Disclaimer: Before you continue to read this “How to” post, please know that this is only applicable to those couples who are both Filipinos.
I’m writing this post as an admittance also that I recently became a wife. We have been together for 17 years and a lot of people have been asking us why it took us time to get married. All of us have our own timeline and this is ours. There is no need to conform to what others think and believe to be the “right age” to get married. Besides, we did not feel that we have been together for long since we could still remember the day we met like it was yesterday (ang landeeeehhh).
Anyway, I know the reason why you click on this post is to know what the documents are needed, the application process and the fees paid for getting married in Dubai and not about my love life.
Step 1: Procure the documents required
- Marriage Application Form / Marriage Banns / Announcement form*
- The form is easy to fill out and the details that would be asked is just about you and your parents’ details. We just had a hard time answering the “Degree of relationship between contracting parties”. We answered it as “Not related” and the lady at the Marriage section confirmed how long we have been together as boyfriend-girlfriend. She is, like others, surprised to know that we have been together for 16 years.
- Joint Affidavit of Witnesses Form*
- This form should be signed by the two witnesses that would attend the ceremony with you. No need to worry if in case the witness who signed the form would not be able to attend the ceremony. Proxy and substitutes are allowed.
*These forms are available at https://dubaipcg.dfa.gov.ph/services/2014-04-16-10-40-17/2016-03-01-02-24-17
- Original DFA Authenticated (red ribbon) NSO Certificate of No Marriage (CENOMAR)* of bride and groom
*CENOMAR is valid only for six months. Take this into consideration when you want to apply for the marriage license
- Original DFA Authenticated (red ribbon) NSO Birth Certificate of bride and groom
- Valid passport and visa copies of bride, groom and witnesses
- 2 recent colored passport size photos of bride and groom
- Original DFA Authenticated (red ribbon) Affidavit of Parental Consent for applicants aged 18-21 or Affidavit of Parental Advice for applicants aged 22-25
Step 2: Submit all documents to the Philippine Consulate in Dubai
When you submit all documents to the Philippine Consulate in Dubai, you both must be present. As per our experience, we applied in the morning. Even before the Consulate opened at 8:00 AM we are already there so there is no need to be absent from work. Make sure that you are falling in line for the Marriage section. We saw one couple who fell in line with those applying for passport renewal. When the gates opened, they were asked to move to the other queue. Make sure also that you have coins as you would be required to have copies of your documents after the lady from the Marriage Section checked everything.
Step 3: Choose a date
Usually, the Consulate would have two Thursdays every month for the wedding ceremony. If you have a target date, apply one and a half month before. The consulate would only try to accommodate on a first come, first serve basis. Also, if you plan to get married in December, apply earlier. We tried to get married in December but when we arrived at the Consulate, they only have dates for January (Jan 9 & 16). The holidays affected the Consulate’s working days, so you must be wary of this as well.
Step 4: Pay
The payment is AED 340.00. This includes the registration of your marriage to the Philippine Statistics Authority and the solemnization and ceremony on the wedding day. Do not lose your receipt after you paid.
Step 5: Attend the counseling before the wedding
When you give your contact details, you must make sure that it is accurate and active, especially your mobile number and if possible, it’s the same number you are using in Whatsapp. This is the main mode of communication by the Consulate for the couples that are schedule to be married. The Consulate would make a group for you and all the couples to be wed on your chosen date.
You will then receive a message for the time and date of the counseling. Please come on time as the counseling session starts on time. Bring a pen and paper also and most importantly, listen to the speaker.
Step 6: Get married
PLEASE DO NOT BE LATE ON THE DAY OF YOUR WEDDING! (Don’t be like me!) I almost gave my soon to be husband a heart attack because it was already 1:58 PM and I was still in the taxi and the wedding is at 2:00 PM. The taxi driver was kind enough to console me saying that there are plenty of other guys who are still willing to marry me if in case I missed it (I think he was hitting on me).
When I arrived at the Marriage Hall, we first checked the draft copy of our marriage certificate. Since everything is correct, we signed it certifying we checked it, and everything is accurate. We also submitted three sets of passport photocopy for me and my husband.
What to expect during the wedding:
The wedding consists of two parts, the signing of the marriage certificate and the solemnization. Every couple is allowed two witnesses each (as far as we know). But there are those who brought their whole clan. If you are a future couple, please adhere to the rules set by the consulate because the crowd affected the solemnization of the event. There are couples who also have their flower girls and ring bearers. I understand that we wanted all our loved ones to be part of our special days. But the wedding in the consulate is not just your own. You would be sharing it with other couples.
We did not have any high expectations for the wedding because we plan to have another one with family and friends later this year. If this is the only wedding you would have, do not feel bad since our Consulate is doing their best to make the event as special as possible. There would be things that are beyond your control. Don’t stress yourself too much about it. Just relish on the fact that you managed to find someone to share hopefully, forever with.
An Overseas Filipino Worker since 2008, Yvette is back in the Middle East after a brief stint in a first world country in South East Asia. She is a binge watcher and is part of numerous fandoms. She writes to keep her sanity (read her rantings on Wattpad @yvette_dc) and is happiest when she's in a bookstore. If given the resources, she would see the world.