The marriage declaration: when, where and what to bring.

What is it?

The marriage declaration (huwelijksaangifte) is the official notice to the registrar that you want to marry. The town hall draws up a certificate of it and checks that everything is in order. Only then can the civil wedding take place.

Reserving a date and time at the town hall is something else: that is often possible up to a year ahead, but it is not yet the declaration.

When?

By law at the earliest six months and at the latest fourteen days before the planned wedding date. The wedding itself can then take place at the earliest fourteen days and at the latest six months after the declaration.

Many towns ask for the declaration earlier than those fourteen days, because they need time to check the documents. Ghent asks for at least six weeks. So always check what your town asks.

Where?

At the civil registry of the town where one of you lives, that is, where you are registered in the population, foreigners or waiting register. That is also where you get married.

If you both live abroad, you can declare in the town of the last Belgian residence of one of you, of the residence of a blood relative up to the second degree (parents, grandparents, brothers or sisters, children, grandchildren), or of the Belgian birthplace of one of you.

More and more towns let you start the declaration online, on their website or through Mijn Burgerprofiel. Elsewhere you make an appointment at the counter.

Who?

The two of you together. If one of you cannot come, the other can make the declaration with a power of attorney or written consent — ask the town hall which form they want.

What do you bring?

If you are registered in Belgium, you usually only bring your identity card or passport. If you were born in Belgium, or your birth certificate was transcribed here, the town hall requests that certificate itself.

If one of you was married before, proof is needed that that marriage was dissolved or annulled, if this is not in the register yet.

If you are not registered in Belgium, you also bring proof of nationality, of being unmarried and of your main residence. Foreign documents usually need to be legalised or carry an apostille, and translated by a sworn translator where needed.

If you choose witnesses, the town hall asks for their details, often a copy of their identity card.

Witnesses

Witnesses are not required. You can choose none up to four, for the two of you together, and they must be adults. They can co-sign the marriage certificate.

Marriage contract

A marriage contract is optional. If you want one, a notary draws it up, always before the wedding. The notary registers it in the central register; a certificate for the town hall is no longer needed.

What does it cost?

The declaration itself is free in many towns, such as Ghent. For the ceremony, a time outside regular hours or a special room, some towns do ask a fee. It differs per town.