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Marriage of a Frenchman abroad
Verified 30 October 2023 - Legal and Administrative Information Directorate (Prime Minister)
Person (in France, in the town hall or consulate) who draws up civil status documents (birth, marriage, death...), keeps them and issues copies or extracts
Official and usual place of residence
Place where a person actually and stably lives but is not necessarily his or her home
A person who has no nationality
Civil status documents whose entries are translated into the official language of another country. It is issued free of charge by the city hall.
Formality consisting, after verification of the quality, seal and signature of the author of an act, in affixing on the act a stamp, called an apostille. This formality certifies the origin and signature of the document but does not confirm its content.
Magistrate at the head of the public prosecutor's office (or public prosecutor's office). It is the recipient of complaints and reports. It conducts investigations, prosecutions and enforces the law.
You are French and you want to marry a French or a person of foreign nationality abroad? It's best to do it several months in advance, because it takes time to get some documents. After marriage, you will in some cases have to take steps to have your union recognized in France. We present you with the information you need to know.
What applies to you ?
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With a foreigner
Marriage is celebrated by a local authorityaccording to the rules of the country concerned.
But the French authorities exercise control before and after the wedding, in particular to check that you are all 2 present at the ceremony.
Please note
in rare cases, your wedding can be celebrated in an embassy or consulate of France. The rules are then the same as for a marriage in France.
Depending on the country where you wish to marry, the marriage can be celebrated by one of the following authorities:
- Vital status officer local
- Consul foreigner
- Religious authority
To check which authorities are responsible, contact the French Embassy or Consulate.
In many countries, the local authority will not be able to marry you to a person of the same sex.
You are future same-sex spouses and you reside in a country that does not allow your marriage.
If at least one of you 2 has French nationality, you can apply to be married by the French consular authorities.
If this is not possible, you can get married in one of the following municipalities:
- French commune of your birth or last residence
- French commune in which one of your parents has his home or residence
If no commune meets these criteria, you can marry in the French commune of your choice.
You must meet the same conditions as for a wedding in France.
Two steps are needed: the application for a certificate of capacity to marry and the mandatory publication of bananas.
Warning
You must also check with the local foreign authority the conditions to be fulfilled for your marriage to be celebrated in this country.
Apply for a certificate of marriage capacity
As a Frenchman, you must apply for marriage certificate at the embassy or consulate of France where you are getting married.
You must provide the following:
- Information sheet (delivered by the embassy or consulate) completed
- Proof of French nationality
- ID (with photo)
- Entitlement of domicile or residence
Additional proof may be required depending on your situation.
You must also provide a copy of the birth certificate of each of you 2.
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Birth certificate issued in France
You were born in France
You must provide a birth certificate with indication of the parentage of less than 3 months.
You were born abroad
You must provide a birth certificate with an indication of the filiation of less than 3 months.
You must apply for your birth certificate from the Central Civil Registry Service.
You can use the following teleservice:
Application for birth certificate: full copy or extract (birth abroad) - Free service
You are a refugee or stateless person
If you are a refugee or stateless person, you must provide a birth certificate with an indication of the filiation of less than 3 months.
You must request the document from theOfpra: titleContent, who has issued the certificate that is your birth certificate.
You can use the following teleservice:
Refugee/stateless person: application to Ofpra for a copy or extract of a civil status document
Birth certificate issued abroad
You were born in a European Union country
You must provide a birth certificate with an indication of the filiation of Maximum 6 months.
Who shall I contact
No time limit shall be imposed if the birth certificate was issued in a country which does not provide for the updating of birth certificates. In this case, you must provide a certificate issued by your embassy or consulate (or other authorized authority of your country of origin) stating that this is not updated.
If the document is in a foreign language, you must have a sworn translator translate.
It is possible to provide multilingual birth certificate.
You were born in another country
You must provide a birth certificate with an indication of the filiation of Maximum 6 months.
Who shall I contact
No time limit shall be imposed if the birth certificate was issued in a country which does not provide for the updating of birth certificates.
In this case, you must provide a certificate issued by your embassy or consulate (or other authorized authority of your country of origin) stating that this is not updated.
If the document is in a foreign language, you must have a sworn translator translate.
It is possible to provide multilingual birth certificate.
Depending on the country of origin, one of the following formalities may also be necessary:
- Apostille
- Legalization
Nationals of certain countries are exempted from these additional formalities (e.g. Switzerland).
The diplomatic or consular officer proceed to your hearing municipality.
It may also hold separate hearings.
If necessary, the French Embassy (or Consulate) may entrust the hearing to one of the following authorities:
- Registrar of your domicile or your residence in France
- French Embassy or Consulate on which your domicile or your residence abroad in the absence of residence in France
Skip the 10-day period for publishing bans
Banking publication is required for 10 days (unless waived).
It is done in one of the following locations:
- Embassy or consulate of France where your wedding is celebrated
- Town Hall of your domicile or your residence if you have your home or residence in France
- French Embassy or Consulate on which your domicile or your residence abroad in the absence of residence in France
The embassy (or consulate of France) will give you your marriage certificate if your marriage meets the requirements of French law, after publication of the reports.
The ceremony can only take place after the 10-day period has elapsed.
You must contact the Embassy (or Consulate of France) to obtain the following information:
In the case of a marriage performed by a foreign authority, the rules in each country are very varied.
Some rules may be unfavorable or restrictive.
You can also ask a notary.
Who shall I contact
For your marriage to be fully recognized in France, the marriage certificate must be recorded in the civil registration records of the embassy or consulate from France where you were married.
The transcription consists in recording in the French registers the indications contained in the marriage certificate drawn up by the foreign authority who married you.
Warning
This transcript is not mandatory, but it is recommended.
In the absence of transcription, in France, your marriage takes effect only in the following situations:
- Between you 2
- To your children
Your marriage has no effect on third parties.
In France, you will not be able to benefit from certain rights.
Example :
Your husband will not be able to get residence permit.
You will not be able to take advantage of tax advantages granted to a married couple (for example, a common taxable income).
You have to request the transcript on the civil registration records of the French embassy or consulate where you are married.
The rule depends on country of celebration of your marriage.
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General case
You or your spouse must request the transcript.
The request for transcription is not subject to no time limit.
To obtain it, you must meet the following conditions :
- Have completed the pre-marriage formalities at the embassy or consulate (certificate of marriage capacity)
- To have been all 2 present at the time of the celebration
- Have all 2 freely consented to the marriage
If you have not completed the pre-marriage formalities with the embassy or consulate, the transcript of your marriage must be preceded by your hearing by the diplomatic or consular authority.
Please note
This hearing may be a joint hearing or be the subject of individual interviews. The diplomatic or consular authority may waive this requirement.
You can download the following documents on the website of the consulate general of France responsible in the country concerned:
- Transcript Request Form
- List of documents to be provided
Who shall I contact
In all cases, you must provide a copy of your marriage certificate and one proof of your nationality French.
Request the transcript from the relevant French embassy or consulate, depending on where your wedding is celebrated.
If the French Embassy (or Consulate) finds that the conditions are not met, it can refer the case to the public prosecutor. The latter may object to the transcription within two months.
Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia
You or your spouse must request the transcript.
The request for transcription shall not be submitted to no time limit.
To obtain it, you must fill in the the following conditions:
- Have completed the pre-marriage formalities at the embassy or consulate (certificate of marriage capacity)
- To have been all 2 present at the time of the celebration
- Have all 2 freely consented to the marriage
If you have not completed the pre-marriage formalities with the embassy or consulate, the transcript of your marriage must be preceded by your hearing by the diplomatic or consular authority.
Please note
This hearing may be a joint hearing or be the subject of individual interviews. The diplomatic or consular authority may waive this requirement.
The following documents can be downloaded from the website of the competent consulate in the country concerned:
- Transcript Request Form
- List of documents to be provided
Who shall I contact
In all cases, you must provide a copy of your marriage certificate and one proof of your nationality French.
You must submit your request, only by postal mail, to the Maghreb Transcription Office (BTM) of the Central Civil Registry Service of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Who shall I contact
Transcription Office for the Maghreb - Ministry of Foreign Affairs
By E-mail
bta.scec@diplomatie.gouv.fr
By mail
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Central Civil Registry Service
Office of Transcripts for the Maghreb (BTM)
11 White House Street
44941 Nantes Cedex 9
By fax
02 51 77 28 05
Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Monaco, Poland, Switzerland
You or your spouse must request the transcript.
The request for transcription shall not be submitted to no time limit.
To obtain it, you must meet the following conditions:
- Have completed the pre-marriage formalities at the embassy or consulate (certificate of marriage capacity)
- To have been all 2 present at the time of the celebration
- Have all 2 freely consented to the marriage
If you have not completed the pre-marriage formalities with the embassy or consulate, the transcript of your marriage must be preceded by your hearing by the diplomatic or consular authority.
Please note
This hearing may be a joint hearing or be the subject of individual interviews. The diplomatic or consular authority may waive this requirement.
The following documents can be downloaded from the website of the competent consulate in the country concerned:
- Transcript Request Form
- List of documents to be provided
Who shall I contact
In all cases, you must provide a copy of your marriage certificate and one proof of your nationality French.
You must submit your request, only by postal mail, to the Transcription Bureau for Europe (BTE) of the Central Civil Registry Service of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Who shall I contact
Transcription Office for Europe - Ministry of Foreign Affairs
By E-mail
bte.scec@diplomatie.gouv.fr
By mail
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Central Civil Registry Service
Transcripts Bureau for Europe (BTE)
11 White House Street
44941 Nantes Cedex 9
By fax
02 51 77 28 05
Transcription allows you to obtain a french family record book or to complete the booklet you already have.
Transcription also allows mention marriage on your birth certificate.
As a reminder, when the marriage certificate is the subject of a transcript, in France, it takes effect in the following situations:
- Between you 2
- To your children
- Vis-à-vis third parties, for example administrations
You may have certain rights.
Example :
Your spouse can get a residence permit.
You can take advantage of the tax advantages granted to a married couple (for example, a common taxable income).
With another Frenchman
The wedding is celebrated by a local authority, according to the rules of the country concerned.
But the French authorities exercise control before and after the wedding, in particular to check that you are all 2 present at the ceremony.
Who can celebrate the wedding?
If you are French and wish to marry another Frenchman abroad, your wedding can be celebrated by a local authority.
Depending on the country where you wish to marry and your situation, the marriage can be celebrated by one of the following authorities:
- Vital status officer local
- Consul foreigner
- Religious authority
To check which authorities are responsible, contact the French Embassy or Consulate.
You are future same-sex spouses and you reside in a country that does not allow your marriage.
If at least one of you 2 has French nationality, you can apply to be married by the French consular authorities.
If this is not possible, you can get married in one of the following municipalities:
- French commune of your birth or last residence
- French commune in which one of your parents has his home or residence
If no commune meets these criteria, you can marry in the French commune of your choice.
What are the pre-marriage procedures with the French authorities?
You must meet the same conditions as for a wedding in France.
2 steps are needed: the application for a certificate of capacity to marry and the mandatory publication of the bans.
Warning
You must also check with the local foreign authority the conditions to be fulfilled for your marriage to be celebrated in this country.
Apply for a certificate of capacity to marry at the French Embassy or Consulate
As a Frenchman, you must apply for marriage certificate at the embassy or consulate of France where you got married.
You must provide the following:
- Information sheet (delivered by the embassy or consulate) completed
- Proof of French nationality
- ID (with photo)
- Entitlement of domicile or residence
Additional proof may be required depending on your situation.
Each of you owes it, too provide a copy of his birth certificate.
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Birth certificate issued in France
You were born in France
You must provide a birth certificate with indication of the parentage of less than 3 months.
You were born abroad
You must provide a birth certificate with an indication of the filiation of less than 3 months.
You must apply for your birth certificate from the Central Civil Registry Service.
You can use the following teleservice:
Application for birth certificate: full copy or extract (birth abroad) - Free service
You are a refugee or stateless person
If you are a refugee or stateless person, you must provide a birth certificate with an indication of the filiation of less than 3 months.
You must request the document from theOfpra: titleContent, who has issued the certificate that is your birth certificate.
You can use the following teleservice:
Refugee/stateless person: application to Ofpra for a copy or extract of a civil status document
Birth certificate issued abroad
You were born in a European Union country
You must provide a birth certificate with an indication of the filiation of Maximum 6 months.
Who shall I contact
Please note
No time limit shall be imposed if the birth certificate was issued in a country which does not provide for the updating of birth certificates. In this case, you must provide a certificate issued by your embassy or consulate (or other authorized authority of your country of origin) stating that this is not updated.
If the document is in a foreign language, you must have a sworn translator translate.
It is possible to provide multilingual birth certificate.
You were born in another country
You must provide a birth certificate with an indication of the filiation of Maximum 6 months.
Who shall I contact
Please note
No time limit shall be imposed if the birth certificate was issued in a country which does not provide for the updating of birth certificates. In this case, you must provide a certificate issued by your embassy or consulate (or other authorized authority of your country of origin) stating that this is not updated.
If the document is in a foreign language, you must have a sworn translator translate.
It is possible to provide multilingual birth certificate.
By country of origin, the following formalities may also be necessary:
- Apostille
- Legalization
Nationals of certain countries are exempted from these additional formalities (e.g. Switzerland).
The diplomatic or consular officer proceed to your hearing municipality.
It may also hold separate hearings.
If necessary, the French Embassy (or Consulate) may entrust the hearing to one of the following authorities:
- Registrar of your domicile or your residence in France
- French Embassy or Consulate on which your domicile or your residence abroad in the absence of residence in France
The embassy (or consulate of France) will give you your marriage certificate if your marriage meets the requirements of French law, after publication of the reports.
Wait until the 10-day publication period ends
Banking publication is required for 10 days (unless waived).
It is done in one of the following locations:
- Embassy or consulate of France where your wedding is celebrated
- Town Hall of your domicile or your residence if you or your future spouse have your domicile or residence in France
- French Embassy or Consulate on which your domicile or your residence abroad in the absence of residence in France
The ceremony can only take place after the expiry of the 10-day period.
How to find out about the applicable matrimonial regime?
You must contact the Embassy (or Consulate of France) to obtain the following information:
In the case of a marriage performed by a foreign authority, the rules in each country are very varied.
Some rules may be unfavorable or restrictive.
You can also ask a notary.
Who shall I contact
Under what conditions is marriage recognized in France?
For your marriage to be fully recognized in France, it must be recorded in the civil registration records of the embassy or consulate from France where you were married.
The transcription consists in recording in the French registers the indications contained in the marriage certificate drawn up by the foreign authority who married you.
Warning
This transcript is not mandatory, but it is recommended.
In the absence of transcription, in France, your marriage takes effect only in the following situations:
- Between you 2
- To your children
Your marriage has no effect on third parties.
In France, you will not be able to benefit from certain rights.
Example :
Your husband will not be able to get residence permit.
You will not be able to take advantage of tax advantages granted to a married couple (for example, a common taxable income).
How to request the transcription of the marriage certificate on the French registers?
The rule depends on the country where your marriage is celebrated.
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General case
You or your spouse must request the transcript.
The request for transcription is not subject to no time limit.
To obtain it, you must meet the following conditions:
- Have completed the pre-marriage formalities at the embassy or consulate (certificate of marriage capacity)
- To have been all 2 present at the time of the celebration
- Have all 2 freely consented to the marriage
If you have not completed the pre-marriage formalities with the embassy or consulate, the transcript of your marriage must be preceded by your hearing by the diplomatic or consular authority.
Please note
This hearing may be a joint hearing or be the subject of individual interviews. The diplomatic or consular authority may waive this requirement.
You can download the following documents on the website of the consulate general of France responsible in the country concerned:
- Transcript Request Form
- List of documents to be provided
Who shall I contact
In all cases, you must provide a copy of your marriage certificate and one proof of your nationality French.
Request the transcript from the relevant French embassy or consulate, depending on where your wedding is celebrated.
Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia
You or your spouse must request the transcript.
The request for transcription is not subject to no time limit.
To obtain it, you must meet the following conditions:
- Have completed the pre-marriage formalities at the embassy or consulate (certificate of marriage capacity)
- To have been all 2 present at the time of the celebration
- Have all 2 freely consented to the marriage
If you have not completed the pre-marriage formalities with the embassy or consulate, the transcript of your marriage must be preceded by your hearing by the diplomatic or consular authority.
Please note
This hearing may be a joint hearing or be the subject of individual interviews. The diplomatic or consular authority may waive this requirement.
The following documents can be downloaded from the website of the competent consulate in the country concerned:
- Transcript Request Form
- List of documents to be provided
Who shall I contact
In all cases, you must provide a copy of your marriage certificate and one proof of your nationality French.
You must submit your request, only by postal mail, to the Maghreb Transcription Office (BTM) of the Central Civil Registry Service of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Who shall I contact
Transcription Office for the Maghreb - Ministry of Foreign Affairs
By E-mail
bta.scec@diplomatie.gouv.fr
By mail
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Central Civil Registry Service
Office of Transcripts for the Maghreb (BTM)
11 White House Street
44941 Nantes Cedex 9
By fax
02 51 77 28 05
Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Monaco, Poland, Switzerland
You or your spouse must request the transcript.
The request for transcription is not subject to no time limit.
To obtain it, you must meet the following conditions:
- Have completed the pre-marriage formalities at the embassy or consulate (certificate of marriage capacity)
- To have been all 2 present at the time of the celebration
- Have all 2 freely consented to the marriage
If you have not completed the pre-marriage formalities with the embassy or consulate, the transcript of your marriage must be preceded by your hearing by the diplomatic or consular authority.
Please note
This hearing may be a joint hearing or be the subject of individual interviews. The diplomatic or consular authority may waive this requirement.
The following documents can be downloaded from the website of the competent consulate in the country concerned:
- Transcript Request Form
- List of documents to be provided
Who shall I contact
In all cases, you must provide a copy of your marriage certificate and one proof of your nationality French.
You must submit your request, only by postal mail, to the Transcription Bureau for Europe (BTE) of the Central Civil Registry Service of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Who shall I contact
Transcription Office for Europe - Ministry of Foreign Affairs
By E-mail
bte.scec@diplomatie.gouv.fr
By mail
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Central Civil Registry Service
Transcripts Bureau for Europe (BTE)
11 White House Street
44941 Nantes Cedex 9
By fax
02 51 77 28 05
What documents were obtained after transcription?
Transcription allows you to obtain a french family record book or to complete the booklet you already have.
Transcription also allows mention marriage on your birth certificate.
As a reminder, when the marriage is transcribed, in France, it takes effect in the following situations:
- Between you 2
- To your children
- vis-à-vis third parties, for example administrations.
You may have certain rights.
Example :
Your spouse can get a residence permit.
You can take advantage of the tax advantages granted to a married couple (for example, a common taxable income).
Who can celebrate the wedding?
If you are French and wish to marry abroad, your wedding can be celebrated by the competent French Ambassador or Consul for the country you want to marry.
However, the French ambassador or consul must be authorized to celebrate the marriage in the country concerned.
If the French diplomatic authority cannot marry you, you can, under conditions, to marry in France.
In any case, it is best to inform yourself beforehand, if possible several months before the celebration.
How to build the marriage file?
You must contact the embassy or consulate.
The consular officer verifies that you meet the conditions and formalities required to marry.
They're the same as those required in the event of marriage in France.
Who shall I contact
You must provide a folder consisting of the following:
- Factsheets (delivered by the embassy or consulate) completed
- Proof of French nationality
- ID (with photo)
- Entitlement of domicile or residence
Each of you must also provide the extract (with indication of the parentage) of his birth certificate.
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Birth certificate issued in France
You were born in France
You must provide a birth certificate with indication of the parentage of less than 3 months.
You are French born abroad
You must provide a birth certificate with an indication of the filiation of less than 3 months.
You must apply for your birth certificate from the Central Civil Registry Service.
You can use the following teleservice:
Application for birth certificate: full copy or extract (birth abroad) - Free service
Birth certificate issued abroad
You are French born in a European Union country
You must provide a birth certificate with an indication of the filiation of Maximum 6 months.
Who shall I contact
Please note
No time limit shall be imposed if the birth certificate was issued in a country which does not provide for the updating of birth certificates. In this case, you must provide a certificate issued by your embassy or consulate (or other authorized authority of your country of origin) stating that this is not updated.
If the document is in a foreign language, you must have a sworn translator translate.
It is possible to provide multilingual birth certificate.
You are French born in another country
You must provide a birth certificate with an indication of the filiation of Maximum 6 months.
Who shall I contact
Please note
No time limit shall be imposed if the birth certificate was issued in a country which does not provide for the updating of birth certificates. In this case, you must provide a certificate issued by your embassy or consulate (or other authorized authority of your country of origin) stating that this is not updated.
If the document is in a foreign language, you must have a sworn translator translate.
It is possible to provide multilingual birth certificate.
Depending on the country of origin, the following formalities may also be necessary:
- Apostille
- Legalization
Nationals of certain countries are exempt from these additional formalities (e.g. Switzerland).
Other supporting documents may be requested of you depending on your situation :
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You're signing a marriage contract
If a marriage contract is concluded, you must provide the notary's certificate.
Who shall I contact
You or your future husband are divorced
If your divorce is not mentioned on your birth certificate, you must provide one of the following documents:
- Final divorce decision
- Family booklet corresponding to the former union with mention of divorce
If the final divorce decision was made abroad, you must attach your translation by a sworn translator.
You or your future spouse are widowed
You must provide additional parts, for example, the death certificate or the birth certificate (with mention of death) of the deceased spouse.
If a document is in a foreign language, you must have a sworn translator translate.
Depending on the country of origin, the following formalities may also be necessary:
- Apostille
- Legalization
Nationals of certain countries are exempted from these additional formalities (e.g. Switzerland).
You or your future spouse are subject to a legal protection measure (guardianship, guardianship, safeguarding of justice, family entitlement)
If you or your future spouse are the subject of a legal protection measure (guardianship, trusteeship, safeguard of justice or family entitlement), you must, before marriage, inform the person in charge of the protection measure (e.g. your guardian if you are a guardian or your curator if you are a guardian).
You must provide a proof of this information.
FYI
No authorization from the judge or the person in charge of the protection measure is necessary to marry you.
What are the mandatory steps before marriage?
You must go through 2 steps:
- Hearing
- Banking Publication
You are first interviewed by one of the following authorities:
- Civil status officer of domicile or residence in France
- Diplomatic or consular authority in case of domicile or residence abroad
The diplomatic or consular officer may also conduct your hearing.
Then, the publication of the bans of your marriage is required for 10 days.
It is done in one of the following locations:
- Embassy or consulate of France where your wedding is celebrated
- Town Hall of domicile or the residence if you or your future spouse have your domicile or residence in France
- French Consulate on which your domicile or your residence abroad in the absence of residence in France
How to find out about the applicable matrimonial regime?
You must contact the Embassy (or Consulate of France) to obtain the following information:
In the case of a marriage performed by a foreign authority, the rules in each country are very varied.
Some rules may be unfavorable or restrictive.
You can also ask a notary.
Who shall I contact
Is marriage recognized in France?
Marriage is automatically recognized in France.
Who can help me?
Find who can answer your questions in your region
Marriage of French people abroad
Pre-marriage formalities performed abroad by a foreign authority
Transcript of marriage celebrated abroad by a foreign authority
Inability for French outside France to celebrate their marriage abroad
Banking Publication
Service-Public.fr
Service-Public.fr
Service-Public.fr
Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs
Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs
Notaries of France
Chambre des Notaires du Grand Paris
Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs
