This guide explains the paperwork and documents you need to prepare your dream wedding if you’re planning on getting married in Belgium.
Both heterosexual and same-sex partners in Belgium will get hitched, take a subscribed cohabitation or live together without the status that is legal.
Just marriage that is civil are legitimately recognised in Belgium. Following the civil ceremony, which has to take destination at a registry workplace, partners usually have a spiritual or secular ceremony included in their party but this is simply not required.
Belgium ended up being the country that is second legalise same-sex wedding, in . The procedures, ceremonies and liberties for same-sex partners are almost the same as those for heterosexual couples, therefore unless otherwise stated the information below relates to both. The main one critical exclusion is parental liberties, which apply automatically up to a birth-mother’s partner if he’s male yet not if this woman is feminine.
Throughout this document, translations are placed in the format that is following English (Dutch/French).
May I get hitched in Belgium?
To obtain hitched in Belgium, either you or your personal future partner should be a citizen that is belgian are resident in Belgium for at the very least 90 days. Based on the Belgian government, atmosphere seats and leasing agreements may be used as evidence of residence.
A casual reading of the English webpage for the Belgian department of immigration suggests that foreigners can get married in Belgium with a ‘class C’ Schengen visa at the time of writing. Nevertheless, this really is a misunderstanding due to the website being under construction, and it is perhaps perhaps not supported by the French texts.
The two of you must certanly be over 18 and never currently hitched. Those over 16 could get married because of the authorization of these moms and dads in addition to courts. Foreigners must meet the requirements for wedding inside their house nation, including age restrictions. Nonetheless, it will always be, yet not always easy for same-sex partners to have hitched in Belgium, even in the event their brand new status will likely not be recognised inside their house nation.
Would a registered cohabitation be better for me personally?
Subscribed cohabitation (wettelijk/ that is samenwonen legale) in Belgium is notably uncommon. Whilst in other nations comparable terms can be used to explain partners residing together or same-sex wedding (as an example, ‘registered partnership’), in Belgium what this means is a provided residence and duties, certainly not a intimate relationship. Consequently, along with partners, additionally it is feasible to possess an appropriate cohabitation with an user of one’s household that you might perhaps maybe not marry (a moms and dad or adult sibling, as an example). Nevertheless, you can not get into a authorized cohabitation if you’re hitched or already in a cohabitation that is registered.
Both parties have the right to live in the family home, and the duty to maintain it, including paying costs in a registered cohabitation. They are jointly responsible for debts associated with household help plus the house, such as for example a home loan or car repayment, no matter if they have been just held in one single title.
Pre-wedding preparations
You have to alert the registrar of the intention to marry at the very least a couple of weeks in before your wedding. Expect you’ll offer detailed information regarding your self along with your future partner. A summary of documents you’ll likely below require is.
The registrar will likely then issue an ‘act of intent to marry(akte that is aangifte van het huwelijk / acte de declaration de mariage) that will be shown publicly. So long as there aren’t any objections, your wedding may then proceed between week or two and 6 months later on.
Documentation for a wedding that is belgian
Have a to present:
- ID (e.g., passport)
- Birth certification
- Prenuptial contract (if needed)
- Evidence of target ( e.g., leasing contract, current bills)
- Evidence of nationality
- Proofs of civil status ( ag e.g., a breakup or death certification, when you yourself have been married formerly)
- Evidence of residence authorities that are– belgian expect this to be always a certification, as described below, nonetheless, in the event your host to residence isn’t Belgium, and will not issue these certificates, other evidence is going to be needed.
A minumum of one partner must create evidence of residence in Belgium. The authority that is local have the ability to issue a (bewijs van woonst voor huwelijksdoeleinden / certificat de domicile pour mariage) literally a ‘certificate of residence for marriage’. You will have to prove your status that is residential to authority, eg. by bringing your leasing contract.
International papers may need to be authorized with an Apostille stamp, also referred to as ‘Apostillisation‘legalisation’ or’, or an equivalent. The government that is issuing a document with an original ID, showing that it’s a real and accurate content for recognition abroad. Any papers maybe perhaps not released in Dutch or French needs to be translated with a ‘sworn translator’. In the event that interpretation just isn’t done in Belgium, it too should be authenticated by the Apostille stamp, or equivalent.
Belgian marriages
The lawfully binding ceremony has to take spot at a registry office, which can be typically into the neighborhood town hallway (stadhuis / mairie). Nearly all city halls are gorgeous structures, usually 200–600 yrs . old. Area could be restricted, however it is typically feasible to create 20 or more visitors.
The civil registrar / council officer (ambtenaar van de burgerlijke / l’officier sugar babies Portland OR de l’etat civil) will conduct the ceremony, which include reading out particular sections associated with Belgian appropriate code since the liberties and duties of a married few. The couple will be issued with a family record book (trouwboekje / livret de mariage), which acts as your copy of your marriage registration at the end of the ceremony.
The few may provide as much as four witnesses, who should all be over 18 and bring ID. You should supply a translator if you, your partner or your witnesses are not fluent in the local language. The translator doesn’t need become a expert professional but should always be competent.