Australian Consulate Philippines

For a foreigner to legally marry under Philippine law, two documents are required:

• Marriage Licence - Issued by the Philippine Government

The Philippine government will only accept a CNI issued by the Australian Embassy in Manila.

The Philippine Government normally do not accept a CNI issued more than 6 months prior to the date of marriage.

CNIs are not a requirement under Australian law.

You will not be able to undergo a legal form of marriage in the Philippines without a CNI (Certificate of Legal Capacity) nor be legally issued with a Marriage Licence.

Australian citizens must lodge a completed CNI application form with the Consular section of the Australian Embassy in Manila either by appointment or by mail.

First Option: Applying in person

Please bring the following documents to your appointment:

1. Completed application form. You must sign the form in front of an authorised witness. The list of authorised witnesses is included on the form. A Consular Officer at the Australian Embassy can also witness your signature. The information needs to be completed for both the applicant and the intended spouse.
2. The applicant‘s Australian Passport and/or Australian birth certificate.
3. Proof of termination of previous marriage (divorce papers, death certificate or annulment papers).
4. Valid ID or birth certificate of the intended spouse.
5. Authorization Letter (if you want your CNI to be processed by your representative here in the Philippines).

If you apply in person the CNI will be issued at the time of your appointment.

Please call +63 2 757 8100 (x309) to book an appointment to apply for a CNI in person. Requests for appointments should be made well in ahead of the date you plan to attend the Embassy. We are often fully booked several weeks in advance.

Second Option: Lodge by mail/courier

Please send the following documents:

1. Completed application form. You must sign the form in front of an authorised witness. The list of authorised witnesses is included on the form. The information needs to be completed for both the applicant and the intended spouse.
2. Certified/notarised copy of the applicant’s Australian passport (biodata page only) or Australian birth certificate.
3. Proof of termination of previous marriage (certified/notarised copy of divorce papers, death certificate or annulment papers).
4. A photocopy of the intended spouse's valid ID or birth certificate.
5. Payment for a CNI application lodged by mail must be a Bank Manager’s Check (payable in Philippine Peso) made payable to 'Australian Embassy'. Philippine banks will provide a Manager’s Cheque. Australian banks can also draft Bank Cheques in Philippine pesos.
6. Authorization Letter (if you want your CNI application to be processed by your representative here in the Philippines) or a Request Letter (if you want your CNI to be sent to your representative here in the Philippines).

The CNI will be issued immediately and mailed to the applicant or to the authorised representative/recipient.

Delivery to any Australian address will be via Philippine Postal Corporation unregistered mail and will take at least four weeks to arrive. For faster and registered delivery please have your CNI sent to a Philippine address or have an authorised representative lodge/pick-up your CNI at the Australian Embassy in Manila.

You may send your complete requirements through mail/courier addressed to:

Consular Section
Australian Embassy
Level 23 - Tower 2, RCBC Plaza
6819 Ayala Avenue
Makati City 1200
Metro Manila, The Philippines

DIVORCES OBTAINED IN NON-COMMONWEALTH COUNTRIES

If you have been divorced overseas, you should contact your solicitor before leaving Australia to confirm that your divorce is recognised under Australian law. Your marriage in the Philippines will not be recognised in Australia unless your divorce is recognised under Australian law.

DIVORCE OF AUSTRALIAN NATIONALS PREVIOUSLY MARRIED IN THE PHILIPPINES

Foreign divorce decrees are not automatically recognized in the Philippines. Australian nationals who were previously married in the Philippines and are intending to remarry in the Philippines after obtaining a divorce in Australia should check with National Statistics Office in the Philippines to confirm their divorce decree has been acknowledged by the local government.

CNI FOR AUSTRALIAN RESIDENTS (NOT AUSTRALIAN CITIZENS)

Australian residents who are not Australian citizens must apply for a CNI from their Embassy or Consulate in the Philippines.

HOW TO OBTAIN A MARRIAGE LICENCE

A marriage licence is issued by the Philippine authorities and either you or your intended spouse (or both) must apply for this at the local civil registrar (City Hall) in the town or district where your intended spouse normally lives. In accordance with Philippine law, it is necessary to wait ten days from the date of application before a licence can be issued. Evidence of your identity and divorce/death of a previous spouse (if applicable) is usually required by the Philippine authorities.