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 Bonn – Fristen & Checkliste

Step 1If one partner is foreign

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 Cologne

💡 Tips

Registry office Bonn: Thomas-Mann-Str. 4, 53111 Bonn
Email: heiraten@bonn.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 Cologne court needed

Contact registry office↗

Step 2If one partner is foreign

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 Cologne 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 Cologne district court or justiz-dolmetscher.de

💡 Tips

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

Register your marriage

You must register your marriage at the registry office. Popular dates go fast – so book early! In Bonn 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 Cologne (approx. €37)

Extended registration certificate(Required)

Apply at citizens' office Cologne – 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

💡 Tips

Registry office Bonn: Thomas-Mann-Str. 4, 53111 Bonn
Hours: Mon+Thu 8am-6pm, Tue 8am-1pm, Fri 8am-1pm (Wed closed)
Email: heiraten@bonn.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

💍 Gemeinsame Absicherung als Paar

Heiraten ist auch eine finanzielle Entscheidung. Jetzt ist der richtige Moment für gemeinsame Versicherungen und Finanzen als Paar – Hausrat, Haftpflicht, Vorsorge.

⏰ Nach der Hochzeit💰 0 € (Vergleich kostenlos)

📅

Save this deadline to your calendar so you don't forget.

When is / was das Hochzeitsdatum?

Works with iPhone, Google Calendar, Outlook and many others.

💡 Tips

⏱ Dauert nur 2 Minuten
💰 Kostenlos & unverbindlich
💑 Paartarife oft günstiger als Einzelverträge

👉 Tarife als Paar vergleichen ↗

⏱ 2 Minuten💰 Kostenlos🔒 Unverbindlich

Step 5

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

💡 Tips

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

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 Cologne 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

💡 Tips

Service center Bonn: Berliner Platz 2, 53111 Bonn
Online appointment at termine.bonn.de
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

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 Cologne registry office

Passport(Required)

Must be valid – issued by passport authority in home country

Registration certificate(Required)

Apply at citizens' office Cologne – prove shared address

Biometric photo(Required)

At photographer or photo booth – must meet biometric requirements

💡 Tips

Immigration office Bonn: 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

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 Cologne registry office

Tax IDs of both partners(Required)

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

💡 Tips

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

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 Cologne registry office – keep original

💡 Tips

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↗

Getting Married in Bonn

Consultation for binational marriage

📄 Required Documents

Get foreign documents

📄 Required Documents

Register your marriage

📄 Required Documents

💍 Gemeinsame Absicherung als Paar

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

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

🔗 Related Topics