Getting Married at the Philippine Embassy in Abu Dhabi

My bf and I have been together for quite a long time  (almost a decade!) and after the looong parade, he finally asked me (or shall I say, effortless proposal haha) to tie our neck and have our civil marriage in the PH embassy in Abu Dhabi. 👰👦

I have been working in Abu Dhabi for less than 2 years and him, for a year already. We thought it's easier since its just a civil wed but hell no, it requires an ample patience. First, some of the requirements needed like CENOMAR and NSO birth certificate needs to be filed and collected in the PH and since we are both here in Abu Dhabi, we have to have someone as representative to get these documents for us. 

Here are the requirements (can also be found at the Philippine Embassy in Abu Dhabi : https://abudhabipe.dfa.gov.ph )

Firstly, you and your partner should get a CENOMAR and NSO birth certificate with DFA authentication (red ribbon as what we called). You can ask your relatives in the PH to obtain these documents but you have to send them your SPECIAL POWER OF ATTORNEY (SPA) copy.  

Both of you should go to the PH embassy in Abu Dhabi from Sunday to Thursday 8am-12pm then 1pm-3pm for the filing of SPA. Both appearance is a must.

After a week, you can (either one of you) claim your SPA. Send it right away to your representative in the PH along with a photo copy of your valid passports/IDs. We sent ours thru DHL courier. 

Our representative in PH is my cousin, Margie. After she received our documents, she immediately filed for our birth certificate in PSA (Philippine Statistics Authority, formerly NSO) and CENOMAR (Certificate of No Marriage) as well. Then, she went into DFA branch (ASEANA in Pasay City) and let our birth certificates and CENOMAR to be authenticated  (red ribboned). Roughly in two weeks, she was able to finish it and sent it back to us in Abu Dhabi via DHL courier again.

As for our 2 witnesses, we asked them to fill up the Joint Affidavit Form of Witness (can be downloaded at https://abudhabipe.dfa.gov.ph) plus 2 copies of their respective passports. Our witnesses are my sister and my friend. 

For Marriage Counseling, you have 2 options, either to attend at St Joseph Church in Abu Dhabi or the marriage counseling offered in Philippine Embassy itself. We opted to attend  at St Joseph Church. 

"Our parish conducts Marriage Preparation Courses regularly for couples who intend to get married within the next six months (generally every month on 2nd Thursday (7:30PM to 9:30PM) AND Friday (8:30AM - 5:00 PM with light Breakfast & Lunch provided) ( Both Days attendance is necessary) .Any  changes to these dates and times  will be announced in the Parish Notices section or contact the parish office." 

 http://www.stjosephsabudhabi.org/sacraments/#marriage

You have to register in the link (both of you) to get a slot for their MPC (Marriage Preparation Course). Baptismal certificate is also necessary but not mandatory. There is a fee of 50 AED each of the attendee.

*you can file for your marriage license already in PH embassy even if you haven't attended yet the marriage counseling course. You can pass it later on. Just talk to the staff in the civil registry section of PH embassy*

If you completed all the requirements, you can submit it to the civil registry section in PH embassy.  You and your partner should be both present. Schedule for filing of marriage license is fron Sunday to Thursday, 8 am to 12 noon and a fee of AED 100 for the marriage license. The civil registry staff will give you a slip to claim your marriage license  (will take about 2 weeks). 

If your marriage license is already available, you can get it (either you or your partner can get it, no need for both appearances) and pay for the solemnization of marriage for AED 240; also you can schedule the date of your marriage according to your preference (marriage is every Thursday only). 

... and that's it! Just wait for your BIG DAY! 

Make sure to come to PH embassy 1 hour before your designated time. During our marriage, we were scheduled at 4PM but we arrived 1 hour earlier for the verification and all. Wear your best dress, don't forget your witnesses, your flowers and set of ring and of course, your PARTNER!  Best of luck, xoxo

Our civil marriage last 2 March 2017 with our witnesses and consul.