Getting married abroad. Getting your marriage recognised in Belgium.

Have you always dreamed of a fairytale wedding abroad, but wondered whether it is also valid in Belgium and would you also like help preparing the required documents for your foreign wedding? Then you have come to the right place. Read our blog or make an appointment at our office!

A foreign marriage always has two parts. The first part involves preparing for the legal marriage abroad and collecting the required documents. The second part involves the recognition of your foreign marriage in Belgium so that you are also officially married here.

Oraibi Lawyers offers assistance and advice in preparing foreign marriages and obtaining recognition of the marriage certificate in Belgium.

If you have made the choice to perform your marriage abroad, this is possible no matter where in the world. In this process, Oraibi Lawyers can offer full support. We provide you with all the necessary documents and we have contacts inside and outside the European Union to verify which documents are required in the country where you wish to get married. Important documents that are usually necessary:

- Proof of nationality

- Unmarried declaration

- Divorce certificate (if you were already married in the past)

- ...

Feel free to make an appointment so that we can check which documents are required in your situation. We will ensure that all documents are legalised and provided with an apostille. That way, you can get married carefree at your dream destination.

Recognising a foreign marriage in Belgium is important to ensure that the marriage is legally valid. This can be important, for example, if you wish to settle an inheritance or if children are born within the marriage. The marriage must meet some conditions to actually have it recognised in Belgium. First of all, it will be checked whether the marriage is valid according to the law where it took place. Afterwards, it will be checked whether the marriage also complies with Belgian law in order to be recognised.

In your dream destination, legal rules apply to the conclusion of marriage. This legislation should be respected. To make the marriage also legally valid in Belgium, the marriage should be tested against Belgian law.

For example, a marriage between minors in Belgium can only take place with the authorisation of the juvenile court, so this is also required if the marriage were to take place abroad. Even if the country where you are marrying does not require this, it is a requirement for the marriage to be legally recognised in Belgium.

Another important example is that in Belgium there is a ban on polygamy within marriage. Marriage is monogamous which means it is only possible to marry one person. In some countries, such as Morocco, for example, polygamy is allowed. Such marriages cannot be recognised in Belgium.

The form requirements deal with the procedure of the marriage ceremony. The form requirements are always determined by the country where the marriage takes place. This includes, for example, the number of witnesses present at the wedding.

The recognition of a foreign marriage does not require a court procedure in Belgium, as it can be arranged through the intervention of the registrar of births, marriages and deaths.

A marriage contracted abroad is legally valid in Belgium when it has been officially recognised.

In order for the marriage to be recognised, it must meet the formal requirements of the country where it was concluded and must also comply with Belgian law. To submit your foreign marriage certificate for recognition in Belgium, the documents must be legalised by the country of origin and also have an apostille.

If you have any questions or would like our advice, please do not hesitate to contact ORAIBI Lawyers!