Marriage of a Frenchman abroad - With a foreigner
Verified 18 juin 2026 - Public Service / (Prime Minister)
Marriage is celebrated by a local authorityaccording to the rules of the country concerned. You have to check them.
The French authorities exercise control before and after marriage.
They check in particular that you are all 2 present at the ceremony.
Depending on the country where you wish to marry and your situation, the marriage can be celebrated by one of the following authorities:
- Registrar's Office local
- Foreigner Consul
- Religious authority.
You need to check which authorities are competent for the country in which you want to marry.
In order for marriage to be recognized in France, you must comply with the conditions imposed by the country concerned.
In many countries, the local authority will not be able to marry you with a person of the same sex.
If you are future same-sex spouses and you reside in a country that does not allow your marriage, you can marry in one of the following municipalities:
- French municipality of your birth or last residence
- French commune in which one of your parents (father or mother) has his home or residence.
If no municipality meets these criteria, you can get married in the French municipality of your choice.
As a Frenchman, you must fulfill the same conditions as for a wedding in Francein particular the following conditions:
- Minimum age of 18 years
- Absence of relationship or covenant
- Informed consent.
Two steps are necessary: the application for a certificate of capacity to marry and the mandatory publication of bans.
1Applying for a Certificate of Marriage Ability
As a Frenchman, you have to apply for certificate of capacity to marry at the French embassy or consulate of the place of your wedding.
Documents to be provided
You must provide the following:
- Fact sheet (provided by the embassy or consulate, or available on its website) completed
- Proof of French nationality
- ID (with photo)
- Proof of home or residence.
Other supporting documents may be requested depending on your situation.
Who shall I contact
Each of you must also provide your birth certificate extract with indication of parentage.
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Birth certificate established in France
The approach depends on your situation:
You were born in France
You must provide a birth certificate extract with indication of the filiation of less than 3 months.
You were born abroad
If your birth certificate has been transcribed, you must provide a birth certificate with an indication of the filiation of less than 3 months.
You must apply for your birth certificate from the Central Civil Registry.
You can use the following teleservice:
Application for birth certificate: full copy or extract (birth abroad) - Free service
You are a refugee or stateless person
If you are a refugee or stateless, you must provide a birth certificate with indication of the filiation of less than 3 months.
You must request the document fromOfpra: titleContent, which has drawn up the certificate which serves as your birth certificate.
You can use the following teleservice:
Birth certificate issued abroad
The approach depends on your situation:
You were born in a country of
You must provide a birth certificate with indication of the filiation of 6 months maximum.
Who shall I contact
No time limit shall be imposed if the birth certificate has been issued in a country which does not provide for the updating of the birth certificate.
In this case, you must provide a certificate from your embassy or consulate (or other authorized authority in your country of origin) stating that no update has been made.
If the document is in foreign language, you must have a sworn translator translate.
It is possible to provide a plurilingual birth certificate extract.
You were born in another country
You must provide a birth certificate with indication of the filiation of 6 months maximum.
No time limit shall be imposed if the birth certificate has been issued in a country which does not provide for the updating of the birth certificate.
In this case, you must provide a certificate from your embassy or consulate (or other authorized authority in your country of origin) stating that no update has been made.
If the document is in a foreign language, you must have a sworn translator translate.
It is possible to provide a plurilingual birth certificate extract.
Depending on the country of origin, one of the following formalities may also be necessary:
- Apostille
- Legalization.
Nationals of certain countries are exempted from these additional formalities (e.g. Switzerland).
Hearing by the registrar
The diplomatic or consular agent proceed with your hearing common.
It may also hold separate hearings.
If necessary, the French Embassy (or Consulate) may entrust this hearing to one of the following authorities:
- Registrar of your home or your residence in France
- French embassy or consulate on which your home or your residence abroad in the absence of residence in France.
2Allow the 10-day deadline for publication of bans to pass
The publication of the bans is mandatory for 10 days (unless exempted).
It is done in one of the following places:
- Embassy or Consulate of France of the place of celebration of your wedding
- Town hall of your home or your residence if you or your future spouse have your domicile or residence in France
- French embassy or consulate on which your home or your residence abroad in the absence of residence in France.
After publication of bans, the French Embassy (or Consulate) gives you your certificate of capacity to marry if your marriage meets the requirements of french law.
The ceremony can only take place after the 10-day period has elapsed.
In the case of a marriage celebrated by a foreign authority, the rules specific to each country are very varied.
Some rules may be unfavorable or restrictive.
You can ask a notary.
Who shall I contact
For your marriage to be fully recognized in France, the marriage certificate must be transcribed on the civil status records of the embassy or consulate from France to your wedding venue.
The transcription consists in recording in the French registers the particulars contained in the marriage certificate drawn up by the foreign authority that married you.
Warning
This transcript is not mandatory, but it is recommended.
In the absence of a transcript, in France, your marriage only takes effect in the following situations:
- Between you 2
- To your children.
Your marriage has no effect on third parties.
In France, you will not be able to benefit from certain rights.
Example :
Your husband will not be able to get residence permit. And you will not be able to benefit from the tax benefits granted to a married couple (for example, a common taxable income).
You have to ask for the transcript on the civil status records of the French embassy or consulate of the place of your marriage.
Conditions
You or your spouse must request the transcript.
The transcript request is not subject to no time limit.
To obtain it, you must meet the following conditions:
- Have completed the pre-marriage formalities at the embassy or consulate (certificate of marriage capacity)
- Have been all 2 present at the time of the celebration
- Have all 2 freely consented to marriage.
If you have not completed the pre-marriage formalities with the embassy or consulate (certificate of capacity to marry), the transcription of your marriage remains possible.
It must be preceded by your hearing by the diplomatic or consular authority.
Please note
This hearing may be joint or be the subject of individual interviews. The diplomatic or consular authority may waive it.
Approach
The rule depends on country of celebration from your wedding:
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Afghanistan, Algeria, Libya, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Monaco, Morocco, Niger, Palestine, Republic of Northern Cyprus, Western Sahara, Somalia, Sudan, Switzerland, Syria, Golan Territory, North Korea, Tunisia, Yemen
You can download the following documents from the relevant consulate in the country concerned:
- Transcript Request Form
- List of documents to be provided.
Who shall I contact
In all cases, you must provide the following documents:
- Copy of your marriage certificate
- Proof of your French nationality.
You must send your request, only by postin the Transcription Department of the Central Civil Registry Service of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Who shall I contact
By post
Central Civil Registry Service
Transcript Department
11 rue de la Maison Blanche
44941 Nantes Cedex 9
Other country
You can download the following documents from the relevant consulate in the country concerned:
- Transcript Request Form
- List of documents to be provided.
Who shall I contact
In all cases, you must provide the following documents:
- Copy of your marriage certificate
- Proof of your French nationality.
Ask for the transcript at the appropriate French embassy or consulate, depending on where your wedding is celebrated.
If the French Embassy (or Consulate) considers that the conditions are not met, it may refer the matter to the public prosecutor. The latter may object to the transcription within 2 months.
The transcript allows you to get a french family booklet or have the booklet you already have completed.
Transcription also makes it possible to mention marriage on your birth certificate.
As a reminder, when the marriage is the subject of a transcription, in France, it takes effect in the following situations:
- Between you 2
- With regard to your children
- With regard to third parties, for example administrations.
You can benefit from certain rights.
Example :
Your husband can get a residence permit. And you can benefit from the tax benefits granted to a married couple (for example, a common taxable income).
Who can help me?
Find who can answer your questions in your region
Marriage of the French abroad
Formalities prior to marriage celebrated abroad by a foreign authority
Transcript of the marriage celebrated abroad by a foreign authority
It is impossible for French people outside France to celebrate their marriage abroad
Publication of bans
Service Public
Service Public
Service Public
Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs
Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs
Notaries of France
Chamber of Notaries of Greater Paris
Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs
