MARRIAGE CLEARANCES AND DISPENSATIONS

A Marriage Clearance is required for marriages under the Catholic Church between a Filipino and a foreign partner. This is secured from the Chancery Department of the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Tuguegarao. This section describes the procedure and requirements for securing marriage clearances and dispensations.


Procedure for Securing Marriage Clearance

Get a form the Chancery Department called “APPLICATION FOR THE ISSUANCE OF CLEARANCE FOR MARRIAGE BETWEEN A FILIPINO AND A FOREIGN IN THE CATHOLIC CHURCH.” A separate and more detailed checklist of the required documents is also available at the Chancery Office.

Documents Required:

A. FOR CATHOLICS

1. Recently issued baptismal certificate
2. Certification of freedom to marry
   

B. FOR NON-CATHOLICS

1. Recently issued baptismal certificate
2. Certification of freedom to marry

C. FOR DIVORCED PERSONS:

1. Official Church declaration of nullity of previous marriage(s)

D. OTHER SUPPLEMENT DOCUMENTS:

1. Publications of Banns
2. Certification from the embassy or from country of origin that applicant has never contracted marriage in any form yet
3. Sworn Affidavits about applicant’s freedom to marry executed before a priests interviewer
4. Civil Marriage Certificate, if couple have already been civilly married
5. If widowed, death certificate of the diseased spouse
6. If applicant is a Japanese citizen, endorsement by Fr. Toru Nishimoto, CSsR (see address below).

Fill in the application form and attach the appropriate supporting documents. Then submit your application together with the required attachments to the personnel in charge for evaluation, processing and approval.

For a speedy processing of your application, it is important to make sure that you have all the necessary supporting documents. Carefully read the checklist given to you. The requirement(s) may vary depending on whether the couple is Catholic, Non-Catholics or divorced.

Some of the basic and supplementary requirements include the following:

• For baptized partner, recently issued baptismal certificate with Notation “FOR MARRIAGE PURPOSES”
• For Catholic Partner, a certification of Freedom to Marry from your parish, or copy of the Publication of 3 Sunday Banns
• For foreign partner, an Embassy Clearance/Legal Capacity to Marry
• For couples who are already civilly married, a Certificate of Marriage
• For a widowed partner, the Death Certificate of deceased spouse
• For Non-Catholics, a Dispensation from the Impediment of either “Mixed Religion or Disparity of Cult”
• For divorced persons, an official church declaration of nullity of previous marriage(s), the Decree of the Divorce. Civil Annulment with certificate of Finality, Copy of the Previous Certificate of Marriage, etc. as the case maybe.
• For Japanese citizens, an interview and endorsement from Fr. Toru Nishimoto, CSsR is required.

Processing of application takes about 7 working days. However, applicants are strongly advised to apply for Marriage Clearance ahead of time-between 6 months to 3 weeks before wedding date.


Procedure for Securing a Dispensation from the Impediment of Mixed Religion or Disparity of Cult

For marriages between Catholic and Non-Catholic, secure form called MIXED MARRIAGE: FORMULA OF THE PROMISES AND DECLARATION OF THE CONTRACTING PARTIES from your parish. Fill up this form and request your parish priest to endorse this to the Chancery office, who in turn will issue a Dispensation for Mixed Religion or Disparity of Cult, as the case maybe.

Checklist of Requirements for Marriage Clearance

A) If one Party is Catholic and the other Party is Non-Christian or has No Religion
( ) Original and Xerox copy of newly issued baptismal certificate (within 6 months prior to the wedding date) of the Catholic Party with notation “FOR MARRIAGE PURPOSES”

A.1 For the Catholic Party
( ) original and Xerox copy of “CERTIFICATION” of freedom to marry (within 6 months prior to the wedding date) from his or her incumbent Parish Priest or that “no impediment” exists regarding the proposed marriage

A.2 For the Non-Christian
( ) original and Xerox copy of “AFFIDAVIT” about the Non-Christian’s freedom to marry (within 6 months prior to the wedding date) executed by the applicant and 2 witnesses before the priest-interviewer
( ) two Xerox copies of “CERTIFICATION” from his/her embassy (if applicant is a foreigner) and from his or her country of origin that he/she has never contracted marriage in any form and that there is no legal hindrance in contracting the applied marriage

A.3 If Civilly Married Already
( ) A certified true copy and Xerox copy of the “CERTIFICATE OF MARRIAGE”

A.4 If Widowed
( ) A certified true copy and Xerox copy of the “DEATH CERTIFICATE” of the deceased spouse
( ) Dispensation from the “DISPARITY OF CULT” from the Chancery Office

A.5 If one Party is Japanese Citizen
( ) For Reference/interview with:
Rev. Fr. TORU NISHIMOTO, CSsR
TRAVELERS Life Building, 490 T.M. Kalaw St., Ermita, Manila
525-3517 & 521-9991



B. If both parties are single (have never contracted marriage in any form before)

B.1 If both parties are Catholic
( ) original and Xerox copy of newly issued baptismal certificate (within 6 months prior to the wedding date) with notation “FOR MARRIAGE PURPOSES”
( ) Original and Xerox copy of newly issued Certification of “freedom to marry” (within 6 months prior to wedding date) from present parish priest that he/she has never contracted any form of marriage and that he/she is free from any marriage impediment or
( ) Original and Xerox copy of Publication of 3 SUNDAY BANNS in their respective present parishes abroad

B.2 If Civilly Married Already
( ) A certified true copy and Xerox copy of ‘CERTIFICATE OF MARRIAGE”

B.3 If Widowed
( ) A certificate of true copy and Xerox copy of DEATH CERTIFICATE of the deceased spouse

B.4 If Permanent Resident Foreigners
( ) Original and Xerox copy of “Affidavit” of applicant’s freedom to marry executed by the applicant and 2 witnesses before a priest-interview
( ) 2 Xerox copies of “Embassy Clearance/ Legal Capacity to Marry”

B.5 If one Party is Japanese Citizen
( ) For Reference/interview with:
Rev. Fr. TORU NISHIMOTO, CSsR
TRAVELERS Life Building, 490 T.M. Kalaw St., Ermita, Manila
525-3517 & 521-9991


C. If both parties are single-have never contracted marriage in form before

C.1 If One Party is Non-Catholic Christian (i.e., Protestant)
( ) Original and Xerox copy of newly issued baptismal certificate (within 6 months prior to wedding date) with notation “FOR MARRIAGE PURPOSES”
( ) Original and Xerox copy of “Certification” from his/her incumbent Parish Priest/Pastor (within 6 months prior to wedding date) that he/she has never contracted any form of marriage and that he/she is free from any marriage impediment

C.2 If Permanent Resident/Native Born Foreigners
( ) Original and Xerox copy of “affidavit” about freedom to marry executed by the applicant and 2 witnesses before a priest-interviewer or
( ) Original and Xerox copy of publication of “3 SUNDAY BANNS” from the parish of the Catholic Party

C.3 If Civilly Married Already
( ) A certified true copy and Xerox copy of ‘CERTIFICATE OF MARRIAGE”

C.4 If Widowed
( ) A certificate of true copy and Xerox copy of DEATH CERTIFICATE of the deceased spouse

C.5 If one Party is Japanese Citizen
( ) For Reference/interview with:
Rev. Fr. TORU NISHIMOTO, CSsR
TRAVELERS Life Building490 T.M. Kalaw St., Ermita, Manila
525-3517 & 521-9991


D. If one Party is DIVORCED regardless of RELIGION or RITE

D.1 Proof of “Freedom to Marry” in any of the following forms:
( ) Original and Xerox copy of “Certification” of freedom to marry from his/her incumbent pastor (within 6 months prior to the wedding date)
( ) Notation of his/her baptismal certificate “FOR MARRIAGE PURPOSES” signifying his/her state of freedom to marry
( ) Original and Xerox copy of publication of “3 SUNDAY BANNS” from his/her Parish abroad

D.2 For the Divorced Party
( ) Original and Xerox copy of the FORMAL WRITTEN DECLARATION that the PREVIOUS MARRIAGE is NULL and VOID from the beginning, by a competent Catholic Marriage Tribunal (Tribunal where the previous marriage took place or where the former spouse is residing) or the Catholic Bishop of the place of domicile of the divorce
( ) Original and 2 xerox copies of the Decree of the Divorce
( ) Original and Xerox copy of the Civil Annulment Decision with the certificate of finality
( ) A certified true and Xerox copy of the previous Certificate of Marriage
( ) Original and Xerox copy of “certification” from the incumbent parish priest that previous marriage was by civil rites only and validated/ not validated in the church; That there was no subsequent marriage after the divorce or civil annulment; That there exist no impediment for him/her to be married in the Catholic Church
( ) Original and xerox copy of the marriage counseling certificate by a competent marriage counselor (if there were already 2 or 3 previous marriages) recommending/ endorsing the marriage

D.3 For the Non-Divorced Non-Catholic Party
( ) Certification from his/her pastor and/or embassy that he/she has never contracted marriage in any form and that nothing hinders him/her from contracting marriage

D.4 If Civilly Married Already
( ) Certified true copy and Xerox of the CERTIFICATE OF MARRIAGE

D.5 If One Party is Non-Catholic
( ) Dispensation from the impediment of either “Mixed Religion or Disparity of Cult” as the case may be

D.6 If one Party is Japanese Citizen
( ) For Reference/interview with:
Rev. Fr. TORU NISHIMOTO, CSsR
TRAVELERS Life Building490 T.M. Kalaw St., Ermita, Manila
525-3517 & 521-9991