What do I need to arrange if I want to marry in France?
If you are a Dutch national planning to marry in France, you will need to provide certain documents. And you may need to meet extra requirements.
Can I get married in France?
Ask the organisation that you want to perform the marriage in France if you are allowed to marry there as a Dutch national.
You can get married or enter into a registered partnership in France only if:
- you or your partner have been living in France for at least 1 month; or
- one of both of your parents or your partner’s parents have been living in France for at least 1 month.
Same-sex couples can get married in France.
You cannot get married at the Dutch embassy.
Requirements for getting married for Dutch nationals
If you are a Dutch national and you want to marry, you must meet the following requirements:
- You and your partner must be 18 or older. If you are under 18 and you marry abroad, the Dutch authorities will not recognise your marriage until you and your partner are both 18.
- You and your partner must not already be married to or have a registered partnership with someone else.
- If you are under guardianship, you will need the permission of your guardian or of the limited jurisdiction judge (‘kantonrechter’).
- The following family members are not allowed to marry each other or enter into a registered partnership with each other: parents and children, grandparents and grandchildren, and brothers and sisters.
What documents do I need to marry in France ?
To get married in France you will need the following documents:
If you have never lived in the Netherlands, you will need a certificate of legal capacity to marry. A certificate of legal capacity to marry shows that you and your partner are legally allowed to marry. To get this document, you will need to submit a number of other documents.
A declaration of marital status shows that you are unmarried. This declaration cannot be issued more than three months ago. To get this document, you will need to submit a number of other documents.
More information about applying for a declaration of marital status
You can download an affidavit of foreign legislation (certificat de coutume) (information in French). You cannot get this document from the Dutch embassy.
You can get an official copy of your birth certificate from the municipality where you were born.
To get married in France you will need a valid passport or ID card. Which document you need depends on your situation.
To get married in France you will need proof of residence. For example:
- a phone bill
- an electricity bill
- a tax form
Is my marriage valid in the Netherlands?
Marriages performed in France are recognised in the Netherlands.
Do I have to register my marriage in the Netherlands?
You may need to register your marriage in the Netherlands. This depends on where you live.
If you live in the Netherlands, you must register your marriage with your municipality. You will need your marriage certificate to do this.
If you live outside the Netherlands, you can have your marriage certificate converted into a Dutch certificate by the municipality of The Hague. This is not mandatory, but it can be useful if you ever need an extract in the future.
More information about registering a foreign marriage certificate in the Netherlands
Additional information
First you must submit a marriage application to the French municipality where you wish to get married. Your intended marriage will be announced 10 days before the marriage date. The marriage must take place no more than 1 year and 10 days after this announcement.
Find out more about getting married in France on the French government website (information in French)