The Marriage Preparation Programme (MPP) Explained

If you are planning a civil marriage in Singapore, you will almost certainly come across the Marriage Preparation Programme (MPP) — sometimes written MPrep — in the Registry of Marriages (ROM) checklist. For most couples it is a recommendation, not a rule. It becomes a genuine legal requirement in one situation: when at least one of you is under 21 and a Singapore Citizen or Permanent Resident. This guide sets out exactly when you must do it, what it involves, how long it takes and what it costs.

For the full civil registration process, start with our complete ROM guide; this page zooms in on the preparation programme alone.

Compulsory or just encouraged?

The Registry’s own overview is blunt on this point: a marriage preparation programme is “highly encouraged for couples aged over 21; compulsory for couples aged under 21.” In other words, the age of the couple decides whether the programme is optional or mandatory.

When the Marriage Preparation Programme is mandatory versus optional.

• If both of you are 21 or older, you are strongly encouraged to attend, but it is not a condition of getting married.
• If either of you is under 21, and at least one party is a citizen or PR, completing the programme is mandatory before you can lodge your marriage application.

The requirement has a statutory basis. Section 17A of the Women’s Charter provides that a person within the prescribed class “shall not be issued with a marriage licence… unless the person satisfies the Registrar… that the person, together with the other party to the proposed marriage, have attended and completed a marriage preparation programme.” Put plainly: for couples who fall within the rule, no completed programme means no licence.

Under-21 couples: a required step

If one or both of you is aged 18 to below 21, two things are required before you can marry: your parents’ or legal guardians’ consent, and — where at least one of you is a citizen or PR — a Marriage Preparation Programme run by an MSF-approved organisation. ROM states you “must complete the programme before submitting the marriage application and bring along the certificate of attendance when they come to ROM for their Verification of documents and Declaration (V/D).”

A few details matter here:

• Age is assessed on the day of solemnisation, not the day you apply. If you will still be under 21 on your wedding date, the rule applies.
• The mandatory version is customised for minor couples and includes premarital consultation and marriage education workshops. Parents are highly encouraged to attend their own parent workshops to support the couple.
• This programme for under-21 couples has been a requirement since 22 October 2018 and is delivered through MSF’s appointed providers (the INSPIRASI hubs handle Muslim minor couples).

Note that being under 21 is not the same as being under 18. A couple aged 19 and 22 need consent and the preparation programme, but they do not need a Special Marriage Licence — that is a separate, slower process reserved for genuine minors below 18, which we cover in the Special Marriage Licence guide.

If you are both 21 or older

For the vast majority of couples — both parties 21 or over — the programme is encouraged but entirely voluntary. MSF frames it as a way to “build a strong marriage foundation,” and you can attend it either before or after you submit your marriage application. There is no certificate to hand ROM and no effect on your licence.

Because it is optional for you, it is also worth treating as what it is: a practical relationship course rather than a box to tick. MSF says couples “will learn skills such as communication, conflict resolution and financial planning,” and can be referred to community agencies if they need further support.

What the programme covers

The content is more substantial than many couples expect. The flagship Marriage Preparation Programme (MPrep) is built around core modules that include:

• Family of Origin
• Communication and Conflict Resolution
• Sexual Intimacy
• Family Planning and Fertility Awareness
• Financial Planning
• Role Relationship and Expectations
• In-law Relationship

The related PREP (Prevention and Relationship Education Programme) is an evidence-based workshop focused on communication, conflict resolution, commitment, friendship and problem-solving. Both aim to give couples concrete tools rather than general advice.

How long it takes and the formats

There is no single format — you choose the one that fits your schedule:

• PREP is typically an interactive 12-hour workshop run over a weekend (two days).
• ePREP is an online version of PREP: six self-paced, self-learning sections you complete at your own pace.
• Prepare/Enrich (P/E) is a customised couple assessment delivered over a few sessions with a certified facilitator.

If you are a busy working couple, the self-paced online route removes the scheduling headache; if you would value facilitated discussion, the in-person workshop is the better fit.

What it costs and the MSF rebate

This is where couples get confused, so here is the breakdown as of October 2026:

Representative programme costs and the MSF rebate.

• Free options: ePREP (the online version) and Prepare/Enrich are complimentary. For under-21 couples, the mandatory programme is provided free.
• Paid options with a rebate: PREP costs roughly S$350 to S$420 per couple before rebate; MSF gives a S$140 rebate on completion of the 12-hour PREP workshop. Community MPrep programmes run by approved Social Service Agencies range more widely — about S$130 to S$680 — with a S$70 rebate.

Where to sign up

For the voluntary programme, you register directly with an MSF-approved provider. MSF’s own list of PREP providers includes Cornerstone Community Services, Careworks Community Services, Family Central (a Fei Yue service), Morning Star Community Services and TOUCH Community Services, among others. A wider set of approved Social Service Agencies run community MPrep programmes.

For the mandatory under-21 programme, your case is handled through MSF’s appointed agencies, and ROM will direct you to the right provider when your application flags that a party is a minor. Keep the certificate of attendance safe — you need the physical proof at your V/D appointment.

When to do it in your timeline

• Under-21 couples: complete the programme first, before you lodge the Notice of Marriage, and carry the certificate to your V/D appointment.
• Everyone else: attend whenever suits you — some couples do it while engaged, others in the first year of marriage (the programmes are open to newly-weds within two years). It has no bearing on your fee or filing window.

Muslim couples do a different programme

If both of you are Muslim and marrying under the Registry of Muslim Marriages (ROMM), the civil MPP described here does not apply. Instead there is a socio-religious preparation track — for example Cinta Abadi (CA Prep), a programme for first-marriage Muslim couples supported by MSF, MUIS and ROMM. The structure and the mandatory-for-minors principle are similar, but the content and providers differ. Our ROMM marriage guide covers that pathway.

Foreign-spouse couples

Couples where one partner is a foreigner may separately encounter the Pre-Marriage Long-Term Visit Pass Assessment (PMLA), which helps assess the foreign spouse’s eligibility for a Long-Term Visit Pass. The PMLA is not the Marriage Preparation Programme — it is a distinct ICA/MSF process — though both are “before you marry” steps. Check the official PMLA material for that, and see getting married as a foreigner for the wider picture.

FAQ

Is the Marriage Preparation Programme compulsory for everyone? No. It is compulsory only when at least one party is under 21 (and a citizen or PR). For couples who are both 21 or older it is encouraged but voluntary.

Is it free? The online ePREP and Prepare/Enrich options are complimentary, and the mandatory under-21 programme is provided free. The in-person PREP workshop is paid (around S$350–S$420) but attracts a S$140 MSF rebate for eligible couples.

When do we have to finish it? Under-21 couples must complete it before lodging the marriage application and bring the certificate to the verification appointment. Everyone else can do it before or after applying.

Does it replace the marriage licence or any fee? No. It is a separate step; the licence fee (S$42 for most local couples) is unchanged.

Where to go next

• ROM Singapore: the complete registration guide
• Special Marriage Licence explained
• Check your ROM fee and filing window
• A 12-month wedding planning timeline