REPORT OF MARRIAGE

OVERVIEW

You must register your marriage at the Philippine Embassy if at least one person in the marriage is Filipino. This ensures that the marriage is properly recorded with the Philippine Statistics Authority. 

Report of Marriage applications must be submitted by mail only.

GENERAL INFORMATION

The marriage of a Filipino citizen, whether to another Filipino or a foreigner, should be reported to the Philippine Embassy in Washington DC if it occurred in these areas:

    • In the United States: Alabama, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia.
    • In the Caribbean: Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, Haiti, Jamaica, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago, Anguilla, British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Guadeloupe, Guantanamo Bay, Martinique, Montserrat, Puerto Rico, St. Barthelemy, St. Martin, Turks & Caicos, and U.S. Virgin Islands. 

Please check the Consulate Finder for other US states covered by the Philippine Consulates General in the United States.

There is no monetary penalty for delayed civil registration of marriage. However, it is important to report these events promptly to ensure proper documentation and recording in the Philippines.

Report of Marriage applications are processed in the order they are received. If all documents are complete and accurate, your Report of Marriage will be processed and dispatched within 3 to 5 business days.

The Philippine Embassy assumes no responsibility for any delay or loss during mail delivery, or while the documents are in the custody of the courier service.

HOW TO APPLY

1. Prepare Your Documents. Complete your required documents before submitting your application. This includes your cover letter, supporting documents, a self-addressed stamped envelope, and the required money order.

2. Send Your Application. Mail your completed application package to the following address:

Embassy of the Philippines
Civil Registration Unit
1617 Massachusetts Ave NW
Washington, DC 20036

3. Await Delivery. Once received, your application will be promptly processed. If documents are complete and in order, the Report of Marriage will be processed and mailed out within 3 to 5 business days after receipt of the application.

WHAT TO INCLUDE IN THE MAIL

Please make sure all your documents are complete before mailing your application to avoid delays in processing. The Embassy reserves the right to return incomplete applications.

1. Cover Letter

    • Indicate the service requested
    • Write your name and contact information (mobile number and email address)
    • List the enclosed documents

2. Notarized Report of Marriage Form

3. Marriage Certificate, with Civil Status indicated

    • One (1) original and four (4) photocopies of the foreign marriage certificate
    • (IF MARRIAGE CERTIFICATE DOES NOT INDICATE CIVIL STATUS) One (1) original and four (4) photocopies of any government-issued document specifying the civil status or number of previous marriages of the parties

4. Passport

    • Four (4) photocopies of both parties’ passport data page

5. Birth Certificate

6. Proof of Spouse’s Filipino Citizenship

    • Four (4) photocopies of Filipino spouse’s proof of current Filipino citizenship, such as permanent resident card, visa, notice of action, work permit, or dual citizenship identification certificate
    • (IF SPOUSE IS A FORMER FILIPINO) Four (4) photocopies of the former Filipino citizen’s foreign naturalization certificate

7. Self-Addressed Stamped Envelope

    • (FOR CARIBBEAN RESIDENTS) One (1) pre-paid self-addressed courier label

8. Money Order 

    • USD 25.00 processing fee for Report of Marriage
    • Additional USD 10.00 for expedite release
    • Please issue separate money orders for the processing fee and expedite fee
    • Payable to “Embassy of the Philippines”

If Marriage is Reported More Than A Year After 

9. Affidavit of Delayed Registration

    • One (1) original and three (3) photocopies of a notarized affidavit explaining the delayed registration 
    • Template available here. 

 

If Filipino Spouse is Annulled OR Divorced

10. Judicial Decree of Annulment/Divorce

    • Four (4) photocopies of Judicial Decree of Annulment/Absolute Divorce, with Certificate of Finality issued by a Philippine court 

11. Marriage Certificate with Annotation

    • One (1) original and four (4) photocopies of the marriage certificate issued by PSA

 

If Filipino Spouse is Widowed

12. Death Certificate

    • One (1) original and four (4) photocopies of the death certificate issued by the PSA or by the deceased foreign spouse’s government
    • If you do not have a death certificate issued by the PSA, please order online through psahelpline.ph or psaserbilis.com.ph

13. Marriage Certificate 

    • One (1) original and four (4) photocopies of the marriage certificate issued by the PSA

If Foreign Spouse is Divorced

14. Divorce Decree

    • Four (4) photocopies of the divorce decree

If Foreign Spouse is Widowed

15. Foreign Death Certificate

    • Four (4) photocopies of the death certificate 

NEXT STEPS

After your Report of Marriage is approved, you can proceed to take the following actions related to the union:

1. Use Your Married Name in Your Philippine Passport. You have the option to replace your Philippine passport if you are going to use your married name.

You can use your Report of Marriage for your passport application if it was issued within 12 months by the same Embassy/Consulate. If your Report of Marriage is older than 12 months or from a different Embassy/Consulate, you cannot use it and will need to obtain a PSA copy.

2. Get a Certified True Copy. You can get a certified true copy of your Report of Marriage issued by the Philippine Embassy.

3. Request Transmittal Details. The Embassy will forward the approved Report of Marriage to Manila to become a permanent record of the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA). Please request the transmittal details (Reference Number, Dispatch Number, Dispatch Date and Transmittal Date) from the Department of Foreign Affairs-Consular Records Division (DFA-CRD) through oca.crd-us@dfa.gov.ph.

4. Obtain a PSA Copy. After six (6) months from the date of approval of the Report of Marriage, you must request an authenticated copy from the PSA through psahelpline.ph or psaserbilis.com.ph. You will need the transmittal details provided by the DFA to complete the online order.

Most Philippine government agencies will only accept a PSA copy of marriage certificates for public transactions.

FURTHER RESOURCES

Click here to download the forms and checklist of requirements for the Report of Marriage.

Visit this page for frequently asked questions.

For further inquiries, email us at civilregistration@phembassy-us.org.