How do you get married in Belgium? What documents do you need, and do you have to report the marriage in your country of origin?
In short
First you make a declaration of marriage at the municipality; the wedding can take place 14 days later at the earliest. If you are a citizen of another country, you may also need to report the marriage to that country's consulate.
Video transcript
You've booked the wedding hall. The civil ceremony at the municipality can wait until next week, you think. It depends: First a marriage declaration at the municipality; the wedding is at the earliest 14 days later. You need a birth certificate, ID and proof you're unmarried. The right way: Ask your municipality for the list of documents and declare early. If you hold another nationality, you may need to tell that country's consulate too. Good to know: Penalty: None; In case of doubt: Can be delayed 2 months; Not reported at home: Marital status not updated.
What is not allowed, what is required?
- Couples who want to marry make a declaration of marriage (huwelijksaangifte / déclaration de mariage) at the municipality where one of them is registered.
- The wedding can take place 14 days after the declaration at the earliest. If it does not take place within 6 months after those 14 days, you must make the declaration again.
- Documents required: birth certificate, proof of identity and nationality, and proof that you are single (or divorced). For foreign documents, an apostille and a sworn translation may be required. Municipalities may ask for different documents, so check with yours first.
- Witnesses are not required, but you may choose up to 4 witnesses aged 18 or over.
- The civil marriage must always come before the religious marriage (Constitution, art. 21).
- If you are a citizen of another country, you may also need to report your Belgian marriage to that country's consulate. Ask the consulate about the deadline and the rules. If you are a recognised refugee, do not go to the consulate; ask the CGRS (CGVS / CGRA) for advice.
Penalty and indirect consequences
- Fine / payment
- No penalty.
- Court / prison
- No prison sentence.
What really matters: the indirect consequences
- The registrar refuses to perform the marriage if the conditions are not met or if it is only intended to obtain a right of residence. If in doubt, the registrar can postpone it by 2 months, and the public prosecutor can extend this by a further 3 months.
Legal basis:Oud BW art. 167
- If you do not register the marriage in your country of origin, your marital status there will not be updated, which can cause problems with official procedures in that country.
- Some municipalities require the declaration to be made weeks before the wedding (Ghent, for example: at least 6 weeks). Plan the date early.
Legal basis:Stad Gent – Huwelijksaangifte doen
Why does this rule exist?
The waiting period and document checks make sure there is no impediment to the marriage (such as an earlier marriage) and that both people genuinely want to marry. They protect against forced and sham marriages.
Where can you go?
- Violence helplineFlanders 1712 (weekdays 09–18) · Wallonia and Brussels 0800 30 030 (partner violence), 103 (child abuse) · Emergency 112
- Child and family servicesFlanders: Kind en Gezin / Opgroeien · Wallonia and Brussels: ONE
- School guidance centreThe school's CLB / centre PMS
- Social interpreterAt the municipality, the OCMW/CPAS, school and hospital, you can ask for an interpreter in your language; it is often free.
This site does not handle individual cases; it points you to the right service. All help addresses
Source and reliability
Official source- Source check
- 12 / 14 statements in an official source
- Checked: 18.10.2026
- Last checked
- 18.10.2026
- Rules can change
Show the 14 checked statementsopen
- Found in an official source
Beyan, eşlerden birinin kayıtlı olduğu belediyede (Oud BW md. 164/1 §1)
Oud BW art. 164/1 §1 - Found in an official source
Nikâh beyandan en erken 14 gün sonra (Oud BW md. 165 §1)
Oud BW art. 165 §1 - Found in an official source
14 gün dolduktan sonra 6 ay içinde kıyılmazsa yeni beyan (Oud BW md. 165 §3)
Oud BW art. 165 §3 - Found in an official source
Belçika'da kayıtlı olmayan eş: vatandaşlık ve bekârlık belgesi (Oud BW md. 164/2 §3)
Oud BW art. 164/2 §3 - Found in an official source
Belediye uygulaması: apostil/legalizasyon ve yeminli tercüme gerekebilir
Stad Gent – Huwelijksaangifte doen - Found in an official source
Belçika Apostil Sözleşmesi'ne taraf; taraf ülkelerin belgeleri apostille kabul edilir
HCCH – Apostille Convention status table - Found in an official source
Tanık isteğe bağlı, en fazla 4, en az 18 yaşında (Oud BW md. 164/2 §8)
Oud BW art. 164/2 §8 - Found in an official source
Resmî nikâh dinî nikâhtan önce (Grondwet md. 21 lid 2)
Grondwet art. 21 - Found in an official source
Bazı ülkeler yurt dışındaki evliliğin belirli süre içinde (ör. 30 gün) konsolosluğa bildirilmesini ister
5490 sayılı Nüfus Hizmetleri Kanunu md. 24 - Found in an official source
Bazı konsolosluklar evlilik bildirimini postayla da kabul eder
T.C. Brüksel Başkonsolosluğu – Posta Yoluyla Evlilik Bildirimi - Found in an official source
Memur şartlar yoksa veya kamu düzenine aykırıysa reddeder; 2 ay erteleme, savcı 3 ay uzatabilir (Oud BW md. 167)
Oud BW art. 167 - Found in an official source
Gent: beyan en az 6 hafta önce
Stad Gent – Huwelijksaangifte doen - Reliable secondary source
Kendi ülkenizin nüfusuna işlenmezse kayıt orada güncellenmez (genel tescil yükümlülüğünden çıkarım)
5490 sayılı Kanun md. 11 - No source found
Yabancı vatandaştan istenen 'evlenme ehliyet belgesi' belediye uygulamasına bağlı; resmî liste doğrulanamadı
The checked statements are in Turkish, as in the source text. This check does not replace legal advice.
General information, not legal advice. For your own situation, ask a lawyer or free legal aid. How was this information prepared?