0 € (Beratung), 100-500 € (Übersetzungen, Apostille), 40 € (deutsch) / 66 € (ausländisch), 0 € (Vergleich kostenlos), Inklusive, 37 €, Ca. 100 €, 0 €, Spart oft 20-30%

What happens if I miss the deadline?

Binationale Ehen brauchen 3-6 Monate Vorlaufzeit! Dokumente aus dem Ausland, Übersetzungen und OLG-Prüfung dauern lange.

Getting married in Aachen 2026 – Registry office, deadlines & name change

Step 1If one partner is foreign⏱ 5–10 Min

Consultation for binational marriage

🚨

Frist: 6+ months before wedding · Binational marriages need 3-6 months lead time! Documents from abroad, translations and court review take long.

If one of you is not a German citizen, you MUST first make a consultation appointment at the registry office. There you'll learn which extra documents you need.

📄 Required Documents

Foreign partner's passport(Required)

Must be valid – issued by passport authority in home country

Residence permit (if applicable)(Required)

If already living in Germany – issued by immigration office Aachen

🏛️ Lokale Behördeninfo

•Registry office Aachen: Krämerstraße 2a, 52062 Aachen

💡 Weitere Tipps

Email: heiraten@serviceportal.aachen.de
Hours: Mon+Thu 8am-6pm, Tue 8am-1pm, Fri 8am-1pm (Wed closed)
Consultation is MANDATORY and free
Many countries don't issue marriage eligibility certificates → exemption by Aachen court needed

Contact registry office↗

Step 2If one partner is foreign⏱ 5–10 Min

Get foreign documents

🚨

Frist: 4-6 months before wedding · Getting documents from abroad can take weeks. Start early!

The foreign partner needs documents from their home country. These often need an apostille and translation by a sworn translator.

📄 Required Documents

Birth certificate with parents' names(Required)

Request from registry office in home country – must be recent

Certificate of no impediment(Required)

Varies by country – from registry office, consulate or court in home country

Marriage eligibility certificate(Optional)

From home country – many countries don't issue one, then exemption by Aachen court (approx. €300)

Apostille or legalization(Required)

Apply in home country – at foreign ministry, court or responsible authority

Sworn translations(Required)

From sworn translators in Germany – list at Aachen district court or justiz-dolmetscher.de

💡 Weitere Tipps

Apostille: Apply at authorities in home country
Find translators: justiz-dolmetscher.de
International certificates don't need translation
Some consulates can help

Translator database↗

Step 3⏱ 5–10 Min

Register your marriage

You must register your marriage at the registry office. Popular dates go fast – so book early! In Aachen you can reserve the wedding date up to 9 months in advance.

⚠️Popular dates (special numbers, summer) are often booked months in advance.

⏰ 6 months to 6 weeks before wedding💰 40 € (deutsch) / 66 € (ausländisch)

📄 Required Documents

ID card or passport(Required)

You already have this – must be valid. If lost: citizens' office Aachen (approx. €37)

Extended registration certificate(Required)

Apply at citizens' office Aachen – not older than 4 weeks, approx. €10

Current birth certificate(Required)

From registry office of your birthplace – not older than 6 months, approx. €12

Divorce decree(Optional)

Only if previously married – from family court that issued the divorce

Death certificate(Optional)

Only if widowed – from registry office of former partner's place of death

🏛️ Lokale Behördeninfo

•Registry office Aachen: Krämerstraße 2a, 52062 Aachen

💡 Weitere Tipps

Hours: Mon+Thu 8am-6pm, Tue 8am-1pm, Fri 8am-1pm (Wed closed)
Email: heiraten@serviceportal.aachen.de
Wedding date reservable up to 9 months in advance!
Both partners must appear for registration
Venues: Old Town Hall, Loggia, Villa Hammerschmidt, Godesburg and more

Reserve wedding date online↗

Step 4⏱ 2–5 Min

💍 Shared protection as a couple

Marriage is also a financial decision. Now is the right time for joint insurance – home contents, liability and pension provision as a couple are often cheaper than individual policies.

⏰ After the wedding💰 0 € (Vergleich kostenlos)

💡 Weitere Tipps

💑 Couple rates often cheaper than individual
🛡️ Combine home & liability insurance
💰 Free & non-binding comparison
⏱ Done in 2 minutes

👉 Tarife als Paar vergleichen ↗

⏱ 2 Minuten💰 Kostenlos🔒 Unverbindlich

Step 5⏱ 2–5 Min

Decide on name change

You can choose: Each keeps their name, one takes the other's, or double name. The decision is set at registration.

⚠️Later name change is more complicated. Best to think it through now.

⏰ At registration💰 Inklusive

💡 Weitere Tipps

Double name only possible for one partner
Children automatically get the married name
Name change is also possible later

Info on name change↗

Step 6Only if changing name⏱ 10–15 Min

Apply for new ID card

If you change your name, you need a new ID card. Apply for it right after the wedding.

⚠️With old name on ID there can be confusion with flight bookings or banking.

⏰ After the wedding💰 37 €

📄 Required Documents

Marriage certificate(Required)

You get this directly after the wedding from Aachen registry office

Biometric photo(Required)

At photographer or photo booth – must meet biometric requirements

Old ID card(Required)

Your current ID – will be collected when picking up the new one

🏛️ Lokale Behördeninfo

•Service center Aachen: Hackländerstraße 1, 52064 Aachen

💡 Weitere Tipps

Online appointment at www.aachen.de/terminvereinbarung
Plan for 6 weeks processing time
Old ID remains valid until pickup
Don't forget to renew passport too

Book citizens' office appointment↗

Step 7If one partner is foreign⏱ 10–15 Min

Update residence permit

After marrying a German, the foreign partner can apply for a new residence permit (family reunification).

⚠️The new residence permit can bring more rights (e.g. work permit).

⏰ After the wedding💰 Ca. 100 €

📄 Required Documents

Marriage certificate(Required)

You get this directly after the wedding from Aachen registry office

Passport(Required)

Must be valid – issued by passport authority in home country

Registration certificate(Required)

Apply at citizens' office Aachen – prove shared address

Biometric photo(Required)

At photographer or photo booth – must meet biometric requirements

💡 Weitere Tipps

Immigration office Aachen: Online appointment required
Apply for residence permit for spouse reunification
After 3 years: independent residence right possible
Divorce in first 3 years: more complicated
Naturalization possible after 3 years of marriage

Appointment immigration office↗

Step 8⏱ 5–10 Min

Change tax class

After the wedding, you can change your tax classes and possibly save taxes. This can be done online via ELSTER.

⚠️With different incomes, changing tax class can save money monthly.

⏰ After the wedding💰 0 €

📄 Required Documents

Marriage certificate(Required)

You get this directly after the wedding from Aachen registry office

Tax IDs of both partners(Required)

On your payslip or tax notice. Lost? Request new one from tax office

💡 Weitere Tipps

Standard: 4/4 – both taxed equally
With income difference: check 3/5
4/4 with factor: compromise with different incomes
Change affects monthly net income

Change tax class online↗

Step 9⏱ 5–10 Min

Inform employer & insurance

Inform your employer about the wedding and check if you can combine insurance policies.

⚠️Most employers give special leave for the wedding – don't forget to ask!

⏰ After the wedding💰 Spart oft 20-30%

📄 Required Documents

Marriage certificate (copy)(Required)

Copy of marriage certificate from Aachen registry office – keep original

💡 Weitere Tipps

Often there is special leave for the wedding
HR needs new tax class
Liability: One policy for both is enough
Household: Combine after moving in together
Life insurance: Add partner as beneficiary

Compare & adjust insurance↗

Step 10⏱ 2–5 Min

💙 Life & risk protection as a family

🚨

Without protection the death of the main earner can financially ruin the other partner – especially with joint loans or property!

Those who marry take responsibility for each other. Two insurances protect your shared standard of living: risk life insurance protects the partner in case of death – life insurance combines protection with wealth building.

🏛️ Lokale Behördeninfo

🟢� Endowment insurance: protection + savings (for wealth building)

💡 Weitere Tipps

🔵 Risk life insurance: cheap, high payout on death (from €5-15/month)
💑 Joint policy for couples often cheaper
🏠 Required for property financing

👉 Compare risk life insurance free*💚 Compare life insurance ↗

⏱ 2 Minuten💰 Kostenlos🔒 Unverbindlich

Step 11⏱ 2–5 Min

🏠 Property financing & credit

Moving or new start as occasion: now is worth comparing current property financing conditions. Those who want to buy or are looking for cheaper credit – rates vary greatly by bank.

⚠️Even 0.1% difference in interest rate means approx. €6,000 more or less on a €300,000 loan over 20 years – always get multiple quotes!

💡 Weitere Tipps

📊 Compare at least 3 offers – interest differences are significant
💰 10-20% equity significantly lowers the interest rate
📅 Fixed rate: 10-15 years recommended for planning security
🔄 Existing loan? Check refinancing – often cheaper

👉 Compare property financing free*💳 Compare credit ↗

⏱ 2 Minuten💰 Kostenlos🔒 Unverbindlich

Getting Married in Aachen

Consultation for binational marriage

📄 Required Documents

Get foreign documents

📄 Required Documents

Register your marriage

📄 Required Documents

💍 Shared protection as a couple

Decide on name change

Apply for new ID card

📄 Required Documents

Update residence permit

📄 Required Documents

Change tax class

📄 Required Documents

Inform employer & insurance

📄 Required Documents

💙 Life & risk protection as a family

🏠 Property financing & credit

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

📋What you should do next: