Initial German-Filipino Marriage Requirements
Shanaz Mina, January 2009, Philippines

As stated earlier in German-Filipino Pre-Wedding Preparations, the following marriage requirements were restated and explained:

Birth Certificate and Certificate of No Marriage (CENOMAR) on secpa (security paper) issued by the NSO

These papers are basic documents but they are important. Before one is allowed to get married, whether you are a Filipino marrying in the Philippines, Filipino marrying a Foreigner inside and outside the Philippines, or to any Filipino marriage, you must have a birth record. These are being issued by the National Statistics Office (NSO). For more accuracy, visit the NSO website.

NSO now delivers these papers right into your doorsteps, but if you wish to go to their different office/s nearest to your place to secure a copy of your birth certificate, you can do so. In my experience, I went to the nearest NSO nearest to my town. I brought with me the following:

1. The details of my identity (i.e. my fullname, my birthdate, my birthplace, fullname of my parents including my mother's maiden middle name, birthplace, my father's middle name and birthplace)
2. The required payment

In my case, I applied in the morning and waited two hours inside the office and I was able to receive my Birth Certificate and CENOMAR on secpa from the NSO. When going to this office, you need to come at least earlier so you can get your papers earlier, too. Some problems occur when many persons are inside the office securing different documents. Some offices I saw were packed with graduates who need to take their board examinations, where their birth certificates were required.

 

Der Personalausweis (The Identity Card or Personal ID)

This term simply means personal ID. Every German, when they reach sixteen years old, are required and qualified by the German State to have their Personalausweis. This is a standard German ID card used for different purposes. Like other identification card, the Personalausweis contains identity card number, full name of the cardholder, date of birth, place of birth, nationality, date of expiration, signature of the cardholder, present address, height measurement, color of the eyes, town/city issuing the personalausweis, and date of release of said card.

Die Geburtsurkunde (The Birth Certificate)

This is actually the term equivalent to "birth certificate". For my German spouse, in order that the writing in the birth certificate is already in English, he ordered his internationale Geburtsurkunde, otherwise known as international birth certificate. The information shall include extract from birth registration number, date and place of birth, Family and First Name/s, Sex, Fullname of Father and Mother, and Date of Issue of the said birth certificate in different languages including English. A seal and signature shall be stamped from the Civil Registry Office (die Standesamtbehörde) of the town where my German spouse was born.

Der Auszug dem Standbuch der Eltern

This means extract from the parents' marriage record. It is issued by the Gemeinde (municipality) or Stadt (city) where the parents of my German spouse got married.

Die Aufenthaltsbescheinigung

This is again issued by the Gemeinde or Stadt where my German spouse lived for the past one year. This could also be issued by the Gemeinde or Stadt, where my German spouse is currently living. In my spouse's case, he took it from his hometown, where he was staying since childhood. This paper is actually known as Residence Certificate, where it states my spouse's postal address, fullname, place of birth, citizenship, and other information in relation to his person.

Barangay Clearance

Filipinos are aware that a town or city in the Philippines are composed of different barangays. Each barangay consists of officials, among them are the Barangay Captain, Barangay Kagawad, and Barangay Secretary. The Barangay Captain makes, signs, and issues Barangay Clearances to his barangay-mates. For this reason, I went to the barangay office, where my postal address belongs to.

Before you will be issued of barangay clearance, you must secure a community tax certificate (CTC) or commonly known as cedula from your municipal or city office. Bring your cedula to the barangay office and they will prepare for you your request of securing a barangay clearance.

The barangay clearance shall state your fullname, full address with postal code, citizenship, purpose of the issuance of barangay clearance, and date of issue. Like the cedula, barangay clearance is only valid for every calendar year. Along with the information stated, your clearance shall and must contain your signature, thumbmark, and signature of the barangay captain.

The only problem that might hinder you to secure a barangay clearance is that you have pending cases in the barangay or you are not a resident of that barangay. Also, the barangay captain has the right to investigate the people around your neighborhood, in case of doubt of your identity. As a rule, one must be at least a resident of that barangay.

Personal Identification Card

In the Philippines, personal identification card must contain your fullname, date and place of birth, civil status, citizenship, expiration date of the ID, specimen signature, and picture. Commonly known proofs of identity are the valid IDs issued by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) or Professional Regulatory Commission (PRC), valid school ID, valid driver's license issued by the Land Transportation Office (LTO), valid passport issued by the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA). Valid IDs mean that these IDs are legal and not expired.