How to Get a Marriage Certificate in the Philippines (2025 Guide)

💍 Introduction

Getting married in the Philippines is a significant milestone, but the paperwork that comes after is just as important—especially your marriage certificate. This legal document serves as proof of your marriage and is required for everything from applying for visas to updating government records. In this 2025 guide, we’ll walk you through how to get a marriage certificate in the Philippines, including where to get it, how much it costs, how long it takes, and how to legalize it for international use.

📄 What Is a Marriage Certificate?

A marriage certificate is an official document issued by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) that proves a marriage has been legally registered. It contains key details like:

• Full names of spouses
• Date and place of marriage
• Marriage license number
• Name of officiating officer

This is different from the marriage contract or certificate of marriage signed during the ceremony—those are filed with the local civil registrar, who then forwards the record to PSA.

📝 Step-by-Step: How to Get a Marriage Certificate in the Philippines

1. Register the Marriage at the Local Civil Registrar (LCR)

After the wedding:

• The solemnizing officer submits the marriage contract to the Local Civil Registrar (LCR) of the city or municipality where the marriage took place.
• This must be done within 15 days after the ceremony.

💡 Tip: Make sure the LCR receives the complete and signed documents to avoid delays.

2. Wait for Endorsement to the PSA

Once recorded at the LCR, the documents are forwarded to the PSA, which encodes and archives it in their national civil registry.

• This process may take 2 to 3 months, depending on the LCR’s efficiency.

3. Request Your PSA Marriage Certificate

You can get a certified copy from PSA through any of the following:

🏢 Walk-in (PSA Serbilis Centers)

• Bring a valid ID and fill out a request form
• Pay the fee (₱155 per copy)
• Wait for processing (1–2 weeks)

🌐 Online (PSAHelpline.ph or PSA Serbilis)

• Fill out the form online
• Pay via GCash, credit card, or 7-Eleven
• Delivery takes 3–7 working days within the Philippines

🔗 Official link

💸 How Much Does a Marriage Certificate Cost?

Prices may vary slightly depending on service fees and courier charges.

⏱️ How Long Does It Take to Get?

🌍 Do You Need an Apostille for Use Abroad?

Yes — if you're using your PSA marriage certificate in another Apostille Convention country, you'll need a DFA apostille. Here’s the current procedure:

✅ How to Get a DFA Apostille (Physical or Electronic)

A. Electronic Apostille (e‑Apostille)

• Order a PSA e‑Certificate of your marriage (via PSAHelpline.ph or PSA)

• Use the DFA e‑Apostille system to apply online:

• Through Landbank LinkBiz, pay ₱200 fee (same as expedited service) (apostille.gov.ph, en.wikipedia.org, psahelpline.ph)

• Receive your e‑Apostille by email—no physical trip needed.

B. Physical Apostille at DFA Consular Office

• Book an appointment via the official apostille website. Walk-ins accepted only for PWDs, seniors, or pregnant applicants (apostille.gov.ph)

• Prepare your PSA marriage certificate (security paper), valid government ID, and SPA if using a representative (lawyerphilippines.org)

• Visit a DFA branch (e.g., Aseana, SM Megamall, Cebu), present documents & appointment slip.

• Pay ₱100 for regular (5 working days) or ₱200 for expedited (2 working days) (dfaappointmentonline.com)

• Claim your apostilled document after the processing time (dfaappointmentonline.com)

🗓️ Time & Fees Overview

⚖️ Special Cases and FAQs

Q: What if I got married abroad?

A: You must report the marriage to the Philippine Embassy and file a Report of Marriage, which will be forwarded to the PSA.

Q: Can I expedite the release of my certificate?

A: Some LCR offices allow you to follow up and endorse your records faster. You may also request manual verification at PSA if it's urgent.

Q: How do I correct errors (misspelled names,