Getting Married in Germany: Registry Office Steps for Foreigners

If you are getting married in Germany and one of you is a foreigner, most of the work is gathering documents for the civil ceremony at the registry office. That ceremony is what makes the marriage legal. A church wedding alone does not count, so if you want both, do the civil one first.

Two German citizens usually need a short set of papers. Foreign documents need an apostille or legalization, and often a sworn translation. After you hand everything in, the office often takes several weeks to check it. The part that holds people up most often is proof that you are free to marry. Not every country issues that certificate, so start early. This guide also covers divorce: the separation year, lawyers, and what the family court decides.

What the registry office needs from you

At the registry office (Standesamt) the path is usually: gather the documents below, apostille or legalize anything from abroad and get sworn translations, book marriage registration (Anmeldung zur Eheschließung), submit the file and pay the fee, then wait while the office checks everything (often several weeks). Once approved, you schedule the ceremony, attend it, and receive the marriage certificate (Heiratsurkunde). Witnesses are optional: you may bring none, one, or two.

The minimum marriage age is 18, with no exceptions.

Both partners German. Birth certificates (some offices want them no more than six months old), ID, and proof of address from your registration (Anmeldung).

At least one partner foreign. Valid passport, residence permit or visa as required, birth certificate with apostille or legalization and a sworn translation, plus either a certificate that you are free to marry or an exemption from the higher regional court (Oberlandesgericht).

Previously married. Final divorce decree or the former spouse’s death certificate.

Proof you are free to marry

The certificate of no impediment (Ehefähigkeitszeugnis) proves you are legally free to marry. Your home-country authorities issue it.

Many countries do not issue it at all, including the USA, the UK, and many African and Asian countries. Most EU countries do. If yours does not, apply for an exemption at the higher regional court. You will usually need sworn statements, embassy letters, and time. Processing can take several months.

Gather foreign papers early: apostille or legalize them in the issuing country, then get sworn translations from a certified translator (beeidigter Übersetzer).

Booking the ceremony and choosing a name

A standard ceremony at the registry office on a weekday during office hours is usually short. Fees for the ceremony itself are typically €45 to €95, depending on the state and municipality. Some cities offer special venues (castles, parks, historic buildings) for higher fees; book those well in advance. Saturday ceremonies exist in some places, often for an extra charge.

Name after marriage. Since the name-law reform of 1 May 2025, you choose during the paperwork:

• each partner keeps their own name
• both take one partner’s name as a shared surname
• one partner adds a hyphenated double name
• both take a joint double name (with or without a hyphen) that you both carry

After the wedding, update passport, ID, bank, employer, insurance, and other records.

Same-sex marriage has been legal since October 2017 with full equality. The process is the same as for different-sex couples. If you had a registered partnership (Lebenspartnerschaft), you can convert it to a marriage.

What to do after you marry

Married couples can switch to a more favorable tax-class combination, often III/V or IV/IV. That usually applies from the month of marriage. Do not change classes without understanding what that means for your monthly pay and your year-end return, especially if you plan to have kids soon. Apply at your local tax office (Finanzamt). Taxes in Germany covers how the classes work. Living with a German partner beyond the ceremony (money, in-laws, residence rights) is in Being With a German Partner.

Marriage to a German or EU citizen may help with residence through family reunification. Report your new civil status to the immigration office (Ausländerbehörde). Marriage to a German citizen can shorten the path to citizenship in some cases; confirm the current rules with the office. Family Reunification in Germany walks through the visa side.

How divorce works in Germany

Divorce generally needs a one-year separation (Trennungsjahr) and at least one lawyer. The family court (Familiengericht at the local Amtsgericht) finalizes it. A simple agreed case often takes several months after filing. Cost depends on income and assets.

You cannot divorce without going to court. At least one spouse needs a divorce lawyer (Scheidungsanwalt). The other may go without a lawyer only in very simple, fully agreed cases, which is risky if anything is disputed.

If both agree on property, custody, and support, it is an amicable divorce (einvernehmliche Scheidung). It is faster and cheaper. Contested divorces can last years and cost much more.

The separation year

You must live separately for at least one year before the divorce can be finalized. Living in the same apartment can still count if you lead separate lives (separate rooms, separate finances, no shared household duties). The court will ask detailed questions. Document the separation date (emails, lease changes, or a simple written note both sign). In practice, lawyers often file the petition one to two months before the separation year ends, but the court will not pronounce the divorce until the year is complete.

If one spouse refuses to divorce, three years of separation can allow the other to proceed.

Costs and lawyers

Fees depend on combined income and assets (Verfahrenswert). Court fees and lawyer fees both scale with that value. An agreed divorce is much cheaper than a contested one.

One lawyer cannot represent or advise both spouses. In an amicable divorce, one spouse hires the lawyer and files the petition; the other usually consents without their own lawyer. Toward the end of the separation year, that lawyer files with the family court. The court serves papers on the other spouse, both complete asset and pension disclosure (pension-equalization forms), then you attend a hearing (both spouses are usually required). After the court pronounces the divorce, wait about one month for it to become final (Rechtskraft).

If income is low, you can apply for help with lawyer advice (Beratungshilfe) and with court fees (Prozesskostenhilfe).

What the court decides

Pension equalization (Versorgungsausgleich) splits retirement benefits earned during marriage. If you were married less than three years, equalization does not happen automatically; it only applies if a spouse requests it. If you were married longer, equalization is mandatory unless both spouses agree to exclude it in a notarized agreement.

For children, the court covers custody (Sorgerecht, usually joint unless serious issues), contact rights (Umgangsrecht), and child support (Kindesunterhalt).

If requested: spousal support (Ehegattenunterhalt), gain compensation (Zugewinnausgleich) for assets built during marriage, and division of household items.

Special situations

In extreme cases such as abuse or addiction, a hardship divorce can shorten the one-year wait. You need strong evidence and an experienced lawyer.

For international couples, which country’s law applies depends on where you live. EU Rome III rules help, but cross-border cases need a specialist lawyer.

A German civil divorce does not replace a Jewish get. Islamic talaq is not recognized. A Catholic annulment is a separate process from civil law.

Common questions

Is a church wedding enough to be married in Germany?

No. Only the civil ceremony at the registry office makes the marriage legal. If you want both, do the civil one first.

What if my country does not issue a certificate of no impediment for a wedding in Germany?

Apply for an exemption at the higher regional court (Oberlandesgericht). You will usually need sworn statements, embassy letters, and time. Processing can take several months. The USA, the UK, and many African and Asian countries do not issue that certificate at all.

Do I need witnesses for a German civil wedding?

No. Witnesses are optional: you may bring none, one, or two.

How long do I have to wait before I can divorce in Germany?

Divorce generally needs a one-year separation (Trennungsjahr) and at least one lawyer. The family court finalizes it. Living in the same apartment can still count if you lead separate lives. In extreme cases such as abuse, a hardship divorce can shorten the wait.

Can one lawyer represent both of us in a German divorce?

No. One lawyer cannot represent or advise both spouses. In an amicable divorce, one spouse hires the lawyer and files; the other usually consents without their own lawyer.

Related pitfalls

Common mistakes to avoid

Short warnings linked to this guide. Each item highlights a costly or legal slip newcomers often make.

1. Failing to register a foreign marriage

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   A foreign marriage usually does not need to be registered at the town hall to exist legally, but the tax office and payroll setup may require proof and timely tax-class updates to apply married taxation correctly.

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