So I am a Canadian citizen who is getting married to a Cambodian citizen in January of 2019, I am so confused on what the process is for obtaining a marriage certificate, maybe someone here can help?
From my understanding I need to get a statement in leui of certificate of non inpendment of marriage abroad from Canada before my wedding, I am going back to Cambodia for a month in August, is this to soon to bring this paper as my government is saying that it is only valid for 3 months. I also need a criminal record check and a letter from my employer stating my position and proof of 2500usd or more. Am I missing something, or do I have something incorrect?
Now the second part of my question is I have read that I have to be in Cambodia for 31 days before date of wedding, but my fiancé family is saying I don’t, is there any clarification from anyone who has gone through this recently.
I hope to receive some insight, because it is quite confusing at times, thanks in advance
Cody
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It's 2500 a month in earnings, not just having 2500Cody0818 wrote:So I am a Canadian citizen who is getting married to a Cambodian citizen in January of 2019, I am so confused on what the process is for obtaining a marriage certificate, maybe someone here can help?
From my understanding I need to get a statement in leui of certificate of non inpendment of marriage abroad from Canada before my wedding, I am going back to Cambodia for a month in August, is this to soon to bring this paper as my government is saying that it is only valid for 3 months. I also need a criminal record check and a letter from my employer stating my position and proof of 2500usd or more. Am I missing something, or do I have something incorrect?
Now the second part of my question is I have read that I have to be in Cambodia for 31 days before date of wedding, but my fiancé family is saying I don’t, is there any clarification from anyone who has gone through this recently.
I hope to receive some insight, because it is quite confusing at times, thanks in advance
Cody
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^once again Gavinmac shatters the day, dreams and hopes of someone. .... A good day for Gavinmac, a bad day for the OP.
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For those interested legally marrying your Cambodian partner in Cambodia...
First of all, you will need to go to the MoFAIC in Phnom Penh and meet and speak to Mr Ung Vantha in the Legal & Consular Department, this man will give you the application forms and lists of required documents, he will not accept any money. Do not deal with anyone else, as they will all ask for ridiculous sums of money. Mr. Ung Vantha's (MoFA) phone number, 016608586.
You will need to present the following to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs;
1. "Application for foreigner to marry Khmer citizen" (provided by MoFAIC)
2. Certificate of non-impediment/single status/divorce certificate (if applicable)/ex-spouses death certificate (if applicable) No older than 3 months from date of issue
3. Criminal record check from your country of citizenship. No older than 3 months from date of issue.
4. Passport with valid 6 or 12 month E type Visa EOS, minimum 6 months validity
5. Letter of employment/proof of salary minimum $2500USD p/m (Male only). Work permit/work book/business license if employed in Cambodia.
6. Letter from your Embassy - permission/consent to marry. No older than 3 months
7. Pre-nuptial Medical certificate from Calmette Hospital (no older than 3 months)
8. 2x passport photos
NOTE: Foreign males must be under 50 years old to legally marry a Cambodian citizen in Cambodia.
All above documents must be notarised/certified from your nearest Embassy except 1,6 and 7.
Khmer partner will need to present;
1. "Certificate of celibacy, widowhood, divorce" (single status) from Sangkat
2. National ID card
3. Birth Certificate
4. Family Book and/or Carnet de Residence
5. Pre-nuptial Medical certificate from Calmette Hospital (no older than 3 months)
6. 2x passport photos
Note: The blood tests are for HIV, Hepatitis, and a few other diseases, chest x-ray is for TB. Cost from Calmette for the blood tests, x-ray and medical certificate is $120 per couple ($60 each). You will need to take your passport/national ID card, as well as 1x passport photo per person.
Once the MoFA processes the documents which takes about 1-2 weeks, you will be issued a letter which you must submit with all of your documents to the Ministry of Interior. You will both be interviewed by several officials from different departments of the MoI, and if they are satisfied it will take approximately another 2+ months for them to issue an authorisation to marry letter, which you will then need to submit to your partners Sangkat, who will then issue you with your marriage certificate.
MoFAIC:
When you go to the MoFA, enter the compound via the side entrance, do not go to the large main entrance on the riverside. There is a guard hut where you and your partner will have to show ID, and they will give you a visitors pass. Walk straight ahead to the large building straight ahead and to the right, and enter via the first side entrance.
As you enter, immediately on your left you should see a sign for e-visa on your right hand side, continue walking straight down the corridor. The 3rd or 4th door on the right hand side is Vanthas office. As you look at his office door, there should be a small alcove with a Buddhist statue to the left of his door, this is how you will know which office is his. Remember that this is a Cambodian Ministry, and they keep strange working hours...I think they take lunch from about 1100 - 1400.
MOI:
Do not go to the Main MoI compound. You need to go to an office called “National Committee to Lead the Suppression of Human Trafficking, Smuggling, Labour Exploitation and Sexual Exploitation in Woman and Children” (S.T.S.L.S), which is at the General dept of Identification building in Chbar Ampouv.
Take all of your completed documentation and letter from the MoFAIC with you and try to arrive early (by 0900hrs at the latest). There all of your documentation will be checked, and if anything is not in order they will inform you of what you need to fix.
Once everything is in order, you will pay the official $200 fee, which you will receive a receipt for, and then be interviewed by several people, mostly regarding things like how you met your partner, how long you’ve been together, have you travelled together on holiday, how long have you lived/been travelling to Cambodia, what is your job, family members names and contact details, what are your plans, do you plan to take her overseas and exploit her, etc…Its not as daunting as you may think. Your partner will be near you the entire time, so if there any language barriers, ask her to translate for you.
Once everything is in order, it can take anywhere up to 4 months before you receive the letter of permission to marry from the MoI, which you then take to your partner's Sangkat in order to be issued your official marriage certificate. There is no requirement for a wedding ceremony in order to be issued a marriage certificate.
For foreigners marrying a Cambodian citizen, the only official fees payable are;
- $200 fee paid to the 'National Committe to Lead the Suppression of Human Trafficking, Smuggling, Labour Exploitation and Sexual Exploitation in Woman and Children (S.T.S.L.S)' , which is a department of the MoI. The fee covers admin, interviews and background check costs. An official receipt is issued.
- 20,000 Riel fee paid to the Sangkat which issues the official Marriage Certificate. An official receipt is issued.
(Note: The interviewers at the MoI expect a small "donation" each, about $5 each covers it..., but up to you).
Many people no doubt end up dealing with the wrong people and/or fixers and end up getting fleeced purely because the information on the whole process is not readily available and can be confusing.
I'm not a negative person, I encourage people all the time...it's usually to f**k off! But, whatever.
Yes I knew I had to be under 50, and 2500usd/ month or greater thank you for your replyRainMan wrote:Assuming your under 50, From the Cambodian Travel Guide,
https://thebodia.com/cambodia/social-be ... ian-woman/
My apologies I forgot to type 2500 usd/ month, and I certainly hope that any person that is about to get married has more than 2500 dollars,gavinmac wrote:It's 2500 a month in earnings, not just having 2500Cody0818 wrote:So I am a Canadian citizen who is getting married to a Cambodian citizen in January of 2019, I am so confused on what the process is for obtaining a marriage certificate, maybe someone here can help?
From my understanding I need to get a statement in leui of certificate of non inpendment of marriage abroad from Canada before my wedding, I am going back to Cambodia for a month in August, is this to soon to bring this paper as my government is saying that it is only valid for 3 months. I also need a criminal record check and a letter from my employer stating my position and proof of 2500usd or more. Am I missing something, or do I have something incorrect?
Now the second part of my question is I have read that I have to be in Cambodia for 31 days before date of wedding, but my fiancé family is saying I don’t, is there any clarification from anyone who has gone through this recently.
I hope to receive some insight, because it is quite confusing at times, thanks in advance
Cody
Okay so now I know what papers I need, I’m still unclear, on how long this whole process takes, wedding will be planned for January, when should I start doing all this paperwork, can I start in August?
You should start the official process as soon as possible, could take anywhere from 1 month to 6 months to receive your approval to marry letter.Cody0818 wrote:Okay so now I know what papers I need, I’m still unclear, on how long this whole process takes, wedding will be planned for January, when should I start doing all this paperwork, can I start in August?
Note: A wedding ceremony is not required to receive your official marriage certificate, the official process is purely administrative.
But...the ceremony will be mandatory for your wife and her family, do it right and you may even make a profit from it.
I'm not a negative person, I encourage people all the time...it's usually to f**k off! But, whatever.
As soon as you receive the "Authorisation To Marry" letter, take it to your wife's Sangkat to apply for your official marriage cert, they will put a notice up on your wife-to-bes family home and in the Sangkat announcing your intent to marry in order for anyone to challenge it (14 days if I recall correctly). Once the 14 days is up with no challenge then you should be issued your official marriage certificate.
You can then legally have your wedding ceremony any time after that.
You can then legally have your wedding ceremony any time after that.
I'm not a negative person, I encourage people all the time...it's usually to f**k off! But, whatever.