Report of Marriage Philippines: Requirements & Fees Compared
Sunday, September 27, 2026
Quick answer
If at least one spouse is Filipino, report a marriage abroad to the Philippine embassy or consulate that covers the place of the wedding, within one year or with an Affidavit of Delayed Registration. The post forwards it to the PSA; the four posts that state a wait say a PSA copy follows in about 4 to 12 months.
Getting married abroad does not automatically put the marriage on record in the Philippines. A separate step does that: the Report of Marriage (ROM), filed with the Philippine embassy or consulate that covers the place of the wedding. Skip it and you cannot get the document that matters at home. The Washington DC embassy states that "most Philippine government agencies will only accept a PSA copy of marriage certificates for public transactions."
What you'll learn: who must file and where, what five official posts (embassies in Washington DC, Tokyo and Berlin, consulates general in Los Angeles and New York) require and charge, what changes after the one-year mark, how long the PSA copy takes, what to add if either spouse was married before, and how a ROM differs from a marriage certificate and an LCCM.
Who must file, and where
The Washington DC embassy says: "You must register your marriage at the Philippine Embassy if at least one person in the marriage is Filipino. This ensures that the marriage is properly recorded with the Philippine Statistics Authority." A Filipino marrying another Filipino or a foreign national both count. Berlin describes the ROM as a "declaration that a marriage involving a Filipino citizen took place in a foreign country," forwarded to the PSA for registration.
You file where the wedding happened, not where you live now. Each post takes ROMs only for its own district:
| Post | Jurisdiction covers (per its own page) |
|---|---|
| Washington DC | Alabama, D.C., Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, plus a list of Caribbean nations and territories |
| Los Angeles | Southern California; Southern Nevada (Clark, Lincoln, Nye Counties); Arizona |
| New York | Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont |
| Tokyo | Akita, Aomori, Chiba, Fukushima, Gunma, Hokkaido, Ibaraki, Iwate, Kanagawa, Miyagi, Saitama, Tochigi, Tokyo, Yamagata, Okinawa |
| Berlin | Berlin, Brandenburg, Hamburg, Bremen, Saxony, Lower Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, Schleswig-Holstein, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern |
If your wedding was elsewhere in the same country, use that post's consulate finder. Los Angeles warns: "The Report of Marriage must be filed with the Philippine Embassy or Consulate which exercises jurisdiction over the place of marriage." Berlin will take a wrong-jurisdiction filing only to forward it to the correct post, which it says "would take approximately 6-8 months depending on the volume of the documents being processed by said FSP" (FSP = Foreign Service Post). Filing directly with the right post is faster.
What each post requires
Every post asks for the ROM form and proof of the local marriage, but the specifics differ, so copying one post's checklist to another gets an application rejected. These are each post's own published lists.
| Post | ROM form | Local marriage record | CENOMAR |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington DC | 4 originals, notarized | 1 original + 4 photocopies of the foreign marriage certificate | Not listed as a basic requirement |
| Los Angeles | 4 originals, notarized | 1 original + 4 photocopies of the marriage certificate | 1 original + 4 photocopies, if born in the Philippines |
| New York | 4 originals, notarized | 1 original/CTC + 3 photocopies of the marriage certificate | 1 original/CTC + 3 photocopies, for the Filipino spouse |
| Tokyo | 4 originals (1 notarized if mailed) | Konin Todoke no Kisai Jiko Shomeisho, original + 4 copies | Single Filipino applicants without an LCCM only; valid 6 months (others: see below) |
| Berlin | 4 signed forms (1 set notarized by a German Notar if mailed) | Auszug aus dem Heiratseintrag / Formule B | Issued within 1 year (6 months for delayed registration) |
Beyond these, DC and Berlin ask for the Filipino spouse's PSA birth certificate; Los Angeles and New York ask for both spouses' birth certificates (the Filipino's PSA-issued); Tokyo asks for a PSA birth certificate only from applicants who did not first get an LCCM. Every post also asks for both spouses' passport copies or IDs. Tokyo adds that the Konin Todoke certificate may also be requested from the Legal Affairs Bureau, "typically available 2-3 months after registration".
Fees and how to file
| Post | Base fee | Submission | Return envelope |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington DC | US$25 (+US$10 to expedite) | Mail only | USPS Priority Mail Flat Rate, USD 12.90 stamps, tracked |
| Los Angeles | US$25, non-refundable | Mail only | USPS Priority Mail, prepaid, tracked |
| New York | US$25, money order or cashier's check | Email pre-assessment, then mail | USPS Priority Mail preferred, prepaid, tracked |
| Tokyo | 3,750 yen + 3,750 yen verification | In person by appointment, or mail after emailed pre-evaluation | Self-addressed 600-yen Letterpack |
| Berlin | 25 euros, non-refundable | In person (cash), or mail after email pre-assessment | Registered-mail (Einschreiben) envelope, 4,25 euros postage |
Only Washington DC and Tokyo state a turnaround on their ROM pages. DC says a complete ROM is "processed and dispatched within 3 to 5 business days"; Tokyo says "the regular processing period is 10 working days upon receipt of complete documents", or 5 working days for 1,500 yen per document.
The one-year mark
All five posts use about one year. Tokyo says a marriage "must be reported to the Philippine Embassy in Tokyo within one (1) year from its occurrence", Berlin says "within twelve (12) months of its occurrence," Los Angeles requires the affidavit "after 12 months of the date of marriage", and New York if the application is "filed more than 1 year after the marriage". Late filings need an Affidavit of Delayed Registration, and the posts differ on how it is executed: DC, Los Angeles and New York ask for a notarized affidavit; Tokyo says it is "to be executed at the Embassy"; Berlin, for mail filings, wants one set notarized by a German Notar and authenticated by the Landgericht. It costs 3,750 yen at Tokyo and 25 euros at Berlin; DC, Los Angeles and New York state no added fee. DC also says: "There is no monetary penalty for delayed civil registration of marriage. However, it is important to report these events promptly to ensure proper documentation and recording in the Philippines." The affidavit is paperwork, not a fine, but do not read "no penalty" as "no urgency".
After filing: when the PSA copy is available
| Post | Wait, per its own page | Counted from |
|---|---|---|
| Washington DC | "After six (6) months" | Date the embassy approves the ROM |
| Los Angeles | "At least six (6) months to about one (1) year" | Not stated precisely |
| New York | "6 to 12 months" | Date of reporting |
| Berlin | "4 to 8 months" | Date of reporting |
| Tokyo | Not stated on its ROM page | n/a |
Do not order on guesswork. Washington DC, New York and Berlin all say you need the transmittal details first (Reference Number, Dispatch Number, Dispatch Date, Transmittal Date) from the DFA's Consular Records Division. Ordering steps and fees are in our PSA marriage certificate guide.
Washington DC also says a ROM issued within 12 months by the same embassy or consulate can support a passport application in your married name; an older one, or one from a different post, cannot, and you need the PSA copy.
If either spouse was married before
Every post asks for extra documents. These tables show only what each post's page names.
If the Filipino spouse was previously married:
| Post | Widowed | Divorced | Annulled |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington DC | Death certificate + PSA marriage certificate (1 original + 4 photocopies each) | Judicial decree with certificate of finality (4 photocopies) + annotated PSA marriage certificate | Same, with the decree of annulment |
| Los Angeles | Death certificate (1 original/CTC + 4 photocopies) | DFA-authenticated Judicial Recognition of Foreign Divorce, if the foreign spouse initiated it | PSA annotated marriage certificate and/or DFA-authenticated annulment decree with finality |
| New York | PSA death certificate | Foreign divorce decree recognized by a Philippine court | Amended PSA marriage certificate + annulment decree + certificate of finality |
| Tokyo (if no LCCM) | Marriage certificate/ROM + Advisory on Marriages + birth certificate + death certificate | Court recognition of the divorce + annotated marriage certificate/ROM + Advisory + birth certificate | Annulment decree + annotated marriage certificate/ROM + Advisory + birth certificate |
| Berlin | PSA marriage certificate + PSA death certificate | Court decision recognizing the divorce + annotated PSA marriage certificate | Court decision recognizing the annulment + annotated PSA marriage certificate |
Los Angeles limits its divorce row to a divorce initiated by the foreign spouse. That is LA's wording; after Republic v. Manalo (G.R. No. 221029, 2018) either spouse may have filed, so confirm with the post which papers it wants.
If the foreign spouse was previously married:
| Post | Divorced | Widowed |
|---|---|---|
| Washington DC | Divorce decree (4 photocopies) | Foreign death certificate (4 photocopies) |
| Los Angeles | Divorce decree (1 original + 4 photocopies) | Death certificate (1 original/CTC + 4 photocopies) |
| New York | Foreign divorce decree, if previously married to another foreigner | PSA death certificate |
| Tokyo | Not addressed on this page | Not addressed on this page |
| Berlin | Divorce decree, translated into English and authenticated by the Landgericht | Not addressed separately |
How to file, step by step
- Confirm the post with jurisdiction over the place of the wedding.
- Gather what that post lists: the ROM form, proof of the local marriage, IDs, a CENOMAR if required, and any remarriage documents from the tables above.
- Email for pre-screening where required (New York, Berlin, and Tokyo's mail route). Do not notarize yet.
- Notarize the ROM form, then mail the packet, or file in person at Tokyo or Berlin.
- Request the transmittal details from the DFA Consular Records Division once the ROM is approved.
- Order the PSA copy after the wait in the table above.
To open the pre-screening email, copy this:
Good day. My spouse and I were married on [date] in [city, state or prefecture]. I am a Filipino citizen and would like to file a Report of Marriage.
Please confirm that your post covers this place, list the documents you need in our situation, and tell us how to submit them.
ROM vs marriage certificate vs LCCM
| Document | What it is | Who needs it, and when |
|---|---|---|
| Report of Marriage (ROM) | The embassy's report to the PSA that a marriage abroad happened, filed after the wedding | At least one Filipino spouse, at the post covering the place of the wedding |
| PSA marriage certificate | The PSA's registry record, produced after a ROM or a Philippine wedding is transmitted | Anyone needing proof for Philippine transactions; see our PSA guide |
| LCCM | A certification, issued before the wedding, that a Filipino is free to marry | A Filipino marrying a foreign national, where a Philippine post issues one (Tokyo and Berlin do) |
Tokyo shows how they connect: applicants who did not get an LCCM before marrying submit the PSA birth certificate and CENOMAR at ROM stage instead. Skipping the LCCM does not skip the civil-status proof; it moves it later. If the wedding is abroad but relatives are at home, our guide for guests abroad covers the invitation side.
Before you file
File with the post that covers where you married, expect a CENOMAR or an equivalent somewhere in the checklist, treat the one-year mark as the point where an extra affidavit becomes required, and get the DFA transmittal details before you try to order a PSA copy. Posts update forms and fees on their own schedule, so confirm the checklist, fee and mailing address on the page of your post. The DFA Office of Consular Affairs has its own Report of Marriage page, which blocked our automated fetch, so we give no figures from it.
Frequently asked questions
What is a Report of Marriage?
The Philippine Embassy in Berlin calls it a declaration that a marriage involving a Filipino citizen took place in a foreign country. The embassy forwards it to the Philippine Statistics Authority for official registration, and that registration is what lets you get a PSA marriage certificate.
Who has to file a Report of Marriage?
The Philippine Embassy in Washington DC says you must register your marriage if at least one person in the marriage is Filipino. It does not matter whether the Filipino married another Filipino or a foreign national.
Where do I file a Report of Marriage?
File with the Philippine embassy or consulate that has jurisdiction over the place where the wedding happened, not where you live now. The Los Angeles consulate says the report must be filed with the post that exercises jurisdiction over the place of marriage.
How much does a Report of Marriage cost?
Base fees on the pages we read: US$25 at Washington DC, Los Angeles and New York, 3,750 yen plus 3,750 yen for verification at Tokyo, and 25 euros at Berlin. Washington DC adds US$10 to expedite, and Tokyo adds 1,500 yen per document for express processing.
What is the deadline for a Report of Marriage?
The posts we read use one year from the wedding. After that you add a notarized Affidavit of Delayed Registration. Washington DC says there is no monetary penalty for delayed registration but urges you to report promptly.
How long until the PSA copy is available after a Report of Marriage?
Berlin says 4 to 8 months from reporting, New York says 6 to 12 months from reporting, Los Angeles says at least 6 months to about a year, and Washington DC says after 6 months from approval. Get the transmittal details from the DFA before you order.
Can I use my Report of Marriage to change my surname on my passport?
Washington DC says you can use a Report of Marriage for a passport application if it was issued within 12 months by the same embassy or consulate. If it is older than 12 months or from a different post, you need a PSA copy.