关于作者
Kwok 是一位常驻伦敦的执业律师，持有英格兰及威尔士执业资格，并受英国律师监管局（SRA）监管；同时已在英国外交、联邦及发展事务部（FCDO）备案。Kwok 曾在多家知名律所及企业担任法律顾问及公司法务。他亲自把关银杏顾问的每一宗海牙认证及文件合法化案件，确保流程一致、准确，并实现端到端的质量控制。
Kwok Lam
银杏顾问 法律顾问
British Nationals Getting Married in the Philippines
If you are a British national planning to get married in the Philippines, you must follow the Philippine marriage process.
Your marriage will usually be recognised in the UK if:
you follow the correct process under Philippine law;
and the marriage would be allowed under UK law.
The local authority, registrar, church, venue or person conducting your ceremony can confirm which documents you need.
British nationals who live outside the UK may need a marital status affirmation from the British Embassy Manila.
If you live in the UK, you should apply for a UK Certificate of No Impediment, also known as a CNI, before travelling to the Philippines.
Marital Status Affirmation or Affidavit
British nationals who live outside the UK can apply for a marital status affirmation online.
A marital status affirmation is a declaration that confirms your marital status for the Philippine marriage process.
If you have been told to provide a marital status affidavit, you follow the same process. The difference is that an affidavit uses a religious oath.
When applying, select religious if you need an affidavit.
The embassy will then prepare the marital status affidavit for you to check and sign at your appointment.
British Embassy Manila Appointment
To get a marital status affirmation, you must:
apply online;
pay the £50 fee;
book an appointment at the British Embassy Manila;
print the affirmation or affidavit form;
fill in the details by hand;
avoid signing the form too early;
bring the completed form to your appointment;
check the information at the appointment;
make corrections where needed;
make your declaration;
sign the affirmation or affidavit.
You should choose an appointment at least 7 days after you apply online. This gives consular staff time to check your documents.
You must bring the originals of the documents you uploaded.
Once issued, the affirmation will usually be accepted by local authorities for 3 months.
Marriage Registration in the Philippines
If you marry in the Philippines, your marriage will be registered in the Philippines.
It will not be added to UK marriage records.
You cannot register the marriage later at a UK register office, British Embassy or British Consulate.
You should keep your Philippine marriage certificate as evidence of your marriage.
If you want to use the certificate outside the Philippines, you may need a translation or apostille, depending on the destination country.
Documents Needed for the Online Application
To apply online for a marital status affirmation, you usually need:
your UK passport;
your full birth certificate showing your parents’ details;
proof of permanent address;
your partner’s passport or national identity card;
your partner’s proof of address;
proof that any previous marriage or civil partnership has ended;
proof of any previous name changes;
a credit or debit card for payment.
If you cannot find your UK birth certificate, you can order a UK birth certificate.
If any document is not in English or the local language, you may need to upload a certified translation. You should also bring the original document and translation to your appointment.
Prepare everything before you start. The online application may time out if you are inactive for 20 minutes.
The online application usually takes about 35 minutes.
地址证明
Your proof of address must show the same name as your passport.
You may use:
a residence permit, residence certificate or residence card;
a DVLA driving licence;
a bank or mortgage statement;
a letter from your bank;
a utility bill;
a Council Tax bill;
a tenancy agreement;
a Housing Association rent card or equivalent;
an HMRC tax demand;
or a self-assessment statement.
Your proof of address must usually be dated within the last 3 months, unless it is a residence permit or DVLA driving licence.
If You Were Previously Married or in a Civil Partnership
If you have been married or in a civil partnership before, you must show that the previous relationship has ended.
The UK Government guidance lists documents such as:
a Decree Absolute or Final Order;
a death certificate for your husband, wife or civil partner;
an annulment certificate.
For England and Wales divorce cases, you will usually need a Decree Absolute or Final Order.
A Decree Absolute is the older final divorce order. It usually applies to divorces completed before 6 April 2022.
A Final Order is the current final divorce order. It usually applies to divorce cases issued on or after 6 April 2022.
Both documents prove that the previous marriage has legally ended.
If You Do Not Have the UK Divorce Document
Many British nationals no longer hold the original Decree Absolute or Final Order.
Some only have:
an old scan;
a downloaded PDF;
a court email attachment;
a blurred photo;
an electronic divorce order;
or an unclear copy from an old file.
The UK Government guidance says you can order a UK Decree Absolute or Final Order from a divorce, dissolution or annulment record.
This matters because your Philippine marital status affirmation application may require proof that a previous marriage or civil partnership has ended.
Ginkgo Advisory can help with this UK document stage.
Digital Divorce Documents Need Further Evidence
The Philippines guidance includes an important point.
If you only have a digital document showing that the marriage or civil partnership has ended, you can upload it when you apply online. However, you need to bring further evidence to your appointment.
For example, you may need an email, letter or other court document confirming that the court issued the divorce document.
This matters for modern UK divorce records.
Many Final Orders now exist as court PDFs or electronic documents. A loose printout may not show the full source trail.
A stronger route may include:
reviewing the UK court document;
checking whether it is a court PDF, HMCTS copy or paper order;
obtaining supporting court evidence where available;
preparing solicitor certification;
arranging a UK FCDO apostille where needed.
This gives the document a clearer chain before you use it for Philippines marriage paperwork.
If the Divorce Took Place Outside the UK
If your divorce or dissolution took place outside the UK, you may need extra evidence.
You may need to show that you or your ex-partner were a national of that country or resident there when the divorce took place.
If you have a paper document, you should bring the original document to your appointment. You may also be able to use a copy certified in the country where it was issued.
If you only have a digital document, you may need further evidence from the issuing court or authority.
Check this before you apply. Missing evidence can delay the affirmation process.
Your Former Spouse or Civil Partner Has Died
If your former husband, wife or civil partner has died, you may need their death certificate.
If the death certificate does not show your relationship to the deceased, you may also need your marriage or civil partnership certificate.
Bring the documents to your embassy appointment if they form part of your evidence.
If You Have Changed Your Name
If your current name does not match your birth certificate, you need to provide evidence of your name change.
这可能包括：这可能包括：
a marriage certificate;
a civil partnership certificate;
a deed poll;
or the equivalent document from the country where it was issued.
If you changed your name through marriage or civil partnership, you should upload the relevant certificate.
If you changed your name by deed poll and have lost the original, the next step depends on whether the deed poll was enrolled.
You may be able to apply for a replacement from the UK Deed Poll Service if it was enrolled.
If it was not enrolled, you should seek legal advice on how to evidence the name change.
If You Want to Marry Your Civil Partner
You cannot get an affirmation while you are still in a civil partnership.
If you want to marry your civil partner, you must either:
convert the civil partnership into a marriage;
or end the civil partnership before getting married.
If you registered a same-sex civil partnership in the UK, you may be able to convert it into a marriage.
If the civil partnership was registered elsewhere, check the law of that country.
Do You Need an Apostille for the Philippines?
You should check this with the Philippine local authority or the person conducting your ceremony.
The guidance states that some documents may need to be legalised with an apostille or translated by a qualified translator.
For a UK divorce document, the common route may be:
UK divorce document → solicitor certification → UK FCDO apostille → local submission in the Philippines
This route can help where the document is a court PDF, electronic Final Order, unclear scan or certified copy.
Ginkgo Advisory handles the UK side. You should confirm any local acceptance rules with the Philippine authority.
银杏顾问如何协助
Ginkgo Advisory is a London-based legal service provider.
We assist with the UK document side of marriage preparation for the Philippines. This is especially useful if a British national has been divorced in England or Wales.
我们可协助的事项包括：
UK Decree Absolute retrieval;
UK Final Order retrieval;
UK divorce document review;
supporting court evidence review where available;
solicitor certification;
UK FCDO apostille;
2 working days UK apostille service, where suitable;
document preparation for Philippines marriage use.
We do not replace the British Embassy Manila or the Philippine local authority.
You should always check the Philippine marriage requirements directly.
Our role is focused. We help ensure that the UK divorce document is obtained, reviewed, certified and apostilled correctly before you use it overseas.
British National Getting Married in the Philippines: UK Divorce Document Support
If you are a British national getting married in the Philippines and you were previously divorced in England or Wales, your Decree Absolute or Final Order may form part of your marital status affirmation paperwork.
Ginkgo Advisory can help you obtain the UK divorce document, prepare solicitor certification and arrange a UK FCDO apostille in suitable cases.
Contact Ginkgo Advisory for UK Decree Absolute / Final Order certification and apostille support for marriage in the Philippines.
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