines;
For Widowed Filipino Spouse – submit Death Certificate issued by PSA with QR code or foreign death certificate of previous spouse;
For Divorced, Annulled or Legally Separated Foreign Spouse – submit copy of foreign decree / decision;
For Widowed Foreign Spouse – submit Death Certificate of previous spouse.
Upon evaluation, additional requirements or documents may be required by the evaluating desk officer from the applicant on the requirements to determine the citizenship, identity or eligibility of the spouses for registration of marriage under the Philippine law.
Take note: Applications are strictly by APPOINTMENT. You must send an email to the location where the event took place to schedule an appointment. You may visit the DFA website to check the list of emails.
Source: Department of Foreign Affairs – https://consular.dfa.gov.ph/report-of-marriage/
Sound Overwhelming? It doesn’t have to be!
Once you’ve submitted your Report of Marriage at the Philippine Embassy or Consulate, the next big step is ensuring it gets properly registered and released by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA). This is where FileDocsPhil can step in and make the process so much easier — especially if you’re currently abroad or don’t have time to monitor everything yourself.
At FileDocsPhil, we help by tracking and requesting your PSA-certified Report of Marriage once it has been transmitted by the embassy to the Philippines. We’ll handle the legwork for you — from verifying its availability at PSA, to queuing on your behalf, and even processing apostille authentication at the DFA if needed. Whether you need the document for a visa application, immigration, or updating civil records, we can deliver it safely to your preferred address.
No need to fly back, ask favors from family, or wait in long lines. With our trusted processing and nationwide delivery, we bring your legal documents closer to home — wherever in the world you are.
Let FileDocsPhil Do the Work!
We’ll request your PSA Report of Marriage, process the apostille (if needed), and deliver it straight to your doorstep — no long lines, no stress.
