What do I need to arrange if I want to marry in Peru?
If you are a Dutch national planning to marry in Peru, you will need to provide certain documents. And you may need to meet extra requirements.
Can I get married in Peru?
Ask the organisation that you want to perform the marriage in Peru if you are allowed to marry there as a Dutch national.
Same-sex couples cannot get married in Peru.
You cannot get married at the Dutch embassy.
Requirements vary by municipality
The documents you need and the rules for getting married depend on the municipality. Go to the website of the Peruvian government (information in Spanish) to see what the requirements are in the municipality where you want to marry. For more details contact the municipality.
Requirements for getting married for Dutch nationals
If you are a Dutch national and you want to marry, you must meet the following requirements:
- You and your partner must be 18 or older. If you are under 18 and you marry abroad, the Dutch authorities will not recognise your marriage until you and your partner are both 18.
- You and your partner must not already be married to or have a registered partnership with someone else.
- If you are under guardianship, you will need the permission of your guardian or of the limited jurisdiction judge (‘kantonrechter’).
- The following family members are not allowed to marry each other or enter into a registered partnership with each other: parents and children, grandparents and grandchildren, and brothers and sisters.
What documents do I need to marry in Peru?
The requirements for getting married in Peru vary by municipality. A municipality may require you to present additional documents. Go to the website of the Peruvian government (information in Spanish) to see what documents you need to get married in the municipality where you want to marry. For more details contact the municipality. In most municipalities you will need at least the following documents:
A declaration of marital status shows that you are unmarried. To get this document, you will need to submit a number of other documents.
More information about applying for a declaration of marital status
You can get an official copy of your birth certificate from the municipality where you were born. You must have the document translated and legalised.
More information about having Dutch documents legalised for use abroad
To get married in Peru you will need a valid passport. An ID card will not be accepted.
You and/or your partner must live in the district where you want to marry. You must provide proof of this. What document you can use depends on the municipality.
Ask the municipality where you want to marry how to get a medical certificate.
Is my marriage valid in the Netherlands?
Marriages performed in Peru are recognised in the Netherlands. But you must have your marriage certificate legalised.
Do I have to register my marriage in the Netherlands?
You may need to register your marriage in the Netherlands. This depends on where you live.
If you live in the Netherlands, you must register your marriage with your municipality. You will need your marriage certificate to do this. First have your marriage certificate translated and legalised.
More information about having documents from Peru legalised
If you live outside the Netherlands, you can have your marriage certificate converted into a Dutch certificate by the municipality of The Hague. This is not mandatory, but it can be useful if you ever need an extract in the future.
More information about registering a foreign marriage certificate in the Netherlands
Additional information
To get married in Peru you and your partner need 2 witnesses. These witnesses cannot be related to your or your partner. You must have known them for at least 3 years. The witnesses’ identity documents (originals and photocopies) must be presented.