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Information on Requirements for Marriage in the Czech Republic

Please be advised that the following rules and procedures apply if you wish to enter into a marriage in the Czech Republic:

1)

The application to enter into a marriage as well as specific details about the procedure shall be obtained from the respective City Hall of the District Council (Mestsky urad, Obvodni urad, Obecni urad) or the local church. The application should be then submitted to this City Hall, which is authorized to keep vital statistics records or to a local church a period of time before the planned marriage (approximately 14 days before).

2)

The citizen of the U.S.A. is required to present the following documents to the local Czech local authorities:

Birth Certificateidentifying the applicant's birth date and place of birth, the name and the surname as well as the statements concerning his/her parents, e.g. an abstract of the register of births with the Apostille for use in the Czech Republic.

Document (passport) or an affidavit sworn by the U.S. citizen before U.S. Consular Officer abroad or a Notary Public in the United States with the Apostille for use in the Czech Republic certifying the citizenship of the applicant.

If widowed, the Death Certificate of the deceased spouse with the Apostille for use in the Czech Republic.

If divorced, the (court granted) final divorce decree with the Apostille for use in the Czech Republic.

Document, a testimonial or certificate (legal document) certifying the applicant's capacity to marry and certifying that no legal impediment exists, e.g. such a certificate must clearly certify that, pursuant to the provisions of the respective State legislature, no decisions are being appealed and no impediments exist against entering into a legitimate marriage with a Czech national. (Proving he/she is free to marry.) These documents are required in order to guarantee that the marriage entered into, in the Czech Republic, will be recognized by law even in the foreign applicant's native country.

Such Certificate can be issued by the Department of Health in the State where the applicant lives and/or by similar authority usually issuing such documents with the Apostille for use in the Czech Republic. Submittion of this document can be waived by the decision of the respective Mestsky urad, Obvodni urad or Obecni urad.

Document or an affidavit sworn by the U.S. citizen before U.S. Consular Officer abroad or a Notary Public in the United States with the Apostille for use in the Czech Republic confirming permanent residence (permanent address) of the applicant .

Document or affidavit sworn by the U.S. citizen before U.S. Consular Officer abroad or a Notary Public in the United States with the Apostille for use in the Czech Republic confirming the marital status (single, divorced, separated) of the applicant.

3)

If the American bride or groom does not yet speak Czech, the wedding ceremony and procedure must be attended and interpreted by a professional interpreter.

4)

It is beneficial to find out from any local office of the United States Immigration and Naturalization Service about legal requirements if the foreign new spouse plans to immigrate to the United States after the marriage.

NOTE: Effective March 16, 1999 the Czech Republic joined the Convention Abolishing the Requirement of Legalization for Foreign Public Documents (1961 Hague Convention). From this date, the Embassy and the Consulates of the Czech Republic in the U.S.A. will not provide the legalization of U.S. documents. These documents will only need certification with the Apostille. With certification by the Hague Convention Apostille, the U.S. documents are entitled to recognition in the Czech Republic and no legalization by the Czech Embassy or Consulate is required.

All the documents must be certified by the respective authority abroad with the Apostille for use in the Czech Republic. Please note that each document must be presented to the local authorities in the Czech Republic and translated into the Czech language. ( The translations must be officially authorized.) The Czech Embassy does not provide translations. However, the Embassy can verify the translation submitted to the Embassy along with the documents and attach it to the document. The verification fee for each translated page is currently 14.00 US, payable by Money Order, Cashier's Check, Certified Check or cash. The Embassy does not accept personal or company checks. If you are not able to translate the document, we can provide a list of translators and interpreters. Note that the translation may be performed and verified in the Czech Republic by a certified translator as well. The list of authorized interpreters is available at every notary's office and at the court.

Note: Each of the City Halls in the Czech Republic might have some specific requirement for foreign citizens wishing to enter into marriage in the Czech Republic. The Czech Embassy therefore strongly recommends the young couple to contact the local City Hall and find out if anything else is required.

For your information a copy of the document provided by the District Office of the Old Town City Hall in Prague is also enclosed.

The procedure of wedding ceremony arrangement at the Old Town City Hall ( by the District Office in Prague 1, Vodickova 18)

1)

At the Old Town City Hall you must settle a fixed date of the wedding ceremony. Simultaneously you will receive an application form to enter into marriage together with a bill to pay in the amount of Kc 2000,- representing the corresponding wedding fee.

2)

The completed application form together with the receipt of payment and documents required to enter into a marriage in the Czech Republic must be handed over at the District Office in Prague 1, Vodickova 18, at least 14 days before the wedding date. On a visit to the District Office you must bring your own passport as well as your betrothed's documents.

3)

You must arrive for the wedding ceremony at least 15 minutes before the predetermined time. You must have an authorized official interpreter and two witnesses at your disposal. The list of authorized interpreters is available at every notary's office and at the court.

We would like to wish you good luck in satisfying all of the requirements and we look forward to your visit on your wedding day.

Information prepared by the District Office in Prague 1; Vodickova 18; P r a h a 1

 tel. 420/2/210 97 111 fax. 420/2/242 16 088