Singapore is a popular place to tie the knot: it is safe, efficient and well connected, and many couples who met here as expats or students want to marry where they built their life together. The good news is that foreigners getting married in Singapore can do so through the Registry of Marriages (ROM) even if neither partner is a Singapore citizen or permanent resident. There are a few extra things to plan for, though, especially the residency requirement and making sure your marriage is recognised back home.
This guide focuses on that situation. For the general process that applies to everyone, see our guide to getting married in Singapore. Everything here is general information, not legal advice. Requirements can change, so always confirm the current rules on the ROM website and with your own country’s embassy before you book anything.
Can Two Foreigners Marry in Singapore?
Yes. The ROM handles civil marriages under Singapore’s Women’s Charter for couples of any nationality, as long as both parties meet the legal requirements. Broadly, these include being of the minimum marriageable age (with parental consent required for those under 21), not being already married, and not being closely related within the prohibited degrees. Marriages registered through the ROM are monogamous civil marriages.
Muslim marriages, where both parties are Muslim, are handled separately by the Registry of Muslim Marriages (ROMM). If that applies to you, check ROMM’s own requirements.
A marriage in Singapore does not give either of you any immigration status here. Your right to stay still depends on your own passes, such as an Employment Pass, S Pass, Student’s Pass or Dependant’s Pass. If one of you holds a work pass and wants the other to stay as a dependant after the wedding, check the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) website for the current eligibility rules for a Dependant’s Pass or Long-Term Visit Pass.
The Residency Requirement Explained
This is the rule that catches many foreign couples. The ROM requires at least one of you to have been staying in Singapore for a continuous period before you file your notice of marriage. Under the rules as commonly published, either party must have been in Singapore for at least 15 days immediately before the date of filing the notice.
What this means in practice:
- If one of you already lives and works here, this is usually straightforward.
- If you are both flying in for a destination wedding, at least one of you needs to arrive early enough to meet the residency period before filing, then wait for the notice period before the solemnisation.
- Travel out of Singapore during the qualifying period may affect whether the stay counts as continuous. Check with the ROM before making plans.
You will be asked to make a statutory declaration about residency and other facts, so make sure your travel dates support what you declare. Check the ROM’s current wording, because the exact rule is what counts.
Timeline From Notice to Solemnisation
Couples generally file the notice of marriage online through the ROM’s portal. Once the notice is filed, there is a waiting period before the marriage can be solemnised, and the notice is valid only for a limited time. The ROM has commonly set this window at between 21 days and three months from the date of filing, but confirm the current period when you apply.
| Stage | What happens | What to prepare |
|---|---|---|
| Before filing | At least one party meets the residency period | Passports, proof of entry and stay dates |
| Filing the notice | Notice submitted online and fee paid | Personal details, marital status documents |
| Verification | Both parties attend to verify documents and declare | Original documents and translations |
| Solemnisation | Ceremony at the ROM or an approved venue | Two witnesses, rings if you wish, ID |
The fee depends on where the solemnisation takes place, such as at the ROM building or at another venue with a licensed solemniser. Check the ROM’s fee schedule for current amounts.
Documents Foreign Couples Usually Need
Exact requirements depend on your circumstances, but expect to prepare the following:
- Valid passports for both parties.
- Proof of marital status if you have been married before, such as a divorce certificate or the death certificate of a former spouse.
- Proof of your stay in Singapore if asked, such as your pass or entry records.
- Official translations of any documents not in English.
- Details of two witnesses, who must be at least 21 years old and bring their own identification on the day.
- Parental consent if either of you is under 21.
Some home countries also issue a certificate of no impediment, sometimes called a single status certificate, to show you are free to marry. Even if the ROM does not ask for it, your home country might need it later when you register the marriage there, so ask your embassy early.
Getting Your Marriage Recognised Back Home
This is the part most couples overlook. A Singapore marriage certificate is legal here, but your home country may need extra steps before it treats you as married.
- Apostille. Singapore is a party to the Apostille Convention. If your country is also a party, an apostille on the marriage certificate is often enough for it to be accepted abroad. In Singapore, apostilles are issued by the Singapore Academy of Law (SAL).
- Legalisation. If your country is not part of the Apostille Convention, you may need the document authenticated in Singapore and then legalised by your country’s embassy or consulate here.
- Home registration. Some countries require citizens to register a foreign marriage with the embassy or with an authority back home within a certain time.
- Translation. Your home authorities may require an official translation of the certificate into your national language.
Each country has its own rules, and they change. Contact your embassy in Singapore well before the wedding. If one of you is from mainland China, our guide on getting married at the ROM as a Chinese national covers the extra points for PRC citizens.
Practical Tips for a Smooth Process
- Start with your embassies. Find out what your home countries need before you file the notice.
- Build the calendar backwards from your preferred wedding date, allowing for residency, the notice period and any document translation.
- Order several certified copies of documents you will need at home.
- Choose witnesses who will definitely be in Singapore on the day, and have a backup.
- Think about name changes. Singapore does not require you to change your name; if you plan to, check how your home country and passport authority handle it.
- Update your records afterwards, such as your employer’s HR, insurance nominations and, if relevant, any pass applications with MOM.
With some planning, getting married in Singapore as two foreigners is very manageable. Settle the residency rule and home-country recognition early, and the day itself can be as simple or celebratory as you like. Once married, our guide to adjusting to married life in Singapore has ideas for the next chapter.
Official sources: Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF)