Can someone under 18 get married in Belgium?
In short
As a rule, no. The minimum age for marriage is 18. The family court can only make an exception if there are serious reasons.
Video transcript
Your daughter isn't 18 yet, and a suitor has come forward. You're thinking of a religious marriage first. It depends: The marriage age is 18. The family court only makes an exception for serious reasons. No religious marriage before the civil one. The right way: Wait until 18. First the civil marriage at the municipality, then a religious one if you wish. Forcing someone is a crime. Consequences: Religious marriage first: 200 € – 20.000 €; Forcing a marriage: 3 – 5 years prison; Forced marriage: Can be annulled.
What is not allowed, what is required?
- In Belgium, the minimum age for marriage is 18 for both women and men.
- The family court (familierechtbank / tribunal de la famille) can lift this ban if there are serious reasons. This is an exception and is not granted automatically.
- A religious marriage may not take place before the civil marriage. The religious official who conducts it is punished (art. 642, level 1).
- Forcing someone to marry through violence or threats is a criminal offence (art. 293, level 3). If the victim is a minor, the judge treats this as an aggravating circumstance.
Penalty and indirect consequences
- Fine / payment
- There is no fine for the age rule itself. Anyone who conducts a religious marriage before the civil marriage faces a level 1 penalty: by law, a fine of 200 € – 20.000 € or an alternative penalty.
Legal basis:Strafwetboek (W 29.2.2024) Boek I, art. 36
- Court / prison
- No prison sentence for the age rule itself. Forced marriage is level 3: 3 – 5 years in prison.
Legal basis:Strafwetboek (W 29.2.2024) Boek I, art. 36
What really matters: the indirect consequences
- A forced marriage can be annulled by the court in the criminal case (art. 296)
Legal basis:Strafwetboek (W 29.2.2024) Boek II, art. 296
- It may appear on your criminal record extract (uittreksel uit het strafregister / extrait de casier judiciaire); this can cause problems when you apply for jobs
Legal basis:FOD Justitie – Uittreksel uit het strafregister
What do these terms mean?
- Criminal record
- The state register of convictions handed down by a court. The extract asked for a job, residence or nationality application comes from it. Municipal GAS fines are not entered in it.
Why does this rule exist?
It protects children's right to an education, to develop and to make free decisions about their own lives. Early marriage often means that education is cut short.
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
- 9 / 9 statements in an official source
- Checked: 12.10.2026
- Last checked
- 12.10.2026
- Rules can change
Show the 9 checked statementsopen
- Found in an official source
Evlenme yaşı 18
Oud Burgerlijk Wetboek art. 144 (Justel; alıntı aynı gün önceki doğrulamadan, verify/aile.json) - Found in an official source
Evlenme yaşı 18
Vlaanderen.be – Marriage (last revision 27.08.2025) - Found in an official source
Aile mahkemesi ciddi nedenlerle yasağı kaldırabilir
Oud Burgerlijk Wetboek art. 145 (Justel; önceki doğrulamadan) - Found in an official source
md. 642 seviye 1
Strafwetboek (Wet 29.02.2024, BS 08.04.2024), art. 642 - Found in an official source
md. 293 seviye 3; reşit olmayan mağdur ağırlaştırıcı (md. 295)
Strafwetboek (Wet 29.02.2024, BS 08.04.2024), art. 293, 295 - Found in an official source
Seviye 3: 3–5 yıl
Strafwetboek (W 29.2.2024) Boek I, art. 36 - Found in an official source
Zorla evlilik iptal edilebilir (md. 296)
Strafwetboek (W 29.2.2024) Boek II, art. 296 - Found in an official source
Seviye 1: 200–20.000 € para cezası, 20–120 saat çalışma, 6–12 ay probation
Strafwetboek (W 29.2.2024) Boek I, art. 36 - Found in an official source
Mahkûmiyet adli sicile yazılabilir
FOD Justitie – Uittreksel uit het strafregister
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?