Can we have a religious (imam) marriage before the civil marriage?
In short
No. In Belgium, the civil marriage at the municipality comes first. Holding a religious marriage before the civil marriage is a crime, and the person who performs it is responsible.
Video transcript
The wedding plan: imam marriage first, the town hall later. Not allowed: A religious marriage before the civil one is a crime. The person who performs it is responsible. The right way: First the civil marriage at the municipality, then a religious one if you wish. A religious marriage alone is not a legal marriage. For the officiant (Level 1): Fine: 200 € – 20.000 €; Or: 20–120 h community service; Prison: none.
What is not allowed, what is required?
- The civil marriage (burgerlijk huwelijk / mariage civil) at the municipality comes first; after that, you can have a religious marriage if you wish.
- The person who performs a religious marriage before the civil marriage is punished (art. 642, level 1).
- In Belgium, a religious marriage is not a legal marriage. It does not give the spouse rights to inheritance, maintenance or residence.
- A second marriage (bigamy) is also a crime (art. 366, level 1).
Penalty and indirect consequences
- Fine / payment
- By law, a fine of 200 € – 20.000 €; with surcharge multipliers, the amount you pay can be higher. Or 20–120 hours of community service (werkstraf / peine de travail) or 6–12 months of probation (probatiestraf).
Legal basis:Kamer DOC 55 3374/010, art. 36
What does this level mean? Criminal Code, level 1: No prison: a fine, community service or probation. All penalty levels →
What really matters: the indirect consequences
- It can 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:Sv. art. 590, 595
- A spouse and children in a religious-only marriage can be left without legal protection
Legal basis:oud BW art. 166
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?
The aim is to make sure women and children are not left without legal protection. A civil marriage guarantees equal rights to maintenance and inheritance, and in a divorce.
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
- 8 / 8 statements in an official source
- Checked: 12.10.2026
- Last checked
- 12.10.2026
- Rules can change
Show the 8 checked statementsopen
- Found in an official source
Önce resmî nikâh, sonra dinî nikâh
Belgische Grondwet, art. 21, tweede lid - Found in an official source
Resmî nikâhtan önce dinî nikâhı kıyan kişi cezalandırılır (md. 642, seviye 1)
Strafwetboek Boek II (Justel, geconsolideerd, in werking 01-09-2026), art. 642 - Found in an official source
Dinî nikâh hukuken evlilik sayılmaz; miras, nafaka, oturum hakkı vermez
IGVM – Vakantietijd: huwelijkstijd? (brochure), "Huwelijk in België" en "Religieus huwelijk" - Found in an official source
Bigami suçtur (md. 366, seviye 1)
Strafwetboek Boek II (Justel, geconsolideerd, in werking 01-09-2026), art. 366 - Corrected according to the source
Seviye 1: 200–20.000 € para cezası, 20–120 saat çalışma veya 6–12 ay denetimli serbestlik
Kamer DOC 55 3374/010, art. 36 - Found in an official source
Seviye 1'de hapis yok; denetimli serbestlik verilebilir
Kamer DOC 55 3374/010, art. 36 - Found in an official source
Mahkûmiyet Strafregister'e işlenir; uittreksel bu kayıtları gösterir
Sv. art. 590, 595 - Found in an official source
Hukuken geçerli evlilik yalnız nüfus memuru önünde kıyılır
oud BW art. 166
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?