CENOMAR Philippines: ₱430 PSA Fee, Validity, How to Order
Saturday, September 26, 2026
Quick answer
A CENOMAR is the PSA certificate that no marriage is on file under your name. On PSA Serbilis the first copy is PHP 430 door to door, arriving in about 3 to 8 working days after payment. We found no PSA-set validity period; some offices, such as Philippine consulates, accept only copies under six months old.
A CENOMAR is the PSA's Certificate of No Marriage Record, and on PSA Serbilis the first copy costs ₱430 with door-to-door delivery. Below are what it certifies, where it is asked for, every fee and delivery time on the PSA's ordering site, who may order it, and the validity rule that has no official number. Fees and times were checked on PSA Serbilis on 30 September 2026.
What a CENOMAR certifies, and what an Advisory on Marriages means
In plain terms, a CENOMAR says the PSA's marriage registry shows no marriage under the name on it. PSA Serbilis's tracking help names two possible results for a CENOMAR request: "CENOMAR or Advisory on Marriages".
| Result | What it means | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| CENOMAR | No marriage found under that name | Our plain-language reading; the PSA FAQ names it without defining it |
| Advisory on Marriages | One or more marriages found under that name | Same |
An Advisory is not a PSA error by default. If it is not your record, take it up with the PSA and the local civil registrar (LCR) that holds the entry.
Where you will be asked for one
The Family Code lists the documents for a marriage license, and a CENOMAR is not among them. Offices add it on their own, so the list depends on who you hand it to.
Both the civil side and the parish side may want one, and they keep separate files. Our advice: order one copy per office rather than passing one copy between them. Details are in our civil wedding requirements checklist and church wedding requirements guide. A foreign fiance's paperwork is different; see legal capacity to contract marriage.
What it costs on PSA Serbilis
These figures come from the PSA Serbilis FAQ and Payment page.
| Option | Fee | Note |
|---|---|---|
| First copy: door-to-door in the Philippines, LBC pick-up, or delivery to an embassy in the Philippines | ₱430 | Same first-copy price for all three |
| Each additional copy in the same order | ₱380 | ₱430 less ₱50 |
| PSA outlet pick-up | ₱210 per copy | Listed in the Serbilis payment terms, payable online or at the outlet; the order form may not offer the option (see below) |
| Government agency E-Copy | ₱360 per copy | Visible only to the agency you pick |
| Viewable Online | ₱185 | Paid at a PSA CRS outlet, not online |
| DocPrint hard copy of a Viewable Online request | ₱80 per copy | Within the 60-day access window |
| Delivery outside the Philippines | US$25.30 per copy via PHLPost (FAQ) | The Payment page lists US$7.80 per copy. The two pages also differ for birth, marriage and death certificates (FAQ US$20.30, Payment page US$6.00), so check the amount at checkout |
| DHL Express | Billed separately by DHL | The FAQ puts the charge on the requester's account |
The FAQ's own example: two birth certificates and three CENOMARs for door-to-door delivery come to ₱1,800. The payment terms also say fees include a PHP 30 documentary stamp tax per copy. Serbilis's site configuration currently has its pick-up-at-outlet option switched off, which is why we mark the ₱210 line as possibly unavailable when you order. We could not open the PSA's own outlet or appointment pages, so we state no other walk-in fee; see the next section.
How to order online, step by step
- Open psaserbilis.com.ph. Its FAQ calls it "the official web component of the PSA's CRS-IT project".
- Enter your own details first. The site now asks for sex, civil status, date of birth and your parents' names before you choose the certificate type.
- Choose CENOMAR, then how to receive it: door-to-door, LBC pick-up, delivery to an embassy, government agency E-Copy or Viewable Online.
- Submit the form and note the 16-digit reference number. You cannot edit a submitted request.
- Pay. Online by credit, debit or prepaid card, or by GCash, GrabPay or ShopeePay for delivery or pick-up within the Philippines. Or over the counter at accredited channels, with two printed copies of the acknowledgment page.
- Track it with Check Status and your reference number: it shows the payment date, the result and the courier tracking number.
Viewable Online is a different path. You get web access for 60 days through an access code, but you must pay at a PSA CRS outlet, and the document owner must be there in person. A representative may not pay or pick up. The FAQ says to expect the certificate to be viewable within 1 working day after payment.
Walk-in at a PSA outlet, and apostille for use abroad
What we could confirm from official sources is small, so treat this as a pointer, not a procedure.
| Topic | What we confirmed | What to check with the office |
|---|---|---|
| Outlet pick-up of a Serbilis order | The payment terms list ₱210 per CENOMAR copy, paid online or at the outlet | Whether the option is open, since the order form may hide it |
| Viewable Online and DocPrint | Paid at a PSA CRS outlet: ₱185 and ₱80 per printed copy | Outlet hours and ID rules |
| Where the outlets are | Serbilis links its outlet directory at psa.gov.ph/directory/census-serbilis-center-metro-manila | Which outlet is nearest; we could not open that page |
| Walking in with no prior order, or booking an appointment | Not confirmed; psa.gov.ph and appointment.psa.gov.ph did not open for us | Fees, forms and appointment rules, from psa.gov.ph/cenomar or the outlet |
| Apostille for use abroad | The DFA's Office of Consular Affairs has a page titled "Fully Online Apostille para sa PSA Documents" at consular.dfa.gov.ph | Fee, timing and steps; we could not open the page, so we give none |
If a foreign office asks for an apostilled CENOMAR, confirm with the DFA and that office first, and, our advice, order the PSA copy only when you know how recent it must be.
Who may order it, and who may receive it
| Question | What PSA Serbilis says |
|---|---|
| Whose CENOMAR can you order? | "your own CENOMAR/CENODEATH and the CENOMAR/CENODEATH of your child, your parents, and your spouse (if you are married/widowed)" |
| Can a fiance order yours? | A partner you are not yet married to is not on that list |
| What does the courier ask for? | A valid ID |
| Can someone else receive it? | Yes, with the owner's ID and the representative's ID (original or photocopy) plus an authorization letter or SPA |
| What must the letter state? | That its purpose is to secure civil registry documents from the PSA, and which document; a general purpose is not accepted |
| Handwritten letter allowed? | Yes, on clean paper, signed exactly as on the owner's ID; an SPA must be notarized |
| Who is authorized to get a certificate, per the Serbilis terms? | 1. The owner or a duly authorized representative. 2. Spouse, parent, direct descendants, guardian or institution legally in charge, if a minor. 3. A court or proper public official when absolutely necessary in proceedings. 4. The nearest of kin, if the person has died |
How long delivery takes
The site's Terms and Conditions give these times, counted after payment.
| Delivery address | Time after payment | Add |
|---|---|---|
| Metro Manila | Around 3 to 4 working days | 5 to 7 days outside the courier's standard areas |
| Provinces | Around 6 to 8 working days | 5 to 7 days outside the courier's standard areas |
| Outside the Philippines by DHL Express | Within 5 days after pickup from the PSA Serbilis office (FAQ) | Flight disruptions can change this |
| Viewable Online | Viewable within 1 working day after payment at a PSA CRS outlet (FAQ) | Viewable for 60 days |
| Government agency E-Copy | 2 to 3 working days for the agency to view it (FAQ) | |
| Any address, if the PSA must search manually | As above | 10 to 15 working days |
The FAQ separately says Metro Manila shipments are scheduled for next-day delivery once the PSA finishes processing. Plan on the Terms figures. If you pay through an accredited channel, the FAQ says the status updates after 1 working day.
How long is a CENOMAR valid?
The one certain thing is what the law does not say. Republic Act 11909 gives certificates of live birth, death and marriage from the PSA, the old NSO and local registries "permanent validity regardless of the date of issuance", provided the document "remains intact, readable, and still visibly contains the authenticity and security features". It names those three certificate types. A CENOMAR certifies the absence of a marriage record, is not among them, and we found no PSA page giving it a validity period by name.
What exists instead is each receiving office's own rule.
| Who | What they say |
|---|---|
| Philippine Consulate General, New York | "A CENOMAR is valid for only six (6) months from the date of issue by PSA." |
| Philippine Consulate General, Los Angeles | "A CENOMAR is valid for only six (6) months from the date of issue by the PSA" |
| Christ the King Parish | "All documents must be in original form and six months old inclusive of the wedding date." The list that follows includes the CENOMAR |
| Your city civil registrar | We found no stated age limit on the three city pages above; ask yours |
Both consulate rules are for marriages solemnized at those consulates. Our advice: ask each office how old a CENOMAR may be, and if any says six months, count from your wedding date, not from the day you file. For example, for a wedding on 20 February 2027, a copy issued on or after 20 August 2026 would be inside six months on the wedding day. That is our arithmetic; the parish's phrase "inclusive of the wedding date" needs confirming with the parish. The church guide covers the six-month rule.
Check that your copy is genuine
The PSA Serbilis FAQ says to "download the official PSA e-Verification mobile app from a trusted app store, and then scan the unique QR code printed on your certificate". The app shows the stored details, which should match the printed certificate. A copy without a QR code can still be valid: the FAQ says yes for civil registry documents that stay intact, readable and visibly show their security features.
If something goes wrong
| Situation | What to do |
|---|---|
| You get an Advisory on Marriages | A marriage record exists under that name. If it is not yours, raise it with the PSA or the LCR |
| Wrong entry on the form | Unpaid: submit a new request with the right entries. Paid: no cancellation, no refund |
| You paid less than the fee | The FAQ's example is ₱300 paid against ₱430: pay the balance at any accredited channel and the request proceeds |
| You paid too much | Coordinate with the bank or payment centre; the PSA verifies the request before any excess is returned |
| Courier delivery | Bring a valid ID; a representative needs the owner's ID and the authorization letter |
Where it falls in your timeline
Order it once you know which offices will ask. Our advice: request the CENOMARs after you have the wedding date and the strictest age rule from your civil registrar and parish, and leave a week or two for delivery, longer outside Metro Manila. Then fit it into the wedding planning checklist before the license application, since the 10-day posting starts only when you file. After the wedding, the PSA marriage certificate guide covers ordering your marriage certificate.
Frequently asked questions
How much is a CENOMAR online in the Philippines?
On PSA Serbilis the first copy costs PHP 430 for door-to-door delivery within the Philippines, LBC branch pick-up or delivery to an embassy in the Philippines. Each additional copy in the same order is PHP 50 less, so PHP 380. A government agency E-Copy is PHP 360.
How long is a CENOMAR valid?
We found no validity period for the CENOMAR in the PSA Serbilis FAQ or in Republic Act 11909, which covers birth, death and marriage certificates. Receiving offices set their own: the Philippine consulates in New York and Los Angeles say a CENOMAR is valid for only six months from the date of issue by the PSA.
What is the difference between a CENOMAR and an Advisory on Marriages?
PSA Serbilis lists both as possible results of a CENOMAR request and does not define them. Our reading is that a CENOMAR means no marriage is on file under the name, while an Advisory on Marriages means the PSA found a record of a marriage. If it is not yours, take it up with the PSA or the civil registrar.
How long does it take to get a CENOMAR from PSA Serbilis?
The site's Terms and Conditions give around 3 to 4 working days after payment for Metro Manila and 6 to 8 working days for provinces, plus 5 to 7 days outside the courier's standard areas. If the PSA must search manually, add 10 to 15 working days.
Do we need a CENOMAR for a marriage license?
The Family Code does not list one, but many offices ask for it. Quezon City and Davao City list a CENOMAR for the license, while Tangub City's charter checklist does not. Catholic parishes such as Christ the King and Manila Cathedral also list one, so ask the civil registrar and your parish.
Can I order my fiance's CENOMAR for them?
PSA Serbilis lets you order your own CENOMAR and those of your child, your parents and your spouse if you are married or widowed. A partner you are not yet married to is not on that list. Your fiance can order their own, or authorize someone to receive it with IDs and a letter or notarized SPA.
Can I correct a mistake after submitting a CENOMAR request?
No. If you have not paid, submit another request with the correct entries. Once you have paid you can no longer cancel, and the site has a no-refund policy.