The context
A very large overseas workforce, wide use of English, and one legal fact that shapes every relationship: divorce is not available to most Filipino citizens. Annulment exists, but it is slow, expensive and granted on narrow grounds.
Entering the country
Visa-free entry for many nationalities for a limited period, extendable locally. Passport validity of six months beyond stay is required.
Marrying, and having it recognised
The local civil registrar issues the licence after a ten-day public posting. A Filipino partner provides a CENOMAR — a certificate of no marriage record — and a foreign partner must obtain a certificate of legal capacity to contract marriage from their embassy; where the embassy does not issue one, an affidavit is used instead, and acceptance varies by registrar. See civil marriage in the Philippines.
Getting there
Direct flights from the Gulf and across Asia; from Europe usually one connection. Typhoon season runs roughly June to November and disrupts domestic flights.
Customs and family
The veil, the cord and the arrhae — thirteen coins — are placed by sponsors, the ninong and ninang, who take a lasting role in the couple's life. See wedding customs in the Philippines.
Points to watch
A previous marriage is not easily undone
If your partner has been married before, establish exactly what their status is before making plans. A foreign divorce may be recognised in some circumstances, but the rules are narrow and require a court recognition proceeding.
- Romance scams targeting foreign partners are a documented problem; the usual rules apply.
- Check that the embassy issues a legal capacity certificate before travelling.
Two absolute prohibitions, wherever you live
Sex tourism and any relationship with a minor are punished here as everywhere, and your own country's law follows you abroad. For sexual offences against a child, almost every state sets aside dual criminality and dispenses with any complaint: you can be prosecuted and tried at home whatever the local law says and whatever the local authorities do. See sexual offences committed abroad.
If you met online
The warning signs are the same everywhere: a very fast escalation, a systematic refusal of video, a request for money for an urgent reason, pressure to leave the platform. The rule holds here as anywhere: you do not send money to someone you have never met face to face. Someone genuine will happily take a video call, meet in a public place and introduce you to their family.
Spotting and reporting a romance scam — Philippines
Philippines: everything on this site
This country appears on 35 other pages of this site, across every section. Here they all are, in one place.
Sexuality
Health
- Assisted reproduction
- Abortion
- Alcohol and tobacco
- Contraception
- HIV and AIDS
- HPV
- Hepatitis B
- Mental health
- Pregnancy
Advice
Marriage
- Same-sex marriage
- Divorce
- Marriage
- Matrimonial property and inheritance
- Partnerships and cohabitation
- Religious ceremony
- Wedding customs and ceremonies
Names
Rights
- Adoption
- Copyright
- Data protection
- Fundamental rights
- Identity theft
- Image rights
- Online shopping
- Privacy
- Sexual offences committed abroad
- Speech and online harassment
Official sources and links
- Your own foreign ministry's travel advice — read it before each departure: it also conditions your travel insurance. Official portals: United Kingdom · United States · Canada · Australia · New Zealand · Ireland
- Your consular post there, or the one covering the country — civil status, marriage, emergencies; note the number before you go. Official directories: United Kingdom · United States · Canada · Australia · New Zealand · Ireland
- World Health Organization — health recommendations by destination
- Hague Conference on Private International Law — celebration and recognition of the validity of marriages