How to Get Married in the Philippines: Step-by-Step Guide for a Perfect Ceremony!

Want to plan a civil wedding in the Philippines? This detailed step-by-step guide has everything you need to know to make your special day perfect! From required documentation to marriage certificates, we've got you covered. Watch now to make sure your civil wedding is a dream come true! 💒 #CivilWedding #Philippines #WeddingPlanning

[@florencechannel4028]

Congratulations to both of you

[@phillipsinthephilippines]

Thank you 😊

[@davidmcdonald11]

Very very well done video....thank you!

[@phillipsinthephilippines]

Thank you!

[@Jago938]

Excellent video and well presented. Im from the UK and planning to marry my Filipina gf, The process is a little different for us but still good info

[@FoundingYouTuber-2005]

I was going to watch some other videos on this topic, but on watching yours, there's no need. So thanks for saving me all that time.

[@JoeStacks419]

Excellent details presented without long distracting stories that go off course. Thank you!

[@phillipsinthephilippines]

Thanks a lot, I appreciate it! Glad you found it helpful.

[@johnmascardo7047]

Very helpful

[@phillipsinthephilippines]

Glad to hear that 😊

[@itsmemayari93]

Thank you for the detailed guide. Very easy to understand and follow.

[@phillipsinthephilippines]

Glad it was helpful!

[@SherronCarter-pv5sy]

Very helpful tips thank you very much and congratulations to you both

[@phillipsinthephilippines]

Thank you very much, glad you found the video helpful! 🙂

[@FutureHawk08]

thank you for this information... it's very helpful and well-explained.

[@phillipsinthephilippines]

Glad you found it helpful! Thank you :)

[@AbigailAgustin-ij9dp]

Thank you very informative

[@phillipsinthephilippines]

Thank you!!

[@meriamwigle]

great video hope someone from Denmark can present something like this.

[@FoundingYouTuber-2005]

BAM BAM BAM 1, 2, 3, got all the essential information with no dilly dally, and clearly presented. Excellent presentation. Liked, subscribed, and rang that bell.

[@phillipsinthephilippines]

Thank you!

[@MartyGodby]

Perfect clear and concise information. Great job!

[@phillipsinthephilippines]

Glad it was helpful, thank you!

[@JAB63050]

Congratulations! Remember no divorce in the Philippines literally till death you part.😊

[@silvercollector434]

Yes laws just changed it passed

[@user-ps6gu5xo4k]

Rescind your signature. Contracts cannot bind you for life. Also, contracts must provide consideration for both parties. The Philippine government provides no consideration for the foreigner in a marriage contract. So, it is not a legal contract. Send a letter of Rescission of Signature and have it notarized.

[@scalabrine670]

The info i needed! Thank you so much

[@phillipsinthephilippines]

Glad it was helpful!

[@bobbyb4171]

Phillips… THIS info by far let Google look like a fool. All my search there only produced conflicting information. Super happy to have come across your video. Thanks a million and CONGRATS 🎉!

[@phillipsinthephilippines]

Thank you, happy to help! 😊

[@irism.5358]

Congratulations to both of you ❤❤ thank you for your info. I sent it to my fiancé.

[@phillipsinthephilippines]

Thank you very much 😌, glad to help!

[@unicorn-fd3sp]

Congraats happy for you two 🎉❤ your respect to my Filipino is full of hope and unconditional. Thank you Lord ❤️😇

[@phillipsinthephilippines]

Thank you so much, you are very kind ☺️

[@tenan7143]

Congratulations to both of you!!

[@phillipsinthephilippines]

Thank you!!

[@ElvinNunezph]

This just explained everything i needed. Man! Thank you!

[@phillipsinthephilippines]

Glad it helped, thanks! 😊

[@ElvinNunezph]

@@phillipsinthephilippines will definitely follow the CR-1 process after me and my girl get married. Looking forward to that video!

[@stevophillips4121]

OMG another Phillips, in the Philippines hahaha....Congrats bro on your marraige, I too am working towards doing the same soon. Only difference is, I already live here in PH going on year #2 in July of this year.....Better to hear it from someone who's "been there, done that" that most info found online....

[@tomtin0222]

@phillipsinthephilippines very helpful! I definitely get an idea of how it will go. What exactly was talked about in the marriage class?

[@phillipsinthephilippines]

Glad you found it helpful! The class is mostly about what to expect from married life. It focuses on how to effectively communicate with one another to overcome obstacles. It also goes into family planning, the use of various types of contraception, and raising children.

[@tomtin0222]

@@phillipsinthephilippines I see. Thank you!!!

[@jedlejano6651]

This is very helpful.Thank you so much

[@phillipsinthephilippines]

Thank you! Glad you found it helpful! 😊

[@jedlejano6651]

Hi Sir,Phillip,may I clarify if my fiance needs to secure a notarized document stating that he is single/never married?or he just need an apostilled birth certificate for him to secure the Legal Capacity to Marry from the US Embassy in Manila? Thank you so much for your reply.

[@phillipsinthephilippines]

Nope, if he has never been married before then there is no need for any additional documentation about his marriage status. He will just show his passport, request the affidavit, and then pay the small fee.

[@jedlejano6651]

We are so thankful for your reply, Sir. One more thing, he has a copy of his Original Birth Certificate,you mentioned in your video that the US Embassy requires an Apostilled Birth Certificate. Is the original b-cert Apostilled already or how does he know if it's Apostilled or not? He is far from W D.C right now but he has his original birth certificate. Thank you so much for your reply again,Sir

[@phillipsinthephilippines]

@@jedlejano6651 No problem, happy to help! He should take his birth certificate with him to the Embassy (just in case), but they will likely not need to see it there. The apostilled birth certificate really doesn't come into play until you start the marriage license application process at your local Civil Registrar. It is unlikely that his birth certificate is already apostilled. An apostilled birth certificate will have a cover page stating that it is specifically apostilled for use in the Philippines with a gold sticker that binds the cover page to the original birth certificate. To get the apostille, he will will have to visit a Secretary of State office (in the state he was born in) that provides the apostille service. I live in Illinois and on the Illinois Secretary of State website it found that there are two locations in Illinois offer Apostille services. He should be able to find a location that accepts walk in apostilles for only a few dollars. If he is not still living in the state that issued his birth certificate, he will have to travel back to that state or have it apostilled through the mail.

[@lizamaebelleza9936]

what if we do the civil wedding counseling online before my fiancé flies here to the Philippines?

[@rosiepuchero1326]

Congratulations to both of you♥️♥️

[@phillipsinthephilippines]

Thank you very much 😊

[@rovinharleyjavier5260]

Hi! Thanks you for the info! just wanted to ask do you need any other requirements or documents to get Affidavit in Lieu of Certificate of Legal Capacity to Marry to bring with you at the US Embassy other than scheduling an appointment?

[@phillipsinthephilippines]

You need to bring your passport and $50 USD (or PHP equivalent) or a credit card to pay. They didn't ask me for any other documentation.

[@TheRgordon16]

Here’s a question. What if you were married in the Philippines, brought your wife to America, she becomes a US citizen but years later the marriage doesn’t work, you get a divorce in America, you meet another filipina and you want to get married in the Philippines again?

[@user-ps6gu5xo4k]

Also, never give them your SS#. They asked me for mine and I told them that if you have an affidavit from the Social Security Administration, I will give it to you. A foreign government is not an authorized user of the SS#. Read the back of your card.

[@RichardRetirado]

Thanks for the info. Does the passport need to be apostilled? You were able to get that in your state?

[@phillipsinthephilippines]

The passport doesn't need to be apostilled, but the birth certificate does. Yes, it was done through the Secretary of State office. Each state might be a little bit different, but they typically provide walk in or mail in services.

[@RichardRetirado]

​@phillipsinthephilippines awesome thanks for reply. This video just saved me. I am going to marry my fiance next month and that's the only thing I'm missing the apostille on my birth certificate. Congratulations on your new marriage!

[@joshyddog2054]

This definitely stressful... I already got my flights booked for November now im hoping I can line everything up..

[@phillipsinthephilippines]

I felt the same way, but it is not as bad as it seems. If you have any questions, feel free to reach out!

[@donbibiofficialaccount7630]

Good evening, thank you for this video. May i ask if they need a witness with you to get a legal capacity in US EMBASSY MANILA.?

[@phillipsinthephilippines]

Happy to help! No, you don't need a witness to go with you. The Embassy representative will serve as the witness for the affidavit.

[@donbibiofficialaccount7630]

Appreciate your response..we already got ours. Thankyou

[@abigail-ko3wm]

Out of the topic, where did you bought the wedding ring? Did you bought in the Philippines? Thanks in advance

[@phillipsinthephilippines]

Hi, I bought the wedding ring in the U.S. through an online jewelry retailer called Rare Carat.

[@kdmcbri]

Did Registrar require locally NOTARIZED copies of Birth certificate? Same question for the Divorce Decree.

[@phillipsinthephilippines]

No, so long as the documents are apostilled in the US they do not require local notarization.

[@transformersofeternia]

I’m going to be doing the very same thing. I’m from Minnesota USA do you have a email that I can ask you some questions dealing with my marriage questions? Thank you for this helpful video.

[@phillipsinthephilippines]

Glad to help! You can email me at [e-mail]

[@mommylynne643]

Pls can u help me how to get legal capacity to contact marriage . My fiance need it he from usa

[@BeautifulWomenEverywhere]

Are you on Facebook? I am also planning to do this soon and would like to ask you some questions.

[@mommylynne643]

We trying to do appointment at us embassy here at Philippines but dont have available date . All are booked. So wht should we do about it. We gettingt married on june 2024

[@phillipsinthephilippines]

You can go to the U.S. Consular Agency in Cebu. Just checked and it looks like they still have available appointments.

[@josephpau332]

Where you do your immigration processing in the Philippines or the USA?

[@phillipsinthephilippines]

In the US, but it can be done online. My wife is currently waiting for her spousal visa.. estimated 6 months from now (~1 year total)

[@crizaconcha4116]

I have a question sir, how to get an apostille? And affidavit template?

[@phillipsinthephilippines]

You can get apostille services through your Secretary of State office or through a third party document verification agency. There is a sample affidavit template on the U.S. Embassy website near the bottom under "Other Notary Services" ph.usembassy.gov/services/notarials/

[@SallyRichards-pj3rk]

Hello. This is very helpful information. I have a couple questions for my friend. He is going to marry his fiancée in the Philippines and she gave him a list of things that he needs . Where does he get the letter of capacity to get married ?

[@phillipsinthephilippines]

Hello, assuming he is from the U.S...the U.S. does not provide a Certificate of Legal Capacity to Marry. Instead he must obtain an Affidavit in Lieu of Certificate of Legal Capacity to Marry. This is obtained by appointment only from either the U.S. Embassy in Manila or the U.S. Consular Agency in Cebu City. To make an appointment, visit either link at the bottom of this webpage: ph.usembassy.gov/services/notarials/#other

[@lenmaevlog9675]

Hi sir can i ask where can i got appointment to us embassy .? Or the link of embassy to get legal capacity thank you in advance

[@phillipsinthephilippines]

Hello! Based on what I have heard from others, the US Embassy in Manila seems to have very limited appointments available. If you are unable to make an appointment there, you can try to US Consular office in Cebu. Here is the link:ph.usembassy.gov/services/notarials/. Unfortunately it seems like the website is down for the legal capacity to marry template. If you email me at [e-mail] I can give you the template that I downloaded from the Embassy website as well as the template that was given to me when I arrived at the Embassy.

[@brooksdurham5285]

regarding the certificate of capacity to marry as an American, I read that alternatively, you can use a local notary public in the Philippines and sign a contract to marriage affidavit. Do you know this to be true?

[@phillipsinthephilippines]

This was previously allowed on a temporary basis under PSA Memorandum Circular Nos. 2023-15 & 2023-16. However, since October 31, 2023, you are no longer allowed to do this and are required to obtain the affidavit from the US Embassy or Consular Agency.

[@brooksdurham5285]

@@phillipsinthephilippines ahh I see. Thanks. also, regarding the birth certificate. Is just an original copy okay to use?

[@phillipsinthephilippines]

Yes, original birth certificate works as it should have an embossed seal on it. You will still want to have it apostilled at your Secretary of State office for use in the Philippines though.

[@motivationontop6587]

Thank you sir this is affirmative but I am not jumping into conclusion is there anyway I could get my fiancée here in the United States the quickest, I am Filam born and raised here down pacific and Atlantic memorial hospital in Long Beach CA, had a United States passport since i was still a baby, only 16 months old I experienced my first time flying off in the the Philippines and I came back here after 30 days vacation along with my parents, any suggestions give me the best, I’ve had watched a lot of KZbinrs LDR and how they get Visa and all but it is still I’m doubting it sounds easy but in the reality it is a lot, I’m getting thru my patience so far if could make it

[@phillipsinthephilippines]

​​​@@motivationontop6587 Unfortunately the best ways are the K-1 fiance visa or the CR-1 spousal visa. The K-1 visa used to be fairly quick, but now both types are taking 12+ months to process. Technically there is another way, but I DO NOT recommend it. I have heard of people having a 100% spontaneous marriage when their significant other was visiting the US on a tourist visa. There have been cases where the spouse was allowed to stay in the US while filing for change of status (green card). I believe this is technically legal if the marriage is completely spontaneous and not preplanned, but it is very difficult to prove that it wasn't planned. You can cause a lot of issues if USCIS investigates and determines that you purposely did this to evade the fiance or spousal visa processes. I wish things weren't so complicated, but unfortunately it is what it is. I am currently going through the CR-1 visa process and will post a step by step guide as soon as I get through it.

[@sherrymaedolino7870]

Hi! Can i ask how did you get a slot for the seminar? Are u the one who needs to book it? I hope i will get a response 😊

[@phillipsinthephilippines]

Hello, the seminar that we went to was held at the city hall building of the municipality that we submitted our marriage application to. They held seminars every Thursday and we were able to register for the next session. I would advise that you contact your city hall ahead of time to see when they offer their seminars.

[@sherrymaedolino7870]

@@phillipsinthephilippines thank you for your response.. but can i ask one more question ? 😁😁 you have to wait 10days to release the license yeah? Are weekends counted?

[@phillipsinthephilippines]

Anytime! You have to wait 10 working days for the license to be released, so the weekends are not counted.

[@dunix2993]

Hi, how many days does the embassy release the legal capacity after you paid it?

[@phillipsinthephilippines]

Same day! You will walk out with it.

[@elsiebalbin8962]

Can get legal capacity online

[@biggdogginthephilippines7067]

Hello thanks for the info. Do you have to go to the embassy alone or with your fiancé? And where is the best place to stay in Manila? Thanks

[@phillipsinthephilippines]

Glad to help! You can go with or without your fiance to the embassy. I went to there alone, but there were others there with their fiances. A couple of places that I have stayed at in Manila are Hop Inn Hotel Aseana City and Savoy Hotel. They aren't necessarily right next to the embassy, but just a short taxi ride away.

[@biggdogginthephilippines7067]

@@phillipsinthephilippines Thanks for the info

[@user-vo1ze9sx5m]

I went to the embassy in Cebu since it never packed and you don’t gotta schedule a month ahead. My now wife went with me and she waited for me outside. Was there for maybe 30mins

[@biggdogginthephilippines7067]

@@user-vo1ze9sx5m thanks

[@Electrichead64]

I never knew about the apostilled thing, but we got married in the US.

[@phillipsinthephilippines]

Yeah, I wasn't familiar with it either before I started looking into marriage requirements for the Philippines. Did your wife come over on a fiance visa? If so, how was that process?

[@Electrichead64]

@phillipsinthephilippines We got really lucky. The K1 visa process was smooth as silk for us. 5.5 months to visa in hand. We got lucky in regard that we arrived in the US late November 2019, pretty much right before Covid. If we had delayed or chosen a longer process such as CR-1, we might not be together today. A lot of couples didn't make it. They couldn't endure the stress and anxiety of the delays imposed by Covid.

[@kdmcbri]

Thanks for taking some of the mystery out of the process. We are having a Pastor marry us who will handle some of the red tape. Have you said what town you married at? CDO has a raffle system for the officiating person that we were directly told could add weeks to the process. Yikes!

[@phillipsinthephilippines]

Glad to help, congratulations on your upcoming marriage! We got married in Banga, Aklan, a small provincial town and the mayor of the town was our officiator. I hope things go smoothly for you and don't take too long. No matter the wait, it will be well worth it!

[@kdmcbri]

Thanks very much! We have been engaged for 7 years. We were denied for the K1 after a years wait. So now taking this route. My wife not doing the divorce quickly has made it go for a long time.

[@user-zv2qj8ky2v]

Can we do another appointment using my information?

[@phillipsinthephilippines]

I'm not sure if they would allow him to show up using an appointment under your name. If you can, I would try to reach out to the Embassy by phone and explain the situation and see what solutions they offer you.

[@kdmcbri]

How long did you wait before getting the official marriage certificate? Was it mailed to you in the US?

[@phillipsinthephilippines]

It was around 30 days or so. No, my wife picked it up from the local Philippine Statistics Authority and just sent me a scan.

[@kdmcbri]

Did you apply for the K3 for her to come while waiting for her green card? If so, how long for the approval? How long to get her into US?

[@phillipsinthephilippines]

We only submitted the I-130 application. Applied in March, 2023 and it's currently looking like we have about 6 months left.

[@kdmcbri]

I’m curious why you didn’t apply for the K3, so she could come sooner?

[@phillipsinthephilippines]

When I started the application process I wasn't convinced that it would really make a difference. I was reading claims that less than 5 129F applications get approved each year, and that it was a waste of time. However, I have recently heard some people claiming that it sped up the processing time of their I-130. It is free to file, so it is worth a shot.

[@WhiteCrowization]

How much did you pay for your officiator?

[@phillipsinthephilippines]

Our officiator was the mayor of the municipality that we got married in. I don't believe there was any extra fee for him the officiate the wedding, other than the small processing fee that was paid as part of the marriage application process.

[@yhelaroyovlog6970]

I have my fiance, His divorced catholic from USA was married for 20 years. He can remarry again in a catholic church? I am Catholic from Philippines...because catholic church not allowed in usa to remarry in Catholic church again

[@phillipsinthephilippines]

Hmm, I don't know that I can help with this one. I am not Catholic so I am not very familiar with their positions on divorce and remarriage.

[@user-vo1ze9sx5m]

So you need the license first before getting married? Me and my wife got married before even receiving the license and I leave today and our license got approved yesterday and we was told she can finish up the whole marriage certificate herself. Unless we are being lied to.

[@phillipsinthephilippines]

I think there may be some confusion between the license and the certificate. The license is essentially just the official approval of the all the paperwork that you had to submit to the civil registrar to start the marriage process. Our municipality required a 10 day waiting period after the paperwork was submitted before they would approve the marriage to take place. Similarly to you, once we were married I traveled back to the US and my wife handled everything with the marriage certificate on her own. If I have misunderstood your question, perhaps things are slightly different from municipality to municipality. I would trust whatever they told you.

[@user-vo1ze9sx5m]

@@phillipsinthephilippines what happen was, we did get married before the license was even approved. And when our license arrived, the attorney then submitted our wedding paperwork to be process and charged us 5k to “expedite” it. My wife tomorrow she will gather the certificate and stuff. I already came back to the US.

[@phillipsinthephilippines]

@@user-vo1ze9sx5m Ah I see, I'm sure it is all good if you had an attorney involved. They are likely much more well versed on the specifics than I am. Congratulations on your marriage man!

[@user-vo1ze9sx5m]

@@phillipsinthephilippines the thing is, what you told me is the correct way to do it. My wife told me that in the PH when it comes to like documents and stuff, they know people that know people to process stuff faster but for a “fee”

[@phillipsinthephilippines]

I see, that makes a lot of sense. Glad you were able to get everything done on your visit out there. I know how stressful it is trying to fit everything in during one trip.

[@kennydinthephilippines2655]

I’m curious, sir why didn’t you use a service like JRC or something for a expedited marriage please reply back The reason I asked this is because a lot of people just use the consulting services to do all the paperwork and they’re married within three weeks with less hassle. All of the consulate paperwork you need service can do that a lot quicker than you.😮

[@BeautifulWomenEverywhere]

What is JRC? I am planning to do this marriage process in January.

[@TruckerBill0531]

Sucks when you live on another island and you have to fly for paperwork in the embassy

[@phillipsinthephilippines]

Yeah definitely a pain. Thankfully the flights to and from Manila or Cebu are pretty quick and inexpensive.

[@kennydinthephilippines2655]

If you use a service like JRC, you don’t have to go to Manila and see the consulate yourself

[@jaybee1597]

Hi! Can you be more specific regarding JRC? I looked it up and there 100’s of JRC’s. Thank you!

[@BeautifulWomenEverywhere]

What is JRC?

[@joseaceves3830]

What if I was born in Mexico but became an US Citizen I have an American passport

[@phillipsinthephilippines]

I believe birth certificates can only be apostilled through the issuing country, which would mean it would have to be apostilled in Mexico. You can likely have the process completed through the mail, but I would recommend working with a document authentication service provider in the US who specializes in this kind of work. You definitely don't want your birth certificate getting lost in the mail.

[@joseaceves3830]

I have my divorce papers.I have my birth certificate from mexico

[@phillipsinthephilippines]

@@joseaceves3830 If your divorce papers were obtained in the U.S., they can be apostilled in the U.S. Your birth certificate would still need to be apostilled in Mexico.

[@user-vo1ze9sx5m]

I was born in Mexico also and Im a US Citizen now, Did you ever find out if we have to get our Birth certificate Apostilled?

[@deatharg]

Wtf is a bearing guy certificate. There was no spelling and my Filipina doesn't know what that is lol

[@phillipsinthephilippines]

It is a certificate sometimes given by the Barangay (or smaller neighborhood government) that verifies that your Filipina lives in the municipality that you are applying for the marriage license in. It may not be required, and in my case it wasn't.

[@VJSlots]

First of all, Congratulations to both of you! Very informative! Just want to ask if you can share the Capacity to Marry template that they gave you please. I have only 3 weeks… really want to plan this ahead of time.. can you please email it to me. Tia

[@phillipsinthephilippines]

Thank you! 😊 If you send me an email at [e-mail], I will gladly share with you the template that they provided me at the U.S. Embassy.

[@phillipsinthephilippines]

That way I have your email address.

[@mommylynne643]

Can pls help me . We try do online appointment by us embassy, but all dates are booked . They don't have any available date. And we get married o June 24 2024.

[@lenmaevlog9675]

Will same too but I'm try to look appointment cannot find it..any ideas.? Hes only 3 weeks vacation..

[@phillipsinthephilippines]

I just checked and there are still appointments available at the US Consular Agency in Cebu. They can also provide the affidavit there.