Registration of mariage and registration same-sex partnership concluded abroad
The marriage/registered partnership of a Hungarian citizen abroad must also be registered in Hungary.
The rules governing marriage vary from country to country, so anyone planning to get married abroad can obtain accurate information about the conditions, the necessary documents and their formal requirements (certification, translation) from the authorities of the country concerned. It is advisable to familiarize yourself with local family law rules, customs, and traditions, which may differ significantly from those in Hungary.
Please note that marriages/registered partnerships cannot be concluded at Hungarian diplomatic or consular missions!
1. Registration of marriage
In the presence of both parties, by appointment for 'Registration (marriage/BÉT)', the procedure is free of charge.
CHANGE! From March 15, 2024! A multilingual marriage certificate alone is not sufficient!
Required documents:
- Original marriage certificate (uittreksel uit de huwelijksakte or akte van huwelijks) - NOT SUFFICIENT ON ITS OWN! ,
- and you MUST bring the multilingual form (meertalig modelformulier vertaalhulp) issued by the competent Dutch authority (gemeente – Dutch local municipality) (not the same as an international multilingual birth certificate) or a certified Hungarian translation.
- Identity documents (passport, identity card);
- application form completed but not signed;
When registering the marriage, the Hungarian party may choose a married name from among the options provided by Hungarian law;
Documents certifying divorced or widowed marital status prior to marriage or registered partnership (marriage certificate with divorce registration, Hungarian decree of divorce, Hungarian marital status certificate, or death certificate of the deceased spouse). These documents must be submitted for the Hungarian spouse. The registry office may also request proof of the marital status of a foreign spouse who is not an EU citizen prior to marriage at a later date. In order to prevent abuse, the authority will request a "certificate of unmarried status" during the domestic registration process if the husband is a citizen of a country where polygamy is permitted.
After registration, we issue an internationally recognized marriage certificate, which we send by post to an address in the Netherlands or which the applicant can collect in person at the consulate.
Download application form for registration of marriage
2. Registration of 'registered partnership' concluded abroad
What is the difference between marriage and registered partnership?
The rules for registered partnerships are basically the same as for marriage. The main differences are: a minor cannot enter into a registered partnership, registered partners cannot use each other's names, cannot adopt jointly, cannot participate in artificial insemination, the mother's registered partner does not automatically become the parent of the unborn child, and if the parties have agreed on everything, the registered partnership can be dissolved by a notary.
Who can enter into a registered partnership?
A registered partnership can be entered into by two adults (over 18) of the same sex.
What is the difference between a civil partnership and a registered partnership?
The main difference is that a registered partnership is formed by a declaration of will before a registrar and lasts until the death of one of the partners or the dissolution of the registered partnership. A civil partnership, on the other hand, is based on a factual situation, i.e. it is automatically created when two people living together in an emotional and economic community live together and automatically terminated if, for example, they separate. A civil partnership is created by a declaration made before a notary. The most important substantive difference is that registered partnerships create a community of property. In the case of civil partners, they are entitled to property in proportion to their contribution. Registered partners are entitled to maintenance on termination of the relationship, are heirs intestate in the absence of a will and are also entitled to a share in the estate in the event of a will. Life partners, on the other hand, can only inherit by will.
In the presence of both parties, by booking an appointment for 'Registration (marriage/BÉT)', the procedure is free of charge.
Required documents:
CHANGE! From March 15, 2024! A multilingual civil registry extract alone is not sufficient!
- Original civil registry extract of the registered partnership (uittreksel uit de huwelijksakte or akte van huwelijks) IS NOT SUFFICIENT ON ITS OWN!
- and you MUST bring the multilingual form (meertalig modelformulier vertaalhulp) issued by the competent Dutch authority (gemeente – Dutch local minicipality, which is not the same as an international multilingual birth certificate) or a certified Hungarian translation.
- Identity documents (passport, identity card);
- application form for the domestic registration of a marriage or registered partnership concluded abroad, completed but not signed;
When registering a registered partnership, the Hungarian party may choose a name after the establishment of the registered partnership from among the options provided by Hungarian law;
Documents certifying divorced or widowed marital status prior to marriage or registered partnership (marriage certificate with divorce registration, Hungarian decree of divorce, Hungarian marital status certificate, or death certificate of the deceased spouse). These documents must be submitted for the Hungarian spouse. The registry office may also request proof of the marital status of a foreign spouse who is not an EU citizen prior to the marriage.
After registration, we issue an internationally accepted certificate of registered partnership, which we send by post to an address in the Netherlands or which the applicant can collect in person at the consulate.
Download appication form for registration of same-sex partnership