Marriage of a Frenchman abroad - With another Frenchman

Verified 30 octobre 2023 - Legal and Administrative Information Directorate (Prime Minister)

Your situation

  • You're getting married to another Frenchman
  • The wedding will be celebrated by a French authority (ambassador or consul of France)
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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.

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.

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.

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:

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:

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?

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