MARRIAGE IN SINGAPORE

The Singapore Consulate-General is not authorised to perform marriages.

A Singaporean who is desirous of marrying a work permit/ex-work permit holder is required to seek the prior approval of the Controller of Work Permits before contracting marriage in Singapore or elsewhere. If approval is granted, the couple can then call personally at the Singapore Registry of Marriages with their identity card/passport, birth certificate and the approval letter to file the required 21 day notice of marriage. Solemnization of the marriage can be effected after the expiration of 21 days but before the expiration of 3 months from the date of the notice of marriage. Please contact the Marriage Screening Section, Ministry of Manpower 18 Havelock Road Singapore 059764. Tel: 6539 5321 on the procedure for applying for approval to marry a work permit/ex-work permit holder and whether there is a need for approval if you do not intend to reside in Singapore.

All valid marriages contracted/solemnised outside Singapore and registered in accordance with the law of the place in which the marriages were contracted/celebrated are recognised by our Government for all purposes of the Law of Singapore unless there are reasons to doubt the particular marriage was not validly contacted. In such cases, the Court of Law is the final arbiter as to whether the marriage is recognised by the Singapore Law. Please visit the Registry of Marriages website for other details on marriages. There is no provision in the Women's Charter (Chapter 353) to empower the Registrar of Marriages to re-register a marriage contracted and already registered outside Singapore.

The registration of marriage between a non-Singaporean and a Singapore citizen or Singapore permanent resident does not automatically accord the non-Singaporean spouse the right of permanent residence in Singapore.

The Singapore Registry of Marriages does not issue a Certificate of No Impediment. However, a Singaporean may apply to ROM and obtain a Marital Status Search Result.

Singaporeans who are overseas may apply for the Search Results by correspondence or ask a friend or relative in Singapore to obtain the search result from a search machine located at the Registry of Marriages. For more details, please visit the Registry of Marriages' Homepage.

If you like further information on marriage related matters, you may write or fax to:

Registry of Marriages
7 Canning Rise
Singapore 179869
Tel : 1800-337 5339 (toll free), (65) 6339 8783, 6338 7808, 6338 9987
Fax : (65)6339 3328
Homepage: http://www.rom.gov.sg