0 € (Beratung), 100-500 € (Übersetzungen, Apostille), 68 € (Anmeldung) + 0-100 € (Trauung je nach Ort), 0 € (Vergleich kostenlos), 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 Hamburg – 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
You get an individual checklist with all documents
Many countries don't issue marriage eligibility certificates → exemption by Hamburg court needed
Brazil, Turkey, Russia and more need court exemption

Book 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 Hamburg: justiz-dolmetscher.de
International certificates (multilingual) don't need translation
Some consulates can help

Translator list Germany↗

Step 3

Register your marriage

You must register your marriage at the Hamburg registry office. This is done at the registry office of your residence – Hamburg has 7 registry offices in every district.

⚠️Popular dates (special numbers, summer) are often booked months in advance.

⏰ 6 months to 6 weeks before wedding💰 68 € (Anmeldung) + 0-100 € (Trauung je nach Ort)

📄 Required Documents

ID card or passport(Required)

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

Extended registration certificate(Required)

Not older than 4 weeks

Current birth certificate(Required)

Not older than 6 months

Divorce decree(Optional)

If previously married

Death certificate(Optional)

If widowed

💡 Tips

7 registry offices: Mitte, Nord, Altona, Wandsbek, Harburg, Bergedorf, Eimsbüttel
Registration often contactless via email
Wedding at residence registry office is free
Special locations: Alster steamer, City Hall, Speicherstadt
Registration possible 6 months before wedding

Hamburg Registry Office - Marriage↗

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

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

Info on name change↗

Step 6Only 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.

⚠️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

Book online at hamburg.de/go/17584 or call 115
Mon-Fri 7am-7pm WITH appointment only
Speed Capture terminals for biometric data available
New ID card: 37 €, Passport: 70 €

Appointment Hamburg Customer Center↗

Step 7If 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

Hamburg Welcome Center: Hotline 040 428 39-5500
Online application via Hamburg Service Portal
Upload documents digitally in advance
Fiction certificate possible for long waiting times
Checklists at welcome.hamburg.de

Apply for Hamburg residence permit↗

Step 8

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 9

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 10

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 Hamburg

Consultation for binational marriage

📄 Required Documents

Get foreign documents

📄 Required Documents

Register your marriage

📄 Required Documents

💍 Gemeinsame Absicherung als Paar

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