Marriage & Civil Partnership Abroad
If you are an Irish Citizen resident in Luxembourg and are planning to get married or to enter into a civil partnership (same sex only) in Luxembourg, you should contact your local "Administration Communale" who can provide you with a list of documents which you will have to submit several months prior to your marriage.
Among these documents is a "Certificat de Coutume" which can be issued at the Embassy of Ireland in Luxembourg and which will state that you are free to marry/enter into a civil partnership.
You should expect to receive your “Certificat de Coutume” within 8 weeks of the date of marriage/civil partnership if submitted within the correct timeframe.
The Embassy can also issue a "Certificat de Célibat" to Irish citizens who wish to enter into a Pacte Civil de Solidarité, commonly known as a PACS, in Luxembourg. More information can be found under the PACS section below.
Following the introduction of the Marriages Act 2015, you should note that with effect from 16 May 2016, civil partnerships or civil unions from outside the jurisdiction will no longer be recognised in Ireland. Civil Partnerships entered into before 16 May 2016 in another jurisdiction (under Section 5 of the Civil Partnership and Certain Rights and Obligations of Cohabitants Act 2010) will be recognised as civil partnerships in Ireland.
Please note we have now moved to online payments for applications for a “Certificat de Coutume”. Please have your debit/credit card details and the required supporting documents ready before you begin your application. Further information can be found under the Supporting Documents section below.
Online questionnaire
To apply for a Certificate of Freedom to Marry, you must complete an online questionnaire about yourself and your upcoming marriage.
Statutory Declaration
Based on this questionnaire, you’ll be presented with one or more Statutory Declarations to complete and a checklist of supporting documentation you'll need to submit with your application.
You need to:
- Print and sign your questionnaire
- Print out a copy of each Statutory Declaration
- Print out your checklist
- Make the online payment
- Complete the Declarations and have them witnessed
- Post them to us with your supporting documentation and signed questionnaire.
Remember...
Print off or save each form right after your online questionnaire, as you won't be able to retrieve them later.
When to apply
Submit your application at least four months before the date of your marriage. Your witnessed statutory declaration(s) cannot be dated more than six months before the date we receive your application.
Remember...
Your application is not complete until we get hard copies of your questionnaire, statutory declaration(s), and all supporting documentation.
Your checklist will tell you exactly what supporting documentation you'll need for your application, which may include:
- Your original long-form birth certificate
- A court order, if you are under 18 years
- Marriage and Death certificate of your previous spouse, if widowed
- Petition and final decree of your divorce, if divorced
- A photocopy of your current Irish passport
- Your original naturalisation certification, if naturalised
Translating your documents
You'll need to submit certified translations of any of these documents, if the originals are in a language other than English or Irish.
Getting replacement documents
We need original documents (except for the photocopy of your passport) to process your application.
Getting your documents back
We will return all your original documents to you after we inspect them.
Remember...
If you haven't included all the necessary documents, your application will be returned to you.
Who can be a witness?
- A notary public
- A diplomat at the Embassy of Ireland in Luxembourg
If you wish the Embassy to witness your declaration kindly contact us so that we can arrange an appointment for you with a diplomatic officer.
Embassy contact details:
Telephone: (+352) 450610-1
Your witness must:
- Know you personally
- Know a third party personally who can identify you
- Be able to verify your identity through your official documents (e.g. a passport)
- Provide a business contact number, address, and stamp
Your witness needs to:
- Witness you completing and signing your Statutory Declaration(s)
- Complete and sign the relevant part of your Statutory Declaration(s)
Remember...
It's against the law to make a Statutory Declaration that you know is false or misleading in any way.
The Embassy can issue a "Certificat de Célibat" to Irish citizens who wish to enter into a Pacte Civil de Solidarité, commonly known as a PACS, in Luxembourg.
In all cases, the following documents are required for each Irish person:
Statutory Declaration:
- If you have never been married or in a civil union please fill in form MP2S
- If you were divorced in Ireland please fill in form MP2E
- If you were divorced abroad or in a previous civil union please fill in form MP2B
Original or certified copy of long form birth certificate
Copy of current valid Irish passport
Fee of €60 Euro payable in advance to the following account:
DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS IRELAND, LUXEMBOURG
IBAN LU16 0030 1825 7358 1000
Please enter “PACS” and your full name in the reference field so that we can identify your payment.
If you ever entered into a marriage/partnership or civil union previously, evidence that you subsequently became free to contract another marriage/partnership/civil union must be provided (e.g. final decree of divorce/dissolution or death certificate of a previous spouse/partner). Should any of your supporting documents be in a language other than Irish or English, please ensure that these papers are accompanied by a certified translation.
The statutory declaration form must be completed in person either at the Embassy or before a notary in Luxembourg.
If you wish to have your form witnessed at the Embassy, please contact us for an appointment. If you choose to have your statutory declaration witnessed at the Embassy, there is an additional €40 fee for this service. For your appointment at the Embassy, you should bring your current valid passport with you at your appointment time (not a photocopy).
If you choose to complete the statutory declaration with a notaire and post your application to the Embassy, we strongly recommend that you use registered mail or a reputable courier service. The Embassy cannot be held responsible for applications or documents lost in transit.
If the documents are found to be in order you should expect to receive your “Certificat de Célibat” within 8 weeks.
If you wish to have your “Certificat de Célibat” and your documents returned by registered post, please enclose a self-addressed and sufficiently stamped A4 envelope.
Certificate of Freedom to Marry (Certificat de Coutume/Nulla Osta)
Per Irish applicant: €60
Non-refundable postage fee: €6
Total per Irish applicant: €66
Late fee
If you submit your application 28 days or less before the date of your intended marriage/civil partnership you’ll have to pay an additional fee of €60 per Irish applicant.
Payment methods
Payment is made online as part of the application process.
Send your completed application to:
Embassy of Ireland
Consular Section
28, route d’Arlon
L-1140 Luxembourg
To lodge your application in person to the Embassy you will have to fix an appointment.
Embassy contact details:
Telephone: (+352) 450610-1