Getting Married 101

By Sherry Tenorio

Do you want to be a June bride? Well, before picking the dates in your calendar, we suggest that you take note of the following guide on how to get married in the UAE. Marriage in the UAE is not as easy as 1-2-3, and we’re certain that you would need to allot a longer leadtime to finally say “I Do.” So here we note down the important processes that you need to go through before scheduling tying the knot.

Notify the Philippine Embassy or Consulate General of your intentions to get married

Couples should first coordinate with the Philippine Embassy before anything else. In this manner, you would save time and effort in going back and forth. Remember, marriage outside the country entails lots of paperwork. But, as long as you adhere to these documentations, you’re assured that your marriage is legally recognized in any part of the world.

So, what do you need to present to the Embassy? Here’s what according to the Consulate’s website:

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Case A

For Filipinos Planning To Get Married at the Consulate General’s Premises

2 Marriage Application Forms for License

1 Joint Affidavit Form

1 Marriage Announcement Form

1 Marriage Contract [fill up clearly & legibly]

1 Report of Marriage Form [fill up clearly & legibly]

Required Enclosures

DFA – Authenticated NSO CENOMAR or Singleness

Passport Copies of Groom, Bride, and two Witnesses

2 each recent passport-size photos of bride and groom

DFA – Authenticated Advice of Parents for applicants aged 21-25

DFA – Authenticated Consent of Parents for applicants aged 18-21

Case B

For Filipinos Planning To Get Married In Other Venues Recognized by the UAE Government

2 Marriage Application Forms for Certificate of Legal Capacity to Contract Marriage

1 Joint Affidavit Form

1 Marriage Announcement Form

1 Report of Marriage Form [fill up clearly & legibly]

Required Enclosures

DFA-Authenticated NSO CENOMAR or Singleness

Passport Copies of Groom, Bride, 2 Witnesses

2 each recent passport-size photos of bride and groom

DFA-Authenticated Advice of Parents for applicants aged 21-25

DFA-Authenticated Consent of Parents for applicants aged 18-21

For Filipino Muslim males already married, DFA-authenticated Consent of First Wife

Case C

For a Filipino Planning To Marry a Foreigner

2 Marriage Application Forms or Certificate of Legal Capacity to Contract Marriage

1 Joint Affidavit Form

1 Marriage Announcement Form

1 Report of Marriage Form [fill up clearly & legibly]

Required Enclosures

For the Filipino Applicant

DFA-Authenticated NSO CENOMAR or Singleness

Passport Copies of Groom, Bride, 2 Witnesses

2 each recent passport-size photos of bride and groom

DFA-Authenticated Advice of Parents for applicants aged 21-25

DFA-Authenticated Consent of Parents for applicants aged 18-21

For the Foreign Applicant

Certificate of Civil Status from the Applicant’s Embassy or Consulate in the UAE

If already married Muslim [for Males only], written Consent of First Wife authenticated by applicant’s Embassy or Consulate in the UAE

FOR UAE NATIONALS only: written consent from parents notarized by a local lawyer and, if already married, written Consent by First Wife, also notarized by a local lawyer

2 new passport photos and 2 copies of valid passport

Certificate of Good Moral Character from the UAE Police

Certificate of No Objection to Marry from the employer TO INCLUDE information on Salary, years of service or employment

Joint Affidavit of 2 witnesses of the same nationality as applicant

*Note: If you’re marrying a non-Filipino national, ensure that he/she contacts his/her own consulate or embassy. Also, only Filipino citizens are allowed to get married at the Philippine Consulate General office.

Decide on where to get married.

Since Philippine Consulate permits marriage only to Filipino citizens then it is necessary to look for other wedding venues if you’re marrying a foreigner. Church weddings are allowed as long as you are both Christians. When you get in touch with the churches, be ready to enquire for how much they charge on performing the marriage. Then, afterwards, you can start worrying on the dress, reception party, flowers, cake, photography, etc.

Christians who would like to get married in hotels or other venues may do so. If they prefer their churches to recognize the marriage then they still must adhere to the terms and conditions of the churches. This is totally dependent on the way of life their religions follow.

For Muslim weddings, the marriage ceremony is performed in the Islamic Courts within the marriage section. It is necessary that the couple are citizens or holding residence visa, and that the groom must be Muslim. Also, it is important that you have two male Muslim in attendance as witnesses. The couple usually celebrate their union by hosting a reception party after the wedding ceremony.

Attend pre-nuptial classes.

Your need to attend marriage counselling sessions and pre-wedding rehearsals utterly depend on your religions. Normally, Catholic churches provide counselling services to the couple before they finally decide to walk on the aisle. Certificates are given to those who’ve successfully attended the premarital sessions. These certificates must be taken to the officiating priest or church for pre-nuptial requirements. Catholics need to fill out forms in the church, and submit birth and baptismal certificates, original passport and passport copies, and an NOC from your parish priest in your home country. If you’re a non-Catholic marrying a Catholic, you’ll need an NOC from the embassy stating that you are legally free to marry. Also, if previously married, copy of death certificate or divorce certificate is required. Once submitted to the church, intent to marry would be posted on the public noticeboard for three weeks. If objections are not heard then the wedding pushes through.

Although Catholic churches ask for more documentation, almost the same application process goes in other Christian churches. Nuptial forms and NOCs to legally marry are also required in the other churches.So better attend your classes to know it all.

Prepare for the pre-wedding health certificates.

It is said that anyone (locals and expats) marrying in the UAE must have a medical fitness certificate on hand to prove that they’re free of infectious diseases. Aside from the medical check-up, it is necessary that the couple must submit to blood test for further screening. These tests and certificates must come from Ministry of Health affiliated hospitals and medical clinics. Only if a person is proven HIV-carrier, the certificates issued by the health authority may be used to stop the marriage in court where it has to be registered.

Make sure that your marriage is registered.

After the wedding ceremony there comes another set of paperwork. If wed in an English-speaking church, the marriage certificate would have been in English, naturally. So, in order to register this, it should be translated into Arabic. After getting the translated certificate, you need to submit it to the Notary Public Office at the Dubai Courts for certification. There’s a fee for this as well as the translation. Then, you need to go to the Ministry of Justice to authenticate the certification, and to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to get the said authentication authenticated. Once done, you’re finally set to go back to the Philippine embassy (if both Filipinos) or to your respective embassies to authenticate the certificate that was authenticated from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. All these documentations are required in order to ensure the legality and validity of the marriage in the Philippines or your respective countries.

Arabic translation aside, these steps must be followed in registering the Islamic marriage.

Ask questions.

If you’re lost in the whole marriage-outside-the-country hullabaloo then don’t hesitate to ask questions. There’s no harm in bothering friends who’ve been married here, or even seeking advice from wedding planners, church people or legal aides. The only way to get through these processes is by having someone to guide you.