Every legal wedding in the Philippines — civil or church — needs a marriage licence. The process is straightforward once you know the steps, but it has built-in waiting periods that catch couples off guard. Start it about two to three months before the wedding so it is valid on the day, not expired and not issued too late.
Where to apply
Apply at the Office of the Civil Registrar in the city or municipality where either you or your partner resides. Both of you apply together in person.
What to bring
- PSA-issued birth certificate for each of you.
- CENOMAR (Certificate of No Marriage Record) from the PSA.
- Valid government-issued IDs.
- Parental consent if either of you is 18–20, or parental advice if 21–25.
- Certificate of attendance at the required pre-marriage counseling / family planning seminar (given at the registrar or local health office).
- For previously married applicants: the death certificate or annulment/nullity decree, as applicable.
The 10-day posting and 120-day validity
After you file, the registrar posts your application for 10 consecutive days before releasing the licence. Once issued, the licence is valid for 120 days anywhere in the Philippines — if you do not marry within that window, it expires and you start over. Plan the timing so the licence is live on your wedding date with room to spare.
Setnayan tracks the statutory deadlines for your date — licence window included — so nothing lapses.
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