Marriage Certificate Translation for German Authorities

Which marriage document do you have? Documents by country

Some countries issue a civil certificate, others a religious contract that is later registered. We translate both types:

Do I need to translate a Turkish Formül B?

Usually not. According to the German Embassy in Turkey, the multilingual extract Formül B (marriage) needs neither a translation nor an apostille in Germany, under the Vienna Convention of 8 September 1976 (CIEC). An Evlenme Cüzdanı or another Turkish marriage document needs an apostille and a sworn translation. Ask your office which one it wants before you order.

Religious marriage contracts: Sharia court, Nikah-Khat and Nikahnama

We translate religious marriage contracts word for word, including the Mahr (dower), the names of the guardian and witnesses, and every court or registry stamp. Whether the office accepts the contract as proof of your marriage is its decision. Many offices also ask whether the marriage was registered with the state.

• Syria: a contract concluded at a Sharia court, plus the entry in the civil registry if you have it
• Iraq: a contract from the personal status court, often with a court decision
• Afghanistan: a Nikah-Khat in Dari or Pashto, sometimes handwritten
• India: a Nikahnama in Urdu, Hindi or English, or an Arya Samaj, temple or Gurdwara certificate

Good to know: In India, a religious certificate alone may not be enough. In 2022 the Supreme Court of India said that issuing marriage certificates is the job of the registration authorities. If you have both a religious and a registrar certificate, translate both.

See what your translation will look like

The sample shows an example document with dummy data. A Turkish booklet, an Arabic contract or a Russian certificate is translated the same way: full text in the original order, photos and stamps described, both names with passport notes, and the sworn translator's certification.

How we write both names

A sworn translator renders names exactly as on the document. The order, the spelling and every part of the name stay as printed. Turkish letters such as ş or ğ are kept, and Arabic, Cyrillic or Indian scripts are transliterated. Your maiden name stays your maiden name. A married name or a different passport spelling goes in a translator's note.

Common problems with marriage documents, and how we handle them

1. 1A surname changed after the wedding. The certificate shows the maiden name, but the passport shows the married name. We translate the name as on the certificate and add a note. Some offices also ask for a name change document, which we can translate.
2. 2Dates in another calendar. Afghan and some Arabic documents give dates in the Hijri calendar. The translator renders every date exactly as written, so nothing is guessed.
3. 3Photos, stamps and witness signatures are left out. German offices need the complete document. We describe photos and translate every stamp and signature line.
4. 4You were married before. Many offices also ask for proof that the earlier marriage ended. See our divorce decree translation.

Apostille or legalisation for marriage documents

It depends on the issuing country. Turkish, Ukrainian and Russian marriage certificates usually need an apostille, and many offices want it translated too. Syrian civil status extracts can in some cases be legalised by the German Embassy in Beirut. For Iraq legalisation is suspended, and for Afghanistan it is not possible, so the office decides at its discretion. An Indian apostille is not valid in Germany; see our document verification guide.

When do you need your marriage certificate in German?

• For your citizenship application (Einbürgerung)
• When your spouse joins you through family reunion
• For your permanent residence application (Niederlassungserlaubnis), if your office asks for it
• For your baby's birth registration at the Standesamt
• For Kindergeld and family benefits, when you add your spouse or children
• Planning a new wedding in Germany instead? See getting married at a German Standesamt.

What language is your marriage certificate in?

We translate directly into German from Turkish, Arabic, Kurdish (Kurmanji and Sorani), Dari, Pashto, Persian (Farsi), Ukrainian, Russian and English, and from Hindi and other Indian languages.

Indian languages: English · Hindi · Punjabi · Urdu · Tamil · Telugu · Bengali · Marathi · Gujarati · Malayalam

Marriage certificate translation: price and delivery

All prices shown are starting prices incl. VAT and postage within Germany. Your exact fixed price comes in a written quote after upload, before you pay.

Many couples order all three together, because German offices often ask for the marriage certificate and both birth certificates. See all prices or read how it works.

Your files are transferred encrypted and deleted after 30 days (GDPR).

If your office asks for a change to our translation, we correct it free of charge.

What should I upload?

• A clear photo or scan of every page, front and back, including the apostille page if there is one
• The photo pages of both passports, so the translator can add notes on your passport names (recommended)
• Any religious contract you also have, if your office asks for it

Usually a clear scan or photo is enough. Some offices want the translator to see the original, so check your letter.

Frequently asked questions about marriage certificate translation