Hlavní informace
Marriage is a permanent union between a man and a woman and is entered into in the manner laid down by law. The main purposes of marriage are to have a family, give children a proper upbringing, and provide mutual support and assistance.
A civil partnership is a permanent union between two people of the same sex that is entered into in the same way as marriage. Unless otherwise provided by law or other legislation, the provisions on marriage, the rights and obligations of spouses, widows and widowers shall apply, mutatis mutandis, to civil partnerships and the rights and obligations of the partners.
A marriage or a partnership arises from the free and full consent of the future spouses or partners that they are entering into a marriage or partnership together.
Marriages can take place:
- as a civil ceremony (before a public authority),
- as a church ceremony (before a body of the church or religious society authorised to perform it).
A wedding ceremony is a public and celebratory occasion that takes place in the presence of two witnesses.
The celebrant, acting on behalf of a public authority or a legitimate religious body, asks the engaged couple whether they wish to enter into a marriage or partnership. If they both answer in the affirmative, the marriage or partnership will be confirmed.
Týká se vás to pokud
you want to enter into a marriage or civil partnership.
Anyone may enter into a marriage or civil partnership, unless prohibited from doing so by the law.
Marriages or civil partnerships may be entered into by:
- persons of adult age (over 18 years of age),
- persons of sound mind,
- other than direct relatives (grandparents, parents, children, grandchildren, etc.) and siblings,
- unless their kinship was established through adoption,
- unless they are a guardian and a ward, the child and the person to whose care the child was entrusted, the foster parent and the child entrusted to him/her,
- excluding persons whose previous marriage or partnership is still extant.
Persons who entered into a registered partnership before 31 December 2024 and whose registered partnership continues may enter into a civil partnership together. Their registered partnership is thus legally dissolved.
In exceptional circumstances, the court may allow a minor who does not have full legal capacity but has reached the age of 16 to get married, provided that there are compelling reasons for this (e.g. because the fiancée is pregnant).
Kdy službu řešit
You can start using the service at any time.
Vyřízení služby
Co potřebujete pokud službu řešíte
Prior to entering into a marriage/partnership
I. For a civil marriage
You can bring it already completed.
- if you are a Czech citizen with permanent residence in the Czech Republic:
- proof of identity (identity card or passport).
- Other documents should be obtained by the registry office –
- only in special cases or if there are any queries will the registrar request additional documents from you (such as birth certificates, children’s birth certificates, a death certificate for a deceased spouse or partner or a final divorce order (decree absolute) in relation to a previous marriage or partnership);
- if you are a foreign national
- birth certificate,
- proof of nationality (can be proved, for example, by a travel document),
- proof of legal capacity to marry or enter into a partnership, if issued by the foreign state, must not be older than six months at the date of the marriage or partnership,
- confirmation of marital status and residence, if issued by the foreign state,
- death certificate of a deceased spouse (or partner) in the case of a widowed foreign national; this document does not need to be submitted if it is stated in the proof of legal capacity to marry (or enter into a partnership),
- a final divorce order (decree absolute), if divorced,
- confirmation that the marriage or partnership will be recognised as valid in the foreign national’s home state if it is concluded by an agent,
- proof of identity.
- Have details about both witnesses ready – names, surnames, birth numbers and places of birth.
- Arrange with the registrar to have a marriage certificate issued, ascertaining when it will be issued and how you will collect it.
In the case of a civil marriage without the presence of a registrar (the authorised marriage celebrant must be a qualified registrar), the proof of legal capacity for the marriage/partnership must also be provided.
It is not necessary for both fiancés to go to the registry office, but the questionnaire must be signed by both of them and the original documents must be produced. Take your identity documents back from the registrar after they have been checked.
II. For a church marriage
The documents to be submitted and the procedure are the same. However, in addition, proof of legal capacity for marriage/partnership must be applied for.
Kde a jak službu řešit
You can marry or enter into a partnership before:
- a city or municipal authority
- a body of the church
- a member of parliament or senator
It is not possible to be married or enter into a civil partnership remotely. Your personal presence is essential during the ceremony. Only for very serious reasons may one of the fiancés be represented at the ceremony by someone else. Permission to get married by proxy is decided on by the regional authority in the administrative district where the marriage is to take place.
Wedding ceremonies
I. Civil ceremony
- Bring with you to the ceremony:
- proof of identity for both parties (fiancés),
- proof of identity for both witnesses.
The ceremony is led by a celebrant (mayor, deputy mayor or authorised member of the council, member of parliament or senator) with the assistance of the registrar. The requirement for the presence of a registrar will also be deemed to be fulfilled if the person getting married is a professionally competent registrar.
- At the end of the ceremony, the spouses/partners, the marriage celebrant, witnesses and, if present, the proxy, interpreter and registrar sign the marriage or partnership protocol.
- After the ceremony, the corner will be cut off your identity card if you have an identity card issued by the Czech Republic, and if the information on the card changes due to your marriage/partnership:
- marital status – for example, from single to married (if this information appears on your identity card),
- surname (if your surname is changing).
In this case, you must apply for a replacement of your identity card.
II. Church ceremony
- Bring with you to the ceremony:
- proof of identity for both parties (fiancés),
- proof of identity for both witnesses,
- the proof of legal capacity to marry that you received at the registry office.
The ceremony is led by an officiant who is an authorised representative of the church. The registrar is not present.
- At the end of the ceremony, the spouses/partners, the officiant and the witnesses sign the marriage/partnership protocol.
- The officiant must deliver the protocol to the registry office within three working days from the date of the marriage/partnership so that the marriage or partnership can be entered in the register of marriages.
- After the ceremony, the corner will be cut off your identity card if you have an identity card issued by the Czech Republic, and if the information on the card changes due to your marriage/partnership:
- marital status – for example, from single to married / in a partnership (if this information appears on your identity card),
- surname (if your surname is changing).
In this case, you must apply for a replacement of your identity card.
Kolik budete platit
- nothing, if you both have permanent residence in the Czech Republic and you are getting married/entering into a partnership at a time and place determined by the municipal council,
- CZK 5 000 when entering into a marriage or partnership, if neither of you has permanent residence in the Czech Republic,
- CZK 3 000 when entering into a marriage or partnership, if only one of you has permanent residence in the Czech Republic,
- CZK 3 000 for the issuing of a permit to marry outside the stipulated period or outside the officially designated room,
- CZK 1 000 for the presence of a registrar at the declaration of the fiancés that they are entering into a marriage/partnership together before the marriage registrars of a municipality other than the registry office, if neither of the parties is registered as having permanent residence in the administrative district of that municipality (this fee is not levied if the fee is levied for the issuing of a marriage/partnership permit outside the designated place and time),
- issuing of a certificate for a church marriage – CZK 500,
- issuing of a certificate of legal capacity to marry or to enter into a civil partnership (for getting married abroad) – CZK 500,
- issue of multilingual standard form CZK 100.
Doplňující informace
Jaký má služba benefit
Entering into a marriage or civil partnership. Marriages and civil partnerships create joint ownership of property by the spouses (unlike in a registered partnership).
Spouses and partners also have other rights and obligations under the law.
Možnosti odvolání
You can appeal against:
- a decision not to permit a marriage or partnership at another suitable place and at another suitable time,
- a decision refusing to grant a request for a waiver of the documents required to enter into a marriage or partnership,
- a decision not to permit a marriage or partnership by proxy,
- a decision not to issue proof or a certificate of legal capacity to marry or to enter into a civil partnership.
Deadline for filing an appeal:
- within 15 days of receiving the decision
To be submitted to:
- the authority which issued the contested decision
Who rules on it:
- the superior regional authority,
- the Ministry of the Interior (in the case of a decision not to allow a marriage or partnership by proxy).
If there are any errors in the registration or marriage certificate, you can request a correction and a corrected marriage certificate (free of charge) to be issued.
If the marriage certificate is not issued within the statutory deadlines (within 30 days after the marriage or partnership) you can apply to the superior regional authority for measures against this inactivity.
Legislativa
Sankce
You are committing an offence if:
- you intentionally destroy or damage documents issued by the registry office (marriage certificate, certificate of legal capacity to marry or enter into a partnership, certificate that the couple have met all the requirements for a marriage/partnership);
- you intentionally provide false or incomplete information to the registry office.
The registry office may impose a fine of up to CZK 10 000 for such an offence.
Časté dotazy
None