Did you marry your Filipina lady in Australia?
Do you know that you need to REGISTER YOUR MARRIAGE at the Philippines Embassy in Canberra?
This is fairly easy, but it’s something you definitely need to do. Doing this means that the details of your marriage will be sent to Manila and will be entered in the registry at the National Statistics Office (NSO). Later you will be able to get a marriage certificate from the NSO of your Australian marriage!
Why do you need an NSO marriage certificate?
Sounds a bit odd, right? If you marry in the Philippines, you don’t need to register this marriage back in Australia. There is no provision and no need for this. Australia recognises your overseas marriage as being perfectly valid. So why on earth would you need to register your Australian marriage in the Philippines?
Easy answer to that. The CFO. The Commission for Filipinos Overseas!
Down Under Visa partner visa clients are all aware that they need to attend the CFO pre-departure orientation seminar before they can travel to Australia after the visa is issued. And you are probably all aware that the CFO is a fairly autonomous organisation that doesn’t appear answerable to anybody. And if you don’t supply what they ask for, the Filipina applicant won’t get her certificate and therefore won’t get a sticker in her passport allowing her to travel to Australia after the visa is granted.
Well, the CFO doesn’t recognise Australian marriage certificates issued by Births, Deaths and Marriages in your state! If you present your Aussie certificate, they won’t accept it!
And arguing with them is not only pointless, it’s really not a good idea. So get yourselves organised beforehand.
Other reasons to register?
Yes. If the visa holder wants to change or update their passport in their married name, you need to register your marriage too!
How do we register our Australian marriage with NSO?
Easy, as long as you do so in plenty of time. Don’t try to do so after the CFO have sent you home. You need to do this back in Australia after you get your marriage certificate from Births, Deaths and Marriages (B.D. & M.). How long does it take? Honestly, no idea. However we’ve never known anyone to have a problem if they do so as soon as they can, then by the time you need your marriage certificate it won’t take you any time at all.
Go to the Philippines Embassy in Canberra page by clicking HERE and follow the directions.
Australian Partner Visas and New Families (ie babies arriving soon)
Down Under Visa – 2024 Christmas Vacation Dates
Registered Relationship Certificate. Is it enough for a Partner Visa?
Ladies from Thailand, Vietnam or Cambodia. Who makes the best wives?
Offshore Partner Visas and Prospective Marriage Visas
Your link
http://philembassy.org.au/report-of-marriage.html doesn’t work any more.
The form is listed on this page
http://philembassy.org.au/downloadable-forms
Thanks James
If you’re married in Australia and register your marriage in Phil embassy, and change her surname in her passport to my surname – when she goes home for a visit will she still need a cfo sticker?
Yes she will
Hi. I already have a CFO sticker before I came here. I came here under Prospective Marriage Visa. Do I still need to do this? And will I be needing another CFO seminar and stuff?
Thanks!
I don’t believe so, Esther. You will need to get a stamp in your passport when the visa is granted, but unless there’s an expiry date that I don’t know about you should be OK about the seminar. When in doubt, just confirm with them.
Oh okay. I already have my stamp where you can see your immigrant number but I haven’t submitted a report of marriage to the consulate yet ? Got married last Sept. I hope it would be okay even we submit it late.
But I’m goin back Philippines this feb will there be any problem because if this report of marriage thingy?
I don’t understand what you’re asking, Esther
Hi, I am under subclass 801, I came here as tourist, got married, on temporary residency now and now waiting for permanent residency. I have reported our marriage already. What to do next?I am not aware of this CFO sticker. I have gone to Philippines multiple times and I was not asked of the CFO sticker. Do i need to do the seminar now or after I get the residency na? I am also planning to change my passport name after the permanent residency. Thank you
Sometimes they pick on people about this in Manila, and sometimes they don’t. It would be safer if you just did the seminar, and avoided being stopped.
Hello Jeff,
I was married here in Australia last April, but my initially entry was under tourist and CFO was not needed. I have reported my marriage to the registers both here in AU and in the Philippines. Next year April I’m planing to change my Passport maiden details to married, the confusion comes here.. some says I need to get CFO before I do it regardless if I have registered my marriage in PH, others said it’s ok not to have CFO when changing details of passport in AU as long as marriage is registered in NSO office. It’s been putting me in idle. I desperately need professional advice.
Hope you can help me.
Best regards
Marj
I assume you’re changing it in Australia, right? Just do it through the Philippines Embassy in Canberra.
Hi Marjorie!
May I know the process of reporting your marriage in Philippines. I just recently got married here in Australia and would like to report it asap but am clueless.
Looking forward to your reply
Just contact the Philippines Embassy in Canberra, Tina
Hi, just wondering if you married in Australia is that recognise you actually married in the Philippines as well .
Thank you,
Yes, both countries recognise each others marriages. However for something like the CFO, they want you to also register your Australian marriage in Philippines. You can do this via the Philippines Embassy in Australia.
If your married in philippines do we still need to register our marrige in Australia?
No, you don’t. There is no need nor is their any provision to do so in Australia.
Hi we got married in the Philippines and registered with nso and ribbions on the marriage certificate, is the Marriage registered in Australia or do we need to do something?
Can I get a marriage certificate from the Australian government or is it not recognised here yet?
Australia recognises Philippines marriages, Damian. Full stop. No need to register anything in Australia.
Happy New year! I have problems with what to write on my first name and middle name (I assume that this is a legal document and I don’t want to get it wrong) I have two first name and a middle name from my mom. How do I write it? Also, at the end of the form, before signatures, there is something written like swear under penalty of law, date and place, do we have to go to a police officer and witness our signing? Thank you!
What is a legal document, Hazel? I don’t understand your question.
hi jeff,
just want to ask about my situation, my wife and i got married in australia. (we are both filipino) She came here as Permanent resident and she already has this CFO thing before she came here. After few month i came to australia under tourist visa and we got married last sept. She was planning to change her status and surname as well so she asked me to research about the requirements so i cam e across this report of marriage needed to be register first. How long will it take to process it via post? granting i secure this how long will it take changing status and surname/passport renewal will take us in sydney? and when we go back to the philippines do we need to secure cfo as well before going back to australia?
You may register your marriage via the Philippines Embassy in Canberra, Dexter. And if you apply for a partner visa, at some stage you will need to attend a CFO Seminar. I don’t know your situation, so can’t give you any useful advice right now.
Hi Jeff,
I assume the CFO stamp/ sticker is only for those applying under Partner Visa?
I have a French Fiance and we are planning to get married in Perth in March. Then i go back home and change my passport.
Is there an issue with it? I currently have a tourist visa with multiple entry and im staying as a tourist.
Thanks in advance for your kind assistance
Philippines Government requirement only
Hi Jeff, I understand that Filipinos need the CFO cert/sticker for migrating, passport renewal, etc. But my Filipina wife and I are planning to apply for an 820 /801 partner visa (which is onshore) and you said CFO is a Philippines Government requirement only. Do we need the CFO certificate/sticker for applying for the visa here in Australia, is it part of the requirements? Thank you.
Regards,
David Marsh
Not for applying for the visa, David. She will need to do in on a subsequent trip back to Australia after the visa grant, though.
Hi, I am British and my wife is Filipina and we both live in Singapore. We came to Australia to get married, and she has gone back to Singapore. I have remained in Australia for an extended vacation, and to wait for the marriage certificate to arrive. Then I will sign everything and send it to Canberra before leaving Australia and going back to work.
I have some questions:
1) Do I have to attend in person, or can I send the documents to Canberra by mail?
2) I need to get her birth certificate and passport copies stamped by a notary to verify they are genuine copies (this is a requirement for the embassy). Does she need to be present at the notary, or can I just take her passport and birth certificate copies notarized on my own?
Thanks
I would suggest you speak to the marriage celebrant about this. I manage visas to Australia.
Hi Jeff
I just wanna ask if my husband (filipino)need to submit a report of marriage for renewing his philippine passport here in australia? Im a filipina too but ausie on paper. Coz for what i read in the requirement section said for (female married applicant must submit the report of marriage form )if married outside philippines
Thank you
I couldn’t tell you, sorry. Call the Philippines Embassy.
If the marriage of Filipina and Australian in the Philippines is not annulled nor divorced yet, can the husband re-marry with another woman in Australia or in any other foreign country without the wife consent? Can the husband file a petition for divorce in Australia as he resides and citizen of Australia? If the divorce is possible do the wife needs to be in Australia in filing the petition for divorce?
Thank you so much.
If anyone marries while they are still married, they will be breaking the law. And yes, a husband may apply for a divorce in Australia if he is an Australian Citizen. And no, the ex-wife does not need to be there.
Hello Jeff,
May I know if I’m supposed to post my Report of Marriage to The Philippine Embassy in Canberra or do I have to submit it in person?
Thank you in advance.
You need to contact the Philippines Embassy about that, Rina. Not something we get involved with or advise on.
Hi. Our passports will expire on February 2019. We are planning to renew our passports this September. We got married here in Australia last Augut 2017 and in the Philippines for a church wedding last December 2017. I would like to ask if I need both the report of marriage and the NSO marriage certificate for passport renewal? The embassy said I need the report of marriage if we got married in Australia OR NSO marraige certificate if we got married in the Philippines. Thank you.
I don’t know enough of what you’re doing to advise you responsibly, sorry.
Hi. Im planning to renew my passport this month, expiring this October. I havent lodged a report of marriage yet (got married in 2014) hoping i would do it when I become a citizen which I thought would be this year prior to doing the report of marriage. However, rules have changed abt citizenship application to which they added 2 yrs of waiting after becoming a permanent resident. Now im clueless whether its mandatory to do the report of marriage prior to renewing my passport or is it only if I intend to use my married name? Please advise. Thank you in advance.
You need to discuss that with the Philippines Embassy in Canberra, Christina.
When was the requirement to register Filipinos marrying outside of the Philippines introduced. We married in PNG in 1980 and the first we heard of it was today 4/9/2023. She has held Australian citizenship since 1982 and we tee never advised by the Philippines embassy in PNG it was a requirement. She has been back a couple of times on Aussie passport and never had an issue as I’m with her and won’t take crap from some twit in a uniform. Spent too long in uniform myself.
Not a requirement for an Australian visa. The Australian Government doesn’t care if it’s registered or not. It’s a requirement of the CFO (www.cfo.gov.ph) in order for the visa holder to leave the country. The visa holder will be held up in Manila….not in Moresby.
I have waited years for answers to this.. My wife was previously married in Australia, came here on Fiance visa. She then got a divorce & he filed for the divorce. We married & have three children all are recorded with the NSO. However the dinosaurs in Canberra have just told me that the report of marriage I have sent them with all 4 copies of everything , which took us a while to do is not going to be valid! The woman was rude on the phone putting the phone down for intervals thinking I did not understand what she was saying. The form clearly states for report of marriage – If previous marriage not recorded with NSO (which she does not know it was) please send in a copy of your divorce cert signed by justice of peace 4 of them! I remained calm, trying to get clear answers.. Trying to understand the new legislation of foreign divorce being accepted in the Philippines to some degree , which she did not make a comment on. She then askes me to apply for report of marriage for her previous marriage, and says she is going to send all my paperwork back! I said come on you keep that for now please. Then she keeps saying it’s all on our website how to do it.. Nope it’s not, and why can’t they be polite and send it to you by email. This is so wrong on all levels. I need our marraige recognised so we can live in Philippines.. & they don’t seem to see the importance of what I am trying to ask. Yes I probably should have sent for a CENOMAR for her. However why can’t they find the records straight away if her previous marriage was recorded.. Just shocking! Now what a corrupt laywer & $3000 USD later for an annulment?
You certainly don’t need an annulment. We have clients do this all the time without a hitch. Unfortunately I can’t suggest anything other than persistence, as this is something we never get involved in.
I just want to clarify things which i was confused what to do,I’m currently here in Australia as tourist visa 600,now were planning to get married with my Australian boyfriend before the end of this month,just asking if it is alright to marry under tourists visa?the celebrant says yes but some friend of ours its not allowed.My boyfriend told me he wants me to stay here longer,which is i need to go back in the Philippines on April 9,and my tourist visa will expire on July 10 which is a multiple entry.My boyfriend say im gonna apply for partner visa but while waiting for that granted are we gonna apply for bridging visa?
What am i supposed to do?I hope you can help me.
Thanks a lot
If a marriage celebrant says YES and your friends say NO, I think you can trust a professional. Yes, we have clients who marry in Australia on tourist visas all the time. Perfectly legal.
I assume he’s talking about an offshore partner visa? Bridging visas are not applicable to any offshore visa.
Suggest you get a free visa assessment form done, and we can explain your options.
hi, please give a piece of advice. does my Australian bf can remarry here in Philippines to marry me. He’s been married here in Philippines befor to filipina, they live in Australia but separated already 9years ago, My bf file a divorce there in Australia, does his divorce there can be recognize here in Philippines to make him clear his status here in Philippines from married to single or divorce/annulled, so he can marry me here in Philippines?
please help me some advice
thank you
God bless
It will not automatically make him eligible to marry in the Philippines. Strongly suggest he speaks with an attorney.
Hi Jeff,
I’m a Filipina currently on tourist visa here in Sydney. I will be lodging my partner visa next month. My Aussie boyfriend and I are planning to get married in September 2019 here in Sydney as well.
I just wanted to ask- how do I apply for a CFO seminar? I’m not sure what CFO sticker you guys are talking about here. Also, I have a plan of changing my last name to his on my passport.
Please correct me if I’m wrong- I need to attend a CFO seminar first? Then get married? Then get my marriage certificate and go from Sydney to PH Embassy in Canberra just to register my marriage? and then have my passport last name changed to his?
Many thanks!
Stella
The CFO is Philippines Law. It has nothing directly to do with an Australian visa application. If you had applied offshore (ie in Philippines), you would need to attend the CFO in Manila (or Cebu) before you were allowed to leave the country (after your partner visa was granted). You’re applying onshore in Australia. The CFO won’t come into it at all. However on your first trip back to Philippines after your visa is granted, you’re advised to attend the seminar then.
Can i still get a CENOMAR if i am now divorced and i did not get the marriage registered?
You can, but it will not show a divorce from outside of the Philippines
hi im permanent resident here in australia , and i applied for online citizenship but cant get through coz my passport was expired a year ago, wondering if i can renew my philippines passport without reporting my marriage certificate here in uastralia. or do i really need to report my marriage before i can renew my philippine passport. lookinf forward for some helpful advice thank you.
Hi, got married just last 9th of March 2019 and need to register my marriage in Philippine Embassy but I don’t know what other requirements im gonna bring and have it a Red Ribbon. Thanks
You need to contact the Philippines Embassy, Lanie. I can’t advise you sorry.
Hi, we were married in Australia but haven’t register yet to the Philippine Embassy. We are reapplying my tourist visa as my previous tourisr visa was expired already (visited Australia) twice. In all my Philippine documents, I’m still single, will it have an effect if I apply for a new tourist visa? If successful for my 2nd tourist visa, do I need CFO to travel to Australia?
You DO need the CFO to travel to Australia. Sorry but I can’t comment on your other documents as we’re not managing your case.