Marriage abroad

You can submit the application if:

• Your main residence is on the territory of the City of Brussels, or
• You are a Belgian living abroad and the City of Brussels was your last place of residence in Belgium, or
• You are a Belgian who has never lived in Belgium.

Good to know!

For a marriage to be recognised, it must meet the legal requirements of Belgian law.

The procedure takes place in several steps:

1. Analysis of your file

Are you Belgian or a foreigner with permanent residence in Belgium?

Send an e-mail to analyse@brucity.be with the following information:

• Subject of the e-mail: Marriage abroad
• Your details: last name, first name, national registration number
• Copy of the required documents

Are you a foreigner with temporary residence in Belgium?

Send your e-mail to:

• EU citizens (EU or F residence card): europa@brucity.be
• Non-EU citizens (A or B residence card): foreigners@brucity.be

2. Original documents

After the analysis, you will be given an appointment at the counter where you must present the original documents, translations, and any required legalisations.

Good to know!

Belgians living abroad can send the original documents by registered mail. They will be returned at the end of the procedure.

3. Official registration

Once your file is complete and approved, the foreign marriage certificate will be registered in the Civil Status Database (BAEC), and your civil status will be updated to 'married'.

From that moment, you can request an extract of your marriage certificate.

To submit your application, you need:

• Identity document of both spouses
• Foreign marriage certificate
• External siteLegalisation or apostille of the certificate, if required
  Translation into French or Dutch by a sworn translator if the certificate is in another language. If the translator is foreign, their signature must also be External sitelegalised.

Other documents may be requested after the analysis of your file.

25 euros

1 month from the complete approval of your file.