If you are a British citizen intending to marry in Germany it is unlikely that you will be asked by the local registry office (Standesamt) to obtain a certificate of no impediment (CNI) for presentation. Please check with the British mission responsible for the area you reside in, or with the British mission responsible for the area you wish to get married in, if not your place of residence, or with the responsible Standesamt.

In the unlikely event that you do need a CNI you will have to swear or affirm an affidavit or affirmation in front of a Consular Officer. There is a fee payable for this service (see consular fees). You are advised to contact the British mission responsible for the consular district you reside in to obtain further advice, and, if applicable, to arrange an appointment for giving notice of marriage.

The documents that you will normally be asked to bring are your passport, birth certificate and divorce decree absolute, if you were married before, or death certificate of your husband/wife, if you are a widow/er. Should you have ever have changed your name by deed poll, then this document will have to be produced as well.

Please note that you must have resided in the consular district for at least 21 days in order to be able to give notice of marriage. Should the marriage take place outside the consular district, the notice of marriage, once it has hung on the notice board for 21 clear days, has to be sent to the Consul responsible for the district you wish to get married in. Otherwise the certificate will be issued by this office (in German) and sent to you for presentation to the Standesamt. You should note that all documents produced to the Standesamt, which are not in German, will have to be translated by a sworn interpreter.

Civil Partnerships

Civil partnerships have been officially recognised in Germany since 2002. In certain circumstances you may be asked by the Standesamt to produce a statutory declaration that you are free to enter into a civil partnership. If this is the case please contact the Embassy or the Consulate in whose district you are located for further guidance on how to proceed.