Documents You Need to Register a Marriage in Singapore

Getting the paperwork right is the part of registering a marriage in Singapore that quietly trips couples up. The core list is short, but what you add to it depends on your situation — whether either of you was married before, whether one of you is a foreigner, and whether any document is in another language. Here is the full picture, scenario by scenario, so nothing surprises you at the counter.

This guide is for a civil marriage through the Registry of Marriages (ROM). For the end-to-end process, see our complete ROM guide; for the Muslim marriage route, the ROMM guide.

The core documents every couple needs

To submit the marriage application on the Our Marriage Journey portal, and later to have your documents verified, every couple needs:

Card listing the core documents for a Singapore civil marriage: NRIC or passport for both parties, NRIC or passport for the two witnesses aged over 21, divorce or death certificate if previously married, and card or NETS payment

The documents every couple prepares. Source: Our Marriage Journey (Registry of Marriages), as of October 2026.

Both the bride’s and groom’s NRIC (Singapore Citizens or PRs) or passport (foreigners).
The two witnesses’ NRIC or passport — witnesses must be above 21 years old.
If applicable, the final divorce paper or the death certificate of a late spouse.
Payment: credit/debit card or eNETS QR online, or NETS if you file at an ROM e-kiosk.

The application must be submitted by both the bride and groom together. After you submit, log in to the portal to see your Verification of Documents and Declaration (V/D) appointment and the exact list of documents to bring for your case.

If you were married before

A previous marriage must be legally dissolved before you can marry again, and you must prove it. Bring the court document that ended the earlier marriage:

The Certificate of Decree Nisi Absolute or the Certificate of Making Interim Judgement Final (the finalised divorce order issued by the court); or
The death certificate of your late spouse, if widowed.

Divorcees who remarry also have to declare whether they have any existing maintenance orders and whether payments are up to date or in arrears. If your name changed along the way, keep the relevant deed poll handy too.

Extra documents for foreigners

If one or both of you is not a Singapore Citizen or PR, you add documents on top of the core list. The portal generates the precise set for your nationalities, but the common additions are:

The foreigner’s valid passport (in place of an NRIC), plus any work or immigration pass.
A Ministry of Manpower (MOM) approval letter if you or your partner is a current or former Work Permit holder (including a Training Work Permit) marrying a Singapore Citizen or PR — this must be obtained before filing.
No-impediment / marital-status documentation from your home authority where both of you are non-resident foreigners.

Also remember the 31-day residency rule: where either party is a foreigner, at least one of you must have been physically present in Singapore for 31 continuous days (excluding the arrival day) before the application. The full set of foreigner requirements is in our foreigner marriage guide.

Translation and certification rules

Any document not in English must come with a proper English translation — and “proper” has a specific meaning. Acceptable translations come from:

the embassy of the country that issued the document;
a notary public (in Singapore or the issuing country); or
a certified translator in Singapore.

A privately-made translation generally needs to be attested by an embassy or notarised. This is the standard both ICA and ROM apply, so a casual self-translation will be turned away.

When documents are checked

There are two paths, and which one you get decides whether anyone inspects your documents in person:

Card comparing eligibility for online declaration against the in-person document check at ROM

Who checks your documents, and when. Source: Registry of Marriages overview, as of October 2026.

Online declaration (no appointment) — open only to couples who are both 21 or older, in a first marriage for both, with a solemnisation date at least 21 days after the application, applying jointly with both Singpass.
In-person V/D appointment at ROM — for everyone else, including couples with foreign documents or a previous marriage. Upload your documents before the appointment for a smoother check, then bring the originals.

Changing details such as the date, venue or witnesses after you have applied costs a prescribed S$25 fee (up to five days before your appointment), so get names and particulars right the first time — including your witnesses.

If you married overseas

Already married abroad? You do not submit a fresh marriage application — your overseas certificate is already recognised. If you choose to register that marriage with ROM for a Singapore certificate, the document set is different: the original overseas certificate, an endorsed copy and endorsed English translation (via an Apostille / foreign MFA plus the Singapore Embassy, or that country’s embassy in Singapore), plus your IDs and any MOM approval. The full walkthrough is in registering an overseas marriage.

Documents for a Muslim marriage (ROMM)

A Muslim marriage is registered with the Registry of Muslim Marriages (ROMM), and the document list reflects the solemnisation’s requirements. In original, you typically bring:

Valid NRIC or passport of the groom, the bride, and the bride’s Wali;
a deed poll if a name differs from the NRIC, and proof of adoption if adopted;
a court-issued divorce certificate if divorced, or the death and marriage certificate of a deceased spouse if widowed;
for a non-SC/PR spouse, a letter confirming marital status from the home authority and an MOM approval letter for a work pass holder.

As with civil marriages, any document not in English or Malay must carry a certified English translation. See the ROMM guide for the Wali, solemnisation and timing details.

What you get as proof

Once your solemniser registers the marriage, you receive a digital certificate of marriage — a password-protected PDF emailed to you — and that digital certificate is the official legal proof of your marriage. For Singapore Citizens and PRs, your marital status on Singpass updates after registration, so you usually will not need to show the certificate for routine government transactions.

FAQ

How old must witnesses be? Above 21. Bring their NRIC (citizens/PRs) or passport (foreigners); they must attend and sign.

Do both of us need to submit the application? Yes — the application is made jointly by the bride and groom.

My divorce was years ago. Do I still need to show it? Yes. Bring the final order (Decree Nisi Absolute or Certificate of Making Interim Judgement Final) to prove the earlier marriage is dissolved.

Is a photocopy of my passport enough? No. ROM works from originals or certified true copies; bring originals to your appointment.

Who can translate a foreign document? An embassy, a notary public, or a certified translator — a self-made translation is not accepted unless attested.