The Marriage Registry – Malta

The Marriage Registry regulates all marriages celebrated in Malta and Gozo, whether religious or civil. However, if the marriage ceremony is to take place in Gozo, please contact the Gozo Public Registry.

The Law

Marriages in Malta are subject to the provisions of the Marriage Act of 1975 (Cap. 255 of the Laws of Malta) as amended by Acts: XXXIV of 1981, III of 1983, I and XXIV of 1995, IX of 2000, XXXI of 2002, IX of 2004, I of 2005 and III of 2008.

Capacity to Marry

A marriage, whether celebrated in Malta or abroad, shall be valid for all purposes of law in Malta if:

• The formalities required for the validity of the marriage in the law of the country where the marriage is celebrated are observed;
• Each of the persons to be married is, by law of his or her respective domicile, capable of contracting marriage.

Persons under the age of eighteen (18)

The minimum age permitted by law for a person to get married in Malta is sixteen (16) years of age. In cases where the bride or groom or both are 16 but not yet 18, the parents of the spouses are required to give their consent to the marriage to the Marriage Registry. The parents are asked to provide their Identity Cards/Passport as a means of identification.

Marriages of convenience

Maltese law makes provisions aimed at curbing abuse in regard to marriages of convenience. Article 38 of the Marriage Act provides the following:-

(1) Any person who contracts a marriage with the sole purpose of obtaining:-
(a) Maltese citizenship; or
(b) freedom of movement in Malta; or
(c) a work or residence permit in Malta; or
(d) the right to enter Malta; or
(e) the right to obtain medical care in Malta,
shall be guilty of an offence and shall on conviction be liable to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two years.

(2) Any right or benefit obtained by a person convicted of an offence under subarticle (1) on the basis of the marriage referred to in that subarticle (1) may be rescinded or annulled by the public authority from which it was obtained.

(3) Any person who contracts a marriage with another person knowing that the sole purpose of such other person in contacting the marriage is one or more of the purposes referred to in subarticle (1) shall be guilty of an offence and shall on conviction be liable for the same punishment laid down in subarticle (1).

Publication of Banns (Tnidijiet)

The Marriage Act stipulates that a Request for the Publication of Banns (Form Rz1), together with all the required documents, must reach the Marriage Registry not more than three (3) months before marriage and not less than six (6) weeks before marriage. Local citizens and residents in Malta, can either use this site or alternatively they are kindly requested to phone on 356 25904247 for an appointment with the Marriage Registry Officials.

Before the Request is made, please ensure that you have a confirmed date and venue for your Wedding Day. If, for any reason, the date or the venue has to be changed, please advise the Marriage Registry immediately or at least three weeks before the marriage as the banns would have to be republished.

RELIGIOUS WEDDINGS: CATHOLIC CEREMONY

Procedure and Documents Required

For a Religious Marriage to have a legal/civil effect, the couple has to notify both the Marriage Registry and the Archdiocese of Malta that the ceremony will be taking place in one of the Catholic Churches in Malta.

To apply at the Marriage Registry through this e-form service, one of the spouses must apply for the Publication of Banns by submitting the forms RZ1 and RZ2 and submit the documents requested from the list according to their status in Malta. It is advised to apply three months before the date of marriage.

The Marriage Officer has to be notified:

• where the marriage is going to take place in Malta,
• whether there has been any previous marriage,
• whether there are any children from their relationship; and
• whether any of the spouses have lived abroad for a period of time.

Also kindly ensure that you also provide the Registry with the name and surname of Officiating Priest, the exact name and locality of church and the Bride’s choice surname after marriage.

To ascertain what documents should be submitted, please refer to the list of documents required.

FOR INFORMATION REGARDING THE CATHOLIC CHURCH’S PREPARATION OF BANNS, PLEASE CONTACT THE DIOCESAN CURIA.

Ten (10) days BEFORE marriage

Ten (10) days prior to the marriage date, the bride or the groom is to collect from the Marriage Registry, the two Acts of Marriage and the Certificate of Banns prepared by the Marriage Registry. These have to be submitted immediately to the Parish Priest of the locality where the marriage ceremony will be taking place. The bride or groom collecting the documents must show her/his ID Card or a valid means of identification. In the event that neither of the couple can collect the documents, a third party presenting his/her ID Card and a letter of authorisation from the couple, may retrieve the documents on their behalf.

For those couples applying from abroad, even though they may submit their applications online, they are still required to personally visit the Marriage Registry in Valletta to confirm details and finalise matters a few days (minimum 2 working days) before their wedding day. One must also produce a valid identification document when calling at the Registry. An appointment may be fixed weeks in advance.

OTHER RELIGIOUS DENOMINATIONS

Procedure and documents required

For a Religious Marriage to have a legal/civil effect, the couple have to notify both the Marriage Registry and the other religious entity that the ceremony will be taking place in one of the approved Churches in Malta.

To apply at the Marriage Registry online, one must apply for the Publication of Banns by submitting the forms RZ1 and RZ2 together with the documents requested from the list according to the spouses’ status in Malta. It is advised to apply three months before the date of marriage.

The Marriage Officer has to be notified:

• where the marriage is going to take place in Malta,
• whether there has been any previous marriage,
• whether there are any children from their relationship and;
• whether any of the spouses has lived abroad for a period of time.

Also kindly ensure that you also provide us with the name and surname of Officiating Priest/Pastor/Imam etc, the exact name and locality of Church/Mosque/Hall etc and the Bride’s choice of surname after marriage.

To ascertain what documents should be submitted, please refer to the list of documents required.

The Marriage Officer would have to be present on the selected date to witness the marriage and collect the signatures of the Bride, Groom and the two witnesses on the Act of Marriage. The marriage officer would then submit the Marriage Act for registration at the Public Registry to have the legal/civil effect.

FOR INFORMATION REGARDING THE CHURCH’S/MOSQUE’S PREPARATIONS, PLEASE CONTACT THE RESPECTIVE AUTHORITIES ACCORDINGLY.

For those couples applying from abroad, even if they are applying online, they are required to personally visit the Marriage Registry in Valletta to confirm details and finalise matters a few days (minimum 2 working days) before their wedding day. One must also produce a valid identification document when calling at the Registry. An appointment may be fixed weeks in advance.

Registrar’s Transport

A Chauffeur driven taxi has to be provided for the Marriage Officer from point A to the wedding venue and after the ceremony the officer is to be driven back to point A. This is not included in the Marriage Registry Fee. The logistics have to be agreed upon between the Marriage Officer and the couple about three days before the event.

CIVIL MARRIAGES

The Marriage Registry also provides services for Civil Marriages.

A Civil Marriage can take place either at the Marriage Registry, Valletta, or at any other place open to the public and which the Marriage Registrar deems appropriate. Venues which have been accepted as appropriate are:

• Wedding Halls
• Hotels
• Restaurants
• Public Gardens
• Castles
• Palaces
• Local Councils (usually conducted by the mayor himself/herself)
• Other approved designated areas

Venues are considered on a case by case basis.

It must be pointed out that Civil Marriages will not be conducted at poolside areas or public beaches especially whilst bathers are present. If you require clarification in this regard refer your query to the Registrar on [email protected]

The ceremony will be conducted either in Maltese or in English.

To apply at the Marriage Registry online, one must apply for the Publication of Banns by submitting the form RZ1, RZ2 and submit the documents requested from the list according to your status in Malta. It is advised to prepare for your application three months before the date of marriage.

The Marriage Officer has to be notified:

• where the marriage is going to take place in Malta,
• whether there has been any previous marriage,
• whether there are any children from their relationship and,
• whether any of the spouses has lived abroad for a period of time.

Please also refer to the list of documents required.

The Marriage Officer would be present on the selected date to officiate the ceremony and witness the signatures of the Bride, Groom and the two witnesses on the Act of Marriage. The marriage officer would then endorse the act and submit the Marriage Act for registration at the Public Registry for it to have the legal/civil effect.

Couples applying from abroad, even if they are applying online, are required to personally visit the Marriage Registry in Valletta to confirm details and finalise matters a few days (minimum 2 working days) before their wedding day. One must also produce a valid identification document when calling at the Registry. An appointment may be fixed weeks in advance.

Registrar’s Transport

The couple are to provide a Chauffeur driven taxi for the Marriage Officer, from point A to venue of the marriage ceremony and back to point A. This is not included in the Marriage Registry Fee. The logistics are to be agreed upon with by the Marriage Officer and the couple about three days before the event.

IMPORTANT POINTS TO REMEMBER REGARDING THE DOCUMENTS REQUIRED AND OTHER NOTES

• All Documents, unless otherwise stated, should be original form and shall to be retained by the Marriage Registry.
• Documents are to reach the Marriage Registry not earlier than three months before the marriage and not less than six weeks before the marriage.
• Documents that have to be valid for three months (unless otherwise stated as six months), covering the marriage date include the Rz1, the Rz2, the Free Status Certificate and the Affidavit by a Third Person.
• Separated citizens cannot re-marry unless and until they obtain a Divorce or an Annulment.
• An Apostille is the stamp usually used to facilitate the circulation of public documents issued by a state party to the Hague Convention of the 5th October 1961 and to be produced in another state and documents from countries outside the EU should bear an Apostille/Ministry of Foreign Affairs Stamp by the same country issuing the Certificate.
• Non Multilingual Documents or Documents which are not in English or Maltese should be translated by a legal translator and duly Apostilled or Stamped by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs where the translation is being made.
• Third Party Declarations, as the title implies, should be done by somebody other than the bride herself or the groom himself.
• Witnesses have to be provided by the couple.

NOTES

Form Rz1

This form is the request for the publication of banns. In this form the bride and groom give all details requested by the Marriage Registry regarding the forthcoming Marriage. This form is to be signed by the couple.

Form Rz2

Two forms of the RZ2 are to be submitted. One should be signed by the bride and another by the groom after making their declaration on oath or solemnly affirming that there are no legal impediments to the marriage. The oath has to be taken and signed by them in the presence of a Commissioner for Oaths.

Identification

If a passport is being submitted, the photocopy of the photo page would suffice. If the ID Card is presented, this has to be photocopied front and back. The original document should be presented on request during the ceremony.

Birth Certificate/Adoption Certificate

An Original Non-abridged Birth Certificate/Adoption Certificate is required.

Free Status Certificate

(a) If a Maltese Citizen who also concurrently holds another citizenship (dual citizenship) was born abroad and lived in that country past the marriage age of 16 years or more, such person is required to provide the Free Status Certificate/Certificate of No Impediment from that country.
(b) When a Maltese Citizen who concurrently holds another citizenship (dual citizenship) is a resident or is domiciled abroad:-

• either during the period when he/she was of an eligible marriage age;
• or during the period when he/she is widowed;
• or during the period when he/she is divorced; and
• or during the period when he/she annulled,

s/he has to obtain the Free Status Certificate of that country.

Deed Poll/Change of Name/Surname

If one’s name or surname is different to that shown on his Birth Certificate/Adoption Certificate, one has to produce the Deed Poll/Certificate displaying the change.

Obtaining a Marriage Certificate

One can procure the Marriage Certificate from the Civil Status, Public Registry, five working days after the marriage ceremony has taken place. Certificates are also sold online.

BEACH WEDDINGS

Basic Requirements are to be adhered in respect of:-

• Boundaries: These have to be over six (6) feet high. This is necessary to prevent from indecent attire and splashing of water during the ceremony. The boundary can either be proper fencing or plants or others.
• Platform: The ceremony must be conducted on a hard ground platform for example decking or a cemented platform. This has to accommodate the table and chairs for the Registrar, the Bride, the Groom and the witnesses. Ceremonies on sandy areas are not permitted.
• Access to Platform: It is of utmost importance that access to this platform should be from material such as decking, laminated or concrete pathways.
• Shelter: A type of canopy should be provided when necessary.

It is important that the couple ensure that all requirements stated above are adhered to.

MARRIAGE REGISTRY FEES

Payment can be effected into Account: Identity Malta Agency

Bank Name: Bank of Valletta

Swift Code: VALLMTMT

Account No: 40019801030

IBAN: MT15VALL22013000000040019801030

KINDLY SEND A COPY OF SAID PAYMENT WITH THE APPLICATION INDICATING SURNAMES AND DATE OF MARRIAGE

TO CONTACT US

The Maltese Marriage Registry is led by the Marriage Registrar and a team of experienced staff who will make every effort to ensure that your wedding day would be a memorable one.

Our address:-

The Marriage Registry
1st Floor, Evans Building
Merchants Street
Valletta VLT 2000
Malta

Our Telephone Numbers:-

Please contact our offices on:

Our generic e-mail:-

[email protected]

Opening hours:-

OTHER USEFUL INFORMATION

Gozo Marriage Registry Office

Marriage Registry
By the Bastion Road
Victoria
Gozo

E-mail:[email protected]

Tel. No:- 356-22156381

For information regarding the Catholic Church’s preparation of Banns, please contact

PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICE
DIOCESAN CURIA
5, TRIQ L-ILJUN
FLORIANA

E-mail:–[email protected]

Tel. No:– 00356-21241281

ALL PERSONAL DATA REQUIRED IS PROTECTED AND WILL BE USED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE DATA PROTECTION ACT 2001.

Source: http://www.visitmalta.com/en/civil-weddings