0 € (Beratung), 100-500 € (Übersetzungen, Apostille), 46 € (Trauung in Dortmund), 0 € (Vergleich kostenlos), 0-200 € (je nach Ort), Inklusive, 37 €, Ca. 100 €, 0 €, 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 Dortmund – 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

Consultation is MANDATORY and free
Registry office Dortmund: Friedensplatz 5 | Phone: 0231/50-13331
You get an individual checklist with all documents
Many countries don't issue marriage eligibility certificates → exemption by Hamm court needed
Turkey, Russia, Brazil and more need court exemption

Request consultation↗

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)

From home country

Certificate of no impediment(Required)

Varies by country

Marriage eligibility certificate(Optional)

Or exemption by court

Apostille or legalization(Required)

On all foreign documents

Sworn translations(Required)

By certified translators

💡 Tips

Apostille: Apply at authorities in home country
Translators in Dortmund: List at district court or justiz-dolmetscher.de
International certificates (multilingual) don't need translation
Some consulates can help

Translator database↗

Step 3

Register your marriage

You must register your marriage at the Dortmund registry office. This can be done at the earliest 6 months before the desired date.

⚠️Popular dates are often booked months in advance. Registration is valid for 6 months.

⏰ 6 months to 6 weeks before wedding💰 46 € (Trauung in Dortmund)

📄 Required Documents

ID card or passport(Required)

You already have this – must be valid. If lost: citizens' office Cologne (approx. €37)

Current birth certificate(Required)

Certified extract from birth register

Registration certificate(Required)

For residences outside Dortmund

Divorce decree(Optional)

If previously married

💡 Tips

Registry office Dortmund: Friedensplatz 5 (Altes Stadthaus)
Phone: 0231/50-13331 | Email: standesamt@stadtdo.de
Submit data online in advance possible
Both partners must appear in person
Registration valid for 6 months – exact date

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

Choose wedding venue

Dortmund offers many venues: wedding rooms in town hall, district offices or special ambient venues like Zeche Zollern or Signal Iduna Park.

⚠️Ambient venues cost extra and have their own availability.

⏰ At registration💰 0-200 € (je nach Ort)

💡 Tips

Wedding rooms: Old Town Hall, New Town Hall, district offices
Ambient venues: Zeche Zollern, Hoesch Museum, Signal Iduna Park
More: Haus Rodenberg, Kokerei Hansa, Dortmund Airport
Wedding times: Mon+Tue 1:30-4pm, Thu 2-5pm, Wed+Fri 9am-12pm
Service weddings: Fri 2-6pm, Sat 10am-6pm (outside office hours)

View wedding rooms & venues↗

Step 6

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

✓ Decide at registration↗

Step 7Only 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 at the Dortmund citizens' office.

⚠️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

Dortmund citizens' office: Book online appointment
Plan for 6 weeks processing time
Old ID remains valid until pickup
Don't forget to renew passport too

Book citizens' office appointment↗

Step 8If 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 Dortmund: Olpe 1, 44135 Dortmund
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 9

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 (higher earner gets 3)
4/4 with factor: compromise with different incomes
Change affects monthly net income

Change tax class online↗

Step 10

Inform employer

Inform your employer about the wedding – for tax class change and possibly name change in payroll.

⚠️Most employers give special leave for the wedding – don't forget to ask!

⏰ After the wedding💰 0 €

📄 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 department needs new tax class
With name change: new contract amendment

Federal Employment Agency↗

Step 11

Combine insurance policies

As a married couple, you can often combine insurance policies and save. Check liability, household contents, legal protection and car insurance.

⚠️Combined insurance can often save €100-300 per year.

⏰ After the wedding💰 Spart oft 20-30%

💡 Tips

Liability: One policy for both is enough
Household contents: Combine after moving in together
Car: Adding partner as driver can be cheaper
Life insurance: Add partner as beneficiary

Compare insurance together↗

Getting Married in Dortmund

Consultation for binational marriage

📄 Required Documents

Get foreign documents

📄 Required Documents

Register your marriage

📄 Required Documents

💍 Gemeinsame Absicherung als Paar

Choose wedding venue

Decide on name change

Apply for new ID card

📄 Required Documents

Update residence permit

📄 Required Documents

Change tax class

📄 Required Documents

Inform employer

📄 Required Documents

Combine insurance policies

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

🔗 Related Topics