Applying for a certificate of marital status in Côte d'Ivoire
Are you a Dutch national, living in Côte d'Ivoire and do you need a certificate of marital status (certificat de célibat, certificat de non remariage)? You can apply for this certificate at the Dutch embassy in Abidjan.
To apply for a certificate in person, follow the steps below.
Step 1: Gather the documents that you need
To apply for a certificate of marital status, you will need to provide various documents. Which documents you need to provide depends on your situation. You may need to have your documents translated and legalised.
To apply for a certificate of marital status, you will need:
- A valid Dutch passport or Dutch ID card.
- Proof of registration in the municipality where you live, bearing your address.
If this is not available in the country where you live, you can instead provide a bank statement or utility bill from the past month bearing your name and address, or a rental contract bearing your name and address. - Official proof from a Dutch or foreign government authority stating that you are not married. This cannot be a self-declaration or a document drawn up by a notary.
If you have deregistered from the Personal Records Database (BRP) in the Netherlands, you should apply for a certificate in the form of an extract from the Non-Residents Records Database (RNI). This will show your marital status at the time you left the Netherlands.
Additional documents if you have been living outside the Netherlands for a long time
If you live outside the Netherlands, you must provide additional documents to show that you have never been married or are now divorced. If you cannot provide official documents, you should provide other documents that prove your marital status. This could be proof of registration with the immigration authorities, tax returns or insurance policies.
To apply for a certificate of marital status, you will need:
- A valid Dutch passport or Dutch ID card.
- Proof of address and proof of registration in the municipality where you live.
If this is not available in the country where you live, you can instead provide a bank statement or utility bill from the past month bearing your name and address, or a rental contract bearing your name and address. - Proof of divorce (divorce certificate or court judgment), proof of termination of previous registered partnership or a death certificate.
Additional documents if you have been living outside the Netherlands for a long time
If you live outside the Netherlands, you must provide additional documents to show that you have never been married or are now divorced. If you cannot provide official documents, you should provide other documents that prove your marital status. This could be proof of registration with the immigration authorities, tax returns or insurance policies.
You may need to have non-Dutch documents translated and legalised.
Do you have all the required documents? Bring the original documents and a copy of the documents with you to your appointment.
Step 2: Make an appointment
You must make an appointment with the embassy or consulate. Make an appointment at the embassy or consulate by emailing:
In your email you should state:
- the type of certificate you need (in the subject line)
- your initials and surname (in the subject line)
- your phone number
- why you need the certificate. The purpose of the certificate will be listed on the certificate itself.
Step 3: Pay the fee
The fee for a consular certificate is €30. You pay the fee when you submit your application.
You can find information on how to pay in the overview of consular fees.
Step 4: Receive the certificate
In most cases, you’ll receive the certificate on the same day as your appointment. If this is not possible, inform the staff member during your appointment whether you wish to collect the certificate or have it posted to you.
You will receive a multilingual standard form in Dutch, English, French and German. If you need the declaration/certificate in another language, you will need to have it translated by a sworn translator. Ask the organisation requesting the certificate whether you need to have the certificate and/or the translation legalised.
Contact
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us.