Menu
Expat.com

Registering Marriage in Germany or Singapore?

Last activity 12 February 2019 by TominStuttgart

Post new topic

nren

Hi everyone!

I'm a Singaporean living in Singapore and my bf is German residing in Germany. We are planning to get married. Question is, where would be the best possible option for us both?

So here goes:
If we were to register our marriage here, we would do it at ROMM and the requirements from him would be the easiest of the 2 options. Problem is, we are not that sure if the marriage certificate (which would be under sharia law) is recognised in Germany. And my bf is working in Germany and would want us to settle down there. He just has concerns as to when we settle things like housing, having children, etc, would be challenging with the Singapore marriage certificate.

And if we were to do the registration in Germany, of course the paperwork required are more, but I am worried on the solemnisation part, which comes after the registration at the Standesamt. Question is, where do Muslims usually do their solemnisation in Germany? I haven't found on forums, internet, any foreigners (Muslims) with a German spouse, registering their marriage in Germany.

So does anyone have any experience with this, or know someone with this situation?
Thanks so much in advance!

N

beppi

Religious marriage certificates are not recognised in Germany.
Therefore I would really recommend you use the normal Singapore ROM.
(That's where we married, too, and we never had any problems with formalities or recognition.)

All marriages in Germany must be performed at the Standesamt (family registry) by a government official. Where you have a party or optional ceremony afterwards is up to you. Many rent a location like restaurant, hotel, church, temple, etc. for it. No idea if mosques are available, too. We had Turkish weddings in the neighbourhood, which were huge affairs with many guests and loud music - so some do it at home as well.

TominStuttgart

One needs to have a state sanctioned marriage for it to be recognized. In some countries a religious held wedding will fulfill the State requirements and also be seen as valid. In most countries one gets legally married in a civil ceremony and the religious wedding is a ceremonial thing that is independent of civil legal significance. Singapore has people of many religions but is not a primarily Islamic country yet appears to now recognize such Islamic ceremonies but there are rules and restrictions

I am posting a link to a Wikipedia article about the marriage laws in Singapore.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matrimoni … _Singapore

Singapore seems to recognize Islamic weddings but only if both partners are Muslim. A Muslim and a non-Muslim can marry in Singapore but only through a civil ceremony. And even if your German fiancé is Muslim, as a foreigner, permission must be given from something called the Ministry of Manpower. From what I’ve read, they only want foreigners marrying in Singapore if they are, or formerly were, living there with a work visa. Non-Singapore residents can also marry there but at least one of the partners has to spend at least 15 days there prior to the wedding. It sounds like the rules are to keep people illegally working in Singapore from getting married to legalize their situation. 

Germany will accept what the civil authorities of Singapore require within its domain. Thus if you get properly marreid in Singapore it will be recognized in Germany. If you get married in Germany you have to do it at the Standesamt. Any Muslim ceremony you wish to have in addition is your choice; just ask at a mosque. There are over 2 million Muslims in Germany, mostly of Turkish decent, so this is not a uncommon situation.

The expat.com expert for Gremany Beppi is married to a woman from Singapore and has lived there, so maybe he can give you more detailed information or insider tips.

Articles to help you in your expat project in Germany

  • Getting married in Germany
    Getting married in Germany

    Non-German citizens can get married in Germany, whether to a German citizen or another foreign national. However, ...

  • Entry requirements for Germany
    Entry requirements for Germany

    Nationals of the EU and EEA can travel to Germany as short-term visitors without restrictions, with a national ...

  • Summer jobs in Germany
    Summer jobs in Germany

    The summer season in Germany begins in June and lasts until the end of August. These three months of the year ...

  • Elderly care in Germany
    Elderly care in Germany

    Germany may not have the sunshine and beaches of the Mediterranean or Southeast Asia, but it is among Europe's ...

  • Popular neighbourhoods in Frankfurt
    Popular neighbourhoods in Frankfurt

    Frankfurt is an international city and an important financial center in Europe, and each neighborhood has a story ...

  • Buying property in Frankfurt
    Buying property in Frankfurt

    Frankfurt has a very lively real estate market, and buying a house there is, without a doubt, a worthy long-term ...

  • Connecting to the internet in Germany
    Connecting to the internet in Germany

    Staying connected in Germany is easy thanks to its advanced telecommunications network and the widely available ...

  • Accommodation in Stuttgart
    Accommodation in Stuttgart

    Stuttgart, the capital city of the Baden-Württemberg region, is one of Germany's most diverse cities, ...

All of Germany's guide articles