Czech Republic - Single Status Certificate

Advertisement

Procedure

Apply In Person (both Citizen & Non – Citizen)

1. To apply for Single Status Certificate, the applicant has to approach the Ministry of Foreign Affairs – link
2. The applicant has to visit the office with the request affidavit letter.
3. An application form will be provided to the applicant by the concerned officer.
4. The applicant has to fill in all the necessary details in the application form. (Incomplete applications are not accepted)
5. Make sure that the applicant has attached all the necessary documents that are mentioned in the “Required Documents” section of this page.
6. The applicant has to attach the photocopies of the required documents along with the application form while submitting.
7. Submit all the documents with the completed form to the concerned officer.
8. The applicant has to pay the fee as per the authority’s request.
9. After receiving the application, the concerned authority will check the submitted application and document set. #If all are in place, the application will be accepted.
10. Then the application will be processed further. All the updates on the application status will be sent via SMS.
11. The applicant will receive the certificate through mail or by visiting the office.
12. This entire process can be completed within 2 weeks or as per the timeline advised by the respective department authority.

Advertisement

Required Documents

• National identity card or Passport.
• Proof of address.
• If divorced, Decree Absolute.
• If widowed, Death Certificate of previous spouse (and Marriage Certificate).
• If your name has been changed by Deed Poll, proof is necessary.
• The relevant fee.

Office Locations & Contacts

Ministry of the Interior Contacts

Missions of the Czech Republic Abroad

Eligibility

Legal document certifying the applicant's capacity to marry and certifying that no legal impediment exists, (i.e. that s/he is free to marry.) These documents are required in order to guarantee that the marriage entered into in the Czech Republic will also be recognized by law in the applicant's native country. In Australia this document is called "No Impediment to Marriage Certificate" and is issued by appropriate Department of Foreign Affairs or "Single Status Certificate" which is issued by the Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages. In New Zealand the document is "Certificate of No Impediment to Marriage" that is issued by "Births, Deaths and Marriages". It is also very helpful to obtain from the same office a "Certificate of Search" that confirms the marital status (single, divorced, widowed).

Fees

Explain the fees structure which is required for obtaining the certificate/document.

Validity

Explain the time until which the certificate/document is valid.
e.g. Birth Certificate Valid Forever

Documents to Use

Please attach documents that can be used by people. e.g. links

Sample Documents

Please attach sample completed documents that would help other people.

Processing Time

Please explain processing time taken in obtaining the document/certificate.

Related Videos

Videos explaining the procedure or to fill the applications. 
Attach videos using the following tag <&video type="website">video ID|width|height<&/video&> from external websites.
Please remove the "&" inside the tags during implementation.
Website = allocine, blip, dailymotion, facebook, gametrailers, googlevideo, html5, metacafe, myspace, revver, 
sevenload, viddler, vimeo, youku, youtube
width = 560, height = 340, Video ID = Can be obtained from the URL of webpage where the video is displayed.
e.g In the following url "http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y0US7oR_t3M" Video ID is "Y0US7oR_t3M". 
	

Instructions

The issuance of this Certificate is under the purview of your country of origin. Ask at your Embassy if they can help and issue the document or if you have to travel to your country of origin to get it.

If the Certificate lacks any information mentioned above, you must have a document which proves the information (for example the confirmation of your residence, a document proving your citizenship etc.)

If you are unable to obtain the confirmation because of demonstrable and substantial difficulties you can substitute a sworn statement (affidavit) certified by a consular officer of your country of origin. In case you come from a country which does not have a consular agreement with the Czech Republic regarding mutual document recognition, the signature of the consular officer must be legalized by the Ministry of Czech Foreign Affairs.

The certificate must not be older than 6 months

If there is no record of your marital status and permanent residence in the Certificate of no impediment to marriage, you must obtain a confirmation of your marital status and residence (potvrzen o rodinnm stavu a pobytu).

The issuance of this confirmation is under the purview of your country of origin.

Enquire at your Embassy if they can help and issue the document or if you have to travel to your country of origin to get it.

The confirmation must no older than 6 months.

Required Information

• The first names and surnames of the engaged couple, their birthplaces and birthdates
• A record of your permanent address (the address of your permanent residence, it can be either in your country of origin or in the Czech Republic)
• A record of your citizenship
• A confirmation that there are no obstacles for you to enter into a marriage
• A record of your marital status (it must state: single, married or widow/er).
• The date of issue, an official stamp, the name and signature of the official who issued the document

Need for the Document

A Single Status Certificate also referred to as a No Marriage Affidavit, Certificate of Freedom to Marry or Certificate of No Impediment, is a sworn statement saying that you are eligible to marry.

Overseas marriage authorities often require further evidence that the party is free to marry. Such evidence may be a statement from the Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages that there is no record of the person having been previously married or a 'Single Status Certificate' or 'No Records Result'.

Information which might help

In order for non-nationals to marry in a foreign country you will most likely be required to produce legal documentation from your country of citizenship verifying single status and that you are free to marry. This is known as a 'Certificate of No Impediment', 'Certificate de Coutume', 'Certificate of Nulla Osta' or a 'Certificate of Freedom to Marry'.

Please also be aware that a standard Single Status Certificate or Certificate of No Impediment may be insufficient on its own to allow a marriage to take place in a foreign country. You may be required by the foreign authorities to comply with the following, so please ensure that you allow sufficient time for processing.

• Certificates may need to be translated.
• Certificates may need to be endorsed or exchanged for a locally acceptable version issued by your Embassy or Consulate in the country where you will marry.
• Certificates may need to be legalized i.e. stamped with an official stamp known as an Apostille.
• Certificates may require that witnesses swear an Affidavit stating that you are free to marry and that this is appended.

Other uses of the Document/Certificate

In order for non-nationals to marry in a foreign country you will most likely be required to produce legal documentation from your country of citizenship verifying single status and that you are free to marry. This is known as a 'Certificate of No Impediment', 'Certificate de Coutume', 'Certificate of Nulla Osta' or a 'Certificate of Freedom to Marry'.

External Links

Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Czech Republic

Useful links

Ministries and Governmental Offices

Others

Through a sworn affidavit the applicant confirms that they are who they claim to be. The Single Status Letter or Affidavit says that they are able and free to marry among other things. Bear in mind that one fact about the Single Status Affidavit is that it is not a government document; rather, it is a letter from the affiant signed in front of a notary public. An interesting fact about this type of document is that there are many names given for it. For example look at this list: "Single Status Statutory Declaration" or a "Certificate of Legal Capacity to Contract Marriage" or a "Single Status Certificate" or "Free-to-marry statement".