Checklist for getting married in the Philippines!

Kuya, firstly is it civil wedding or Catholic Church wedding.

Some useful general info here:-
http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/travel-and-living-abroad/your-trip/overseas-weddings

CNI info here:-
http://ukinthephilippines.fco.gov.u...ing-in-the-philippines/how-to-apply-for-a-cni

Remember, it's only 3 months validity
It takes 22 cal days from application to receipt of document.

Kuya, good idea to make a project plan from wedding day backwards so you can plan everything.

May I also suggest review the spouse visa requirements so you can prepare.

Have a read of the links above.
Maybe KeithAngel will be on-line soon to provide more.

If not, I'll be back. Hasta la Vista.

Oooh that looks nice Kuya.

Have you (sorry I mean your fiancee) decide on the colour scheme yet?

Don't mean to be nosey, but do you have plenty of time yet?
How long to you plan to be in Phils to get married? Can I suggest you consider a 59 day visa before you leave. Just for insurance.

Hi Kuya, yeah Keith will have things fresh in his mind, it is almost 3 years since we had our civil wedding in the north of Cebu island.
Where is Valencia, Bukidnon... ?

Mrs BBJ and I are planning to be in Cotabato / Midsayyap around that time.
If our plans come to fruition, I'll happily pop over to Valencia and buy you a bier.

If you have all your ducks lined up with your paperwork etc, you should have no problems getting married easily within the 59 days.
If you're really organised and things go fairly smooth there's no reason why you can't accomplish all in less than 30 days. With a 59 day visa that leaves plenty of time for a honeymoon.

You should always check the latest info for paperwork needed but in principle you need:-

Birth certificate - original

CNI - (Certificate of No Impediment to Marry)
Get this from your local registry office. Then present this document to the British Embassy in the Philippines to be issued a Philippine version called a Certificate of Legal Capacity to Marry. This certificate is needed for the application of a marriage license.

BTW many people are now reporting that you may be required to obtain a CENOMAR (Certificate of No Marriage) from NSO (National Statistics Office) so you might need to include this contingency as well.

Marriage License - Apply for this in your fiancée's home town at the registry office. (or locality of where marriage will take place)
After you apply for the license there is a mandatory 10 day waiting period while the marriage banns are published

You might also be requested to attend the "Marriage Seminar" counseling sessions prior to being allowed to be married. Check and ask when you apply for the marriage license

HOT TIPS
If you're divorced take the Divorce Decree Absolute.

Your fiancée will need:-
CENOMAR - from the NSO
Birth certificate - This should be fresh from NSO on latest type of security paper. Check
Passport or other appropriate identification

Always take extra time to very carefully and very thoroughy check and read through all paper work at each step before signing anything. If there are any typing errors/mistakes/mismatches it can cost you dear in time and money.

HOTTEST TIP
Always smile and always remain relaxed, calm and cool.

Kuya, per my posts, The CNI is available from your local registry office. It takes 22 days from time of application. It's 21 days for the 'bans'.
Validity is only 3 months from time of issue. Plan out carefully what needs to be done and when.

Just keep asking.

Insert by aposhark

Jumping ahead a little but perhaps noteworthy:
We found the biggest problem was getting the marriage certificate back from the NSO in Manila.
They seem to hang onto this for ages, which becomes frustrating as you will want to press ahead for the spousal visa application.
Many frustrating phone calls were made at this time, other Brits I know did the same

Xerox four copies of the marriage certificate when you receive it, they came in useful for us.

>> I am going to throw some ideas here that may not be 100% correct due to the mists of time <<
>> Just a heads up for people, make notes to suit your situation and to anticipate problems<<

Backtracking a little, make sure your fiancee has the proper id before anything.
Rochelyn needed for her passport:
Marriage certificate (so she could have her passport in her married name), postal id, barangay clearance, police clearance near her barangay, NBI clearance and CFO seminar paperwork. She took all these with her to get her passport then went back to the CFO for them to put a stamp in her passport (she needed to know her flight details after the marriage and after receiving the spousal visa, before going back to the CFO for the stamp).
Remember to keep all receipts as you progress through the marriage period so you can give the British Embassy more than they will need
Use your new camera to document your visit and annotate the pics of you with her family.
We thought dates and names of family members would be helpful for the ECO.

This is my "sticky"

The Marriage Liscence

We applyed for our Marriage Liscence on Wed In Talisay and it will be issued on the 31st

We arrived at City Hall around 2pm and were eventualy directed to an office on the third floor

We showed the nice lady our papers which were

1. my full UK birth certificates
2. my passport
3. my C.N.I. from the Brit Consul here in Cebu
4. my cenomar from the N.S.O.
5. my decree asbsolute

6. our certificate of Marriage Seminar

7. her N.S.O. birth certificate
8. her Barangay clearance
9. her Cedula community tax certificate
10 her postal I.D.
11.her cenomar

12. her parents atended to sign the advise form for under 25,s
13. her parents I.D.

All of these origionals then had to be photo copied 3 times and collated in 3 piles plus they wanted the stamped embassy copy of my C.N.I.

You could save a bit of time if you bring the copies with you as the on site photocopier was working flat out with a queue cost 80 piso for 46 total copies

The nice lady , who was dealing single handed with about 10 other couples then handed us 1 application form me to fill the left side Jhean the right there was a template on the wall

Errors are tipexed out and when she is satisfied all is correct she gave us two more to be filled out identicaly It took about 2.5 hours and was fairly fun or perhaps thats how I decided to see it

We didnt have a problem with the NSO it was done 14 days after registration in Cebu

Thanks

Hi Keith,
You and Jhean were lucky, we received our NSO marriage certificate in about two months.
I know another Fil-Brit couple who waited longer.
I think it was the small provincial town hall in the north of Cebu island that could have delayed things also.