Belgian law lays down several requirements for getting married:
- a minimum age of 18
- mutual consent (not being forced to marry)
- not being related by family
- not married already (polygamy)
For more information, please consult:
- the Civil Registry in the municipality where you wish to get married
- notaires.be
Non-nationals
In Belgium, a marriage can take place if one of the future spouses:
- is Belgian at the time of the marriage
- has been living in Belgium for more than three months (with proof)
For more information, please consult:
- diplomatie.belgium.be, the website of the Federal Public Service (FPS) for Foreign Affairs
- vivreenbelgique.be, the website of Ciré (Coordination and Initiatives for Refugees and Non-nationals)
- the Civil Registry in the municipality where you wish to get married
Sex of the spouses
Same-sex couples have been allowed to marry in Belgium since June 2003.
Forced marriages and marriages of convenience
A forced marriage is a marriage which is carried out without the free consent of both spouses, or when the consent of at least one of the spouses has been given as a result of violence or threat.
A marriage of convenience is a marriage where at least one of the spouses intends to obtain a residence permit in Belgium.
Forced marriages and marriages of convenience are punishable offences.
For more information, please consult:
Support service
FPS for Justice – Information Unit
115 boulevard de Waterloo
1000 Brussels
02 542 65 11
info@just.fgov.be
Responsible authority
FPS for Justice
Updated on 23 march 2022