getting married with cambodian girl
Last activity 29 August 2022 by metman57
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hello to everybody..
my girlfriend and me decided to get married and we are considering the easier way to do all the documents.. the new law for marriage in cambodia says that many documents have to be prepared if a foreigner wants to get married with a cambodian girl but from what i could read in internet it seems to be valid only if the wedding is in cambodia..
for getting married abroad it is enough that the girl get the certificate of single state..
am i correct?
can somebody tell me which office provide the certificate of single state in cambodia?
thanks in advance
Adry
Hi and welcome to Expat.com Adry
Congratulations!
I hope other members will be able to advise you soon!
Regards
Armand
I would like to know the answer myself as I am in a similar situation.I have heard it is better to get married in Thailand this means my girl friend can travel with me for work.
I suggest you read MadMaxs' thread as he has recently married his Cambodian wife outside of Cambodia in Hong Kong, apparently easier than Thailand...
https://www.expat.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=57350
What you need in Thailand is her "Affirmation of Freedom to Marry" document, which she can get at her local government office where she was born, or in Phnom Penh. The Cambodian Embassy in Bangkok will NOT issue it. Once you have that document, you can go to Bangkok, get all the necessary documents, get them translated into Thai. It's all written up pretty well on the internet. Less trouble and expense than Cambodia, and less of a hassle. Once you have all the papers filed, you can have a ceremony any where in Thailand you like.
Chroeb and I had to go to Hong Kong, as I am 67, and Cambodian law prohibits me from marrying a Khmer!
What do you mean with "Once you have that document, you can go to Bangkok, get the necessary documents." Where can you get the documents? Cambodian embassy in Bangkok? What is the internet address where we can find this information. Many thanks.
Hey MM, now your well famous for "getting married"
you can do consultations, and earn a lot of money:P
I am Cambodian and I would like to get married to my American boyfriend during Christmas, but he not have enough time to apply for married Licence in Cambodia.
We thinking about getting married in Thailand or Hong Kong. Which country is the easiest way to get married? Will my marriage certificate in Hong Kong or Thailand legally in Cambodia?
*** I have divorced degree already translate in English what else I need to get married in Thailand or Hong Kong?
I suggest getting in contact with the Thailand and Hong Kong embassies. They will have that information.
Hi MadMax888.
You mentioned in your post regarding marriage in Cambodia, that the law did not allow you at 67 to marry Khmer lady, do you know what age this law starts from.
Kind regards
Tom
50 years of age is the limit for foreigners to officially marry a Khmer woman.
Some foreign men over 50 years are managing to register their marriage in Cambodia (although only a trickle and up to about 55 or 56). Traditionally, a Cambodian lady should marry and register the marriage in Cambodia - which is an insurance to see the rest of the world with her husband. The age and income limits were introduced in 2011 as a way of reducing the level of young women trafficked out of the country. The evidence for this was spurious at the time. The ruling is not yet law and was considered unconstitutional by human rights organisations. If true love exists between the foreign man and the Cambodian lady, she should approach the Minister of State at the Ministry of Interior and make her case. She will then make a decision as to whether or not to progress the marriage application. The Minister will need to meet the man and make a judgement. If you are a young looking 55 year old and look smartly dressed at the interview, there should be no problem. The alternative is to go to court and argue your case - which is the constitutional right of a Cambodian citizen.
I am planning on marrying my Cambodian girlfriend in Thailand. I am English and we have been together for eleven years now. I have all my documents apart from the “affirmation of freedom to marry document” I can get mine in Bangkok but can my partner get her document from the Cambodian Embassy in Bangkok? I mean you can get this document online so could we do that as it would be much easier.
We both live in Vietnam at the moment. She has a full passport, house book, and her birth certificate, so I believe that this document is all we need now to complete the marriage in Bangkok.
Also if anyone has a link for info on getting married in Hong Kong it would be much appreciated.
Hi,
my girlfriend has gone to Cambodia to where she was born. She is going to see the Chief of Commune and ask for the "Affirmation to marry document" does she need to fill this form in there and get it signed and can this guy do that for her?
Or can we now take that document to Bangkok and get it signed at the Cambodian embassy there. This is the last document we need as we have everything else.
Any help much appreciated.
Hi,
Update on affirmation to marry doc. The Chief of commune in Cambodia signed and stamped the affirmation to marry document for $40. He charged more than the usual $10 because I wasn't there and he had no ID of mine. So we can now go to Thailand and make appointments. I just need to get my Affirmation doc from the British Embassy in Bangkok then we get everything including: passports, house book, ID's, birth certificates, translated. And we are all set to sign on the dotted line.
Thanks.
Have a good day.
Thanks for the information - I am a 50YO Australian working in Hong Kong. I have a Khmer partner and we have a 2 year old son together. I am looking to get married to her in Thailand or Hong Kong and make it all legal and recognized for her partner / dependent HK visa, at the same time, being regognised in Australia.
HI,
Yes we got everything done in Bangkok except getting the marriage document. Cambodians are only allowed two weeks. By the time we had arranged my appointments and affirmation to marry got that translated then couldn't find anyone to translate the cambodian affirmation we had to leave.
So we are looking to head back soon and finish what we started. So once you have the affirmations to marry, get them translated as soon as possible, before you go to Thailand if you can as it is all very time consuming. The short Cambodian visas really don't help things.
Good Luck ..
theebz wrote:I am looking to get married to her in Thailand or Hong Kong and make it all legal and recognized for her partner / dependent HK visa, at the same time, being regognised in Australia.
hi, have you done this yet as i am looking to do the same but wondering if it would be recognized in Cambodia? what documents require to do.
many Thanks
joolsd wrote:HI,
Yes we got everything done in Bangkok except getting the marriage document. Cambodians are only allowed two weeks. By the time we had arranged my appointments and affirmation to marry got that translated then couldn't find anyone to translate the cambodian affirmation we had to leave.
So we are looking to head back soon and finish what we started. So once you have the affirmations to marry, get them translated as soon as possible, before you go to Thailand if you can as it is all very time consuming. The short Cambodian visas really don't help things.
Hi Joo,
so you have to translate the affirmation docs to english? any translation company in cambodia would be accepted in thailand?
I am looking to do the same but not sure how to start and what docs to be prepare, your sharing experience is greatly appreciated!
Thanks
Hi Adry,
Here is all what you need to do if you want to marry your girlfriend. I am hesitating to get marry in Cambodia but I have not decided yet as the procedure is quiet a lot:
"Certificate of No Impediment"
"Affidavit for Eligibility to Marry.”
"Affidavit of single statut"
"Affidavit of Marriage (sworn at the Civil Registry Office in Cambodia before the Consol or Vice-Consol)"
"Criminal Records"
"Certificate on Profession (showing monthly income)"
"Birth certificate"
"Valid Passports and certified copies (obtained from your Embassy in Cambodia or the Cambodian Embassy in your resident country)"
"Photocopie of visa"
"Medical Certificate from Calmette Hospital in Phnom Penh"
Marriage Application Form (a similar form exists for two foreigners applying for marriage in Cambodia): A written request for marriage applications must be sent to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. You will need to know the area or province that you plan to marry. The application lists supporting documents that must be attached to the application. Some of these documents may need to be legalized at the couple’s Embassy in Cambodia or prior to leaving at the Cambodian Embassy in your resident country. Upon approval of the bride and groom’s application, the application must then be submitted to the Civil Registrar.
Legal requirements to get married:
•Ceremony (Civil/Religious)
Civil and religious weddings are legally recognized weddings preformed in Cambodia. The ceremony is preformed in Cambodian. If either party does not speak Cambodian,
an interpreter should be hired.
•Age and Relation
The bride must be at least 18 years of age. The groom must be at least 20 years of age. They cannot be related by blood, marriage or adoption.
Note: Non-Cambodian Male Citizens planning to marry a Cambodian woman must be no older than 50 years of age, with a monthly income that generates a minimum of USD $2,500.
•Witnesses
Two witnesses over 18 years of age must be present for the ceremony and provide their passports.
•Registry
Both parties must stay within the district of their Embassy or Consulate in Cambodia for 21 days prior to filing a Notice of Intention to Marry. We recommend making an appointment in advance with the Consol or Vice-Consol, to be assured that you can deliver, in person, your oath of intention to marry upon the completion of your 21 day residency (this does not include the day you arrived).
Note: Take all paperwork and photocopies of each to your Embassy and Civil Registry Office in Cambodia.
At least 10 days prior to the wedding and 21 full days since your arrival in Cambodia, you will need to file your Notice of Intention to Marry with the Civil Registry Office. You will need to know where you will marry and who you plan to use as your marriage officer. Here, you will also complete and sign an Affidavit of Marriage.
Finally the Notice of Intention to Marry will be posted, at the Consulate, for 3 weeks. Pending objections, your Embassy can provide you with a Letter of No Impediment to Marriage. Bride and groom will show passports and/or divorce or death certificates.
British Citizens can shorten their waiting period by applying for a Superintendent Certificate of No Impediment prior to leaving for Cambodia. You would apply at the Registrar in your resident district of the United Kingdom.
Marriage certificate:
•Weddings must be registered with the Civil Registry Office in order to be recognized. Officers can come to your wedding to sign documentation. The newlyweds will give their thumbprints to register and receive their Marriage Certificate.
•Marriage Certificates are issued from the Cheif of Commune, from the region in which the wedding ceremony takes place.
*A Certificate of No Impediment, is also known as a Single Status Affidavit, Single Status Statutory Declaration, Certificate of No Record, a Certificate of Legal Capacity to Contract Marriage, Certificate of Nulla Osta or a Certificate de coutume (plus an MP2A form).
Note: This information can change at any given moment.
Cambodia Marriage Registrar's Office
Phnom Penh Capital Hall
# 69, Preah Monivong Blvd., Sangkat Srah
Chak, Khan Daun Penh, Phnom Penh
Cambodia
Tel/Fax: +855 23 430 681 +855 23 430 681
Excellent summary tsalakh. This string has been rocking for years and yours is the best procedural summary I've seen. Don't hesitate. You should definitely try and get married in Cambodia. With so many Government departments and Embassies getting involved in the process, what could possibly go wrong?
Hi,
From what I heard, eventhought you've got the procedure right, the people who is doing the paper is asking 2000 dollars !
Normally this should be for free. And worse, it is not guarantee fter paying that much you can even get married. So thetre is too many if.... if you know what I mean
Of course I know what you mean! Although USD 2,000 for tips and services to marry the lady you love doesn't seem too high a price to pay. Flying to Thailand or Hong Kong for the ceremony would be a lot more expensive. Good luck with everything tsalakh
@joolsd Heey were you ever able to accomplish this in Bangkok? We live and work in Bangkok and she has all her documents from Cambodia, only issue is that her Single Status Affidavit from the province already expired (valid for only 3 months after being issued). She plans to go back and get a new one in her province but.......... we've heard that in Thailand they only accept this document if its from the MOF in Phnom Penh and to add more hearsay, MOF in PP apparently will not issue this document for marriage abroad because they want their citizens and spouses to enjoy the mead and honey life of Cambodia.
So I am really curious if you were able to get her provincial document accepted somewhere in Thailand to proceed with marriage?
adry73 wrote:hello to everybody..
my girlfriend and me decided to get married and we are considering the easier way to do all the documents.. the new law for marriage in cambodia says that many documents have to be prepared if a foreigner wants to get married with a cambodian girl but from what i could read in internet it seems to be valid only if the wedding is in cambodia..
for getting married abroad it is enough that the girl get the certificate of single state..
am i correct?
can somebody tell me which office provide the certificate of single state in cambodia?
thanks in advance
Adry
Hello.
Find your answer in the excellent summary that Tsalakh wrote in September last year, here on this same thread.
Cheers.
Joe
Good luck
I have been to all the places to get a certificate with no luck.
The rule is no foreigner over 50 years old can marry a Cambodian lady. But I saw at the Khmer embassy in Bangkok that they are not enforcing this law. The problem is they will not issue a single certificate to your Khmer girlfriend. The only thing I can tell so far is it may be possible to marry in Cambodia. People claim it is possible to do in HK
You can marry anywhere as long as you have the right documentation.
The 50+ rule has been abandoned a few years ago so no problem.
No matter where you want to get married (Hong Kong is indeed easy) you can find all information on the website of the Ministry of Interior of that country and sometimes also on the website of the Cambodian embassy/consulate.
One more thing: it doesn't matter to whom she gets married, your girlfriend needs a certificate that she is eligible to marry.
That certificate plus birth certificate and family book are necessary. If she has been married before she needs also a proof of divorce.
Good luck
Joe
PS Why don't you marry in Cambodia?
I have a question. I want to marry a Cambodian girl.
(1) What is so easy a way to marry in Cambodia?
(2) Is cote marriage is possible in Cambodia? and
(3) How much money (probability) do I need to prepare to marry in Cambodian girl? (Knowing that a foreigner needs to prove he has at least 2,500$ monthly income in one. I have it.) I am interested to know the cost of the overall feasibility of marriage.
Please help me to share your opinion.
There are many hoops you need to come to terms with, first talk to a lawyer, things are very different in Cambodia in regards to marrying a khmer femail, there are important bits of paperwork you will both need, there is a procedures to those bits of paperwork and copies in English and Khmer, you need to be married and registered in Cambodia to be legal, if you marry outside of Cambodia it will not be recognised by Cambodia, but outside of Cambodia most countries recognise it, this you will have to check as things change quickly, marriage with the correct paperwork is time consuming but not expensive, but the familly party can be a min $10000 but they do give a donation to the event so sometimes you can make a profit, one important thing whatever you put together in the marriage is deemed 50% each on a divorce, see a lawyer or a marriage advice professional, in Cambodia you are a barang and things are very different from were ever you come from, you need to get the paperwork right buddy, good luck to you and your bride to be,
If you marry in Thailand you are not reconised as married in Cambodia, so you can not register your marriage as legal,
Having read many goverment information on Khmer marriage, maybe I am wrong as thins do change, but I was under the impression that you could marry anywhere outside of Cambodia but your marriage would not be able to be registered in Cambodia as it's not a Cambodian marriage and not legal in Cambodia, ?
There is no easy way, all ways are rather complicated and require thorough study and preparation.
I nvite you to read previous answers as all questions you have have been answered already.
Good luck.
Joe
Cambodia expert
Expat.com team
Thank you friend for your valuable information. I have another question.
(1) Can I get a Cambodian passport after marrying a Cambodian girl?
(2) If yes, how many days may have to wait? and Do i need to spend any money?
Please help me to share your opinion.
It is possible to gain a Cambodian passport but you must be leaglly married in Cambodia and have lived to together after marriage for over 3 years, so it's not a quick process,
In this case, may i can get permission for staying with my wife in Cambodia?
As far as I am aware until you are granted a Cambodian passport after 3 years of being married & living with your cambodian wife, you will still need a visa in that 3 years as you are still relying on your foriegn passport what type I am not sure,
Does anyone here know if a reliable lawyer that could help out with preparing all the legal docs, appointments, and costs?
I’m looking to get married, but reading everything is making me feel quite overwhelmed.
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