Marriage & partnerships in Germany

In Germany, only registry offices can perform legally-binding marriages, regardless of whether a religious wedding is planned as well. This page walks you through the legal process of getting married in Germany (known as an “Eheschließung”). 

Getting married in Germany

Getting married in Germany is usually a fairly straightforward procedure of submitting the required paperwork to your local registry office (Standesamt). However, your application to marry may become more complicated if either you or your partner is from outside the EU, or if either of you has been married before. 

For this reason - and because of the wealth of paperwork required to get your marriage approved by the Standesamt - some international residents are surprised by how complicated getting married in Germany can be. Indeed, getting married in Denmark is a popular alternative, because there the process is comparatively quicker, easier and cheaper! 

Here’s a quick overview of the steps that you need to complete in order to get married in Germany: 

1. Prepare your required documents
2. Make an appointment at the registry office (Standesamt) 
3. Get an interpreter to attend your appointment with you
4. Attend your appointment and have your marriage formalised 

Requirements for getting married 

Before even getting started on the paperwork, you need to fulfil the following criteria in order to be allowed to get married in Germany:

• You are not already married.
• You are aged above 18 (16 with parental consent).
• You do not want to marry a blood relative.
• You have lived in Germany for at least 21 days.

Documents required to marry in Germany

You’ll need to prepare a lot of paperwork to get married in Germany. Since some of these documents might be a bit tricky to get hold of, it’s worth starting to get everything in order before you even make your appointment at the registry office.

You will likely be asked for the following documents:

• Valid ID, such as a passport or identity card (not a driving licence)
• If you are not a German or EU citizen, a valid visa or residence permit.
• Birth certificate (issued in the last six months), original or certified true copy showing parents’ names.
• Registration certificate (Meldebescheinigung), issued within the last three months. 
• Income certificate (Einkommensbescheinigung), which you can get from your employer, or fill out yourself and have signed by an accountant if you are self-employed.
• Certificate of no impediment to marriage (Ehefähigkeitszeugnis), which can be obtained from your local mission or embassy.

Depending on your situation, you may also be asked for some extra documents: 

• If you are widowed, you will need the original (or certified copy) death certificate of your deceased spouse.
• If you are divorced, you will need a certified copy of the divorce decree.
• If either of you is a minor, you will need a statement executed by a legal representative (parent or guardian) before a notary public, giving consent.
• If your name, gender or nationality has changed since birth, you may need a certificate to prove it, such as your name change certificate or naturalisation certificate. 

If any of your documents are not in German, you need to also provide a translation by a translator sworn in Germany. 

Documents issued by non-EU countries may also need further authentication (such as an apostille or legalisation). This applies, for instance, to non-EU birth certificates and divorce certificates. 

Application to registrar’s office (Standesamt)

After you have gathered the required documents, you can book an appointment at the registrar’s office (Standesamt) where either you or your partner is registered. You need to make an appointment in advance, especially if either of you is not a German citizen. Your appointment cannot be more than six months before your desired wedding date. 

You must both attend the appointment in person, where they will talk you through the process, examine your documents, and let you know if anything else is required. This varies according to your personal situation, your nationality, and how your federal state (Bundesland) interprets the law. 

If either you or your partner does not speak German, you must engage a sworn interpreter to attend the Standesamt appointment with you. 

Get your approval to get married

Once the Standesamt approves your application, you will receive a certificate that confirms that you can get married. You must get married within six months or risk having to start the process over again. 

You can get married at any registry office in Germany.

Marriage ceremony

The wedding ceremony will be performed at a registry office. You can, if you wish, follow this with a religious ceremony or reception, but this will have no legal effect. 

Note that, as marriage is considered a “legally-binding contract” in Germany, strong emphasis is placed on both parties being able to fully understand what is taking place at the wedding ceremony. Therefore, if either you or your partner does not speak fluent German, you will need to have an interpreter present at the ceremony. They need to be certified; a friend or a member of your family will not suffice. Your local registry office can help you find someone suitable. 

Cost of getting married in Germany

The total cost of getting married in Germany varies according to the complexity of your case. For instance, in Berlin the standard price for an appointment at the Standesamt is €45 (as of 2026). However, this goes up to €90 if the marriage includes a partner for whom foreign law must be observed, or if the marriage itself takes place at a different registry office.

Additional fees are also payable for marriage ceremonies that take place outside of standard opening hours, or outside official premises. Administration fees are also due for the marriage certificate or a multilingual marriage certificate. 

Registering a marriage not held in Germany

If you wish to register a marriage that was made in another country than Germany, you can apply to your local registry office with your marriage certificate and they will check its authenticity. Depending on the country in which you were married, you may need other documents to attest to the validity of your marriage certificate.

If you arrive in Germany already married, you will need to present your marriage certificate to your local citizens’ office (Bürgeramt) when you register to make sure you are recorded as a married couple and assigned the correct class for income tax.

Registered partnerships in Germany

Registered partnerships are no longer available in Germany, either for same-sex or heterosexual couples. In 2017, marriage rights were extended to same-sex couples and registered partnerships ceased to be an option. All same-couples who entered into partnerships before 2017 were given the option to convert their partnerships into marriages.

If you wish to be officially recognised as a couple in Germany (e.g. for a more favourable rate on your tax return or for health insurance), you are expected to get married. 

German citizenship after marriage

If you marry a German citizen, you are not automatically entitled to German citizenship. However, spouses of German citizens are permitted to apply for citizenship by naturalisation much sooner than others: usually after two years of marriage. See our German citizenship page for more details.