If a French is married in the Registry of Marriage in Singapore, the marriage is not automatically registered in France. There are a few things you need to do in order to receive your French Livret de Famille and the preparations of the paperwork are not pretty. For me, things got a little complicated as it involves three countries: I am a Malaysian married to a French, and we registered our marriage in Singapore.
It was a long process trying to figure out what exact documents and requirements are the administration looking for. We lost precious times and things were not done according to the planned timeline. I was frustrated that I couldn’t find a detailed guide online and the administration was not responsive to my emails. To help others facing the same/similar issues, I’ve summarised the steps and detailed required documents in this post.
These are the six steps in getting your marriage transcription before the French administration:
- Publication of Banns
- Registry of Marriage in Singapore
- Apply for an Extract Copy of Marriage Certificate from ROM
- Endorsement of Extract Copy of Marriage Certificate by Ministry of Foreign Affairs Singapore
- Marriage Transcription Before The French Administration
- The Waiting Game
Step 1: Publication of Banns
First, book an appointment with the French Embassy in Singapore. Make sure that you have prepared the required documents below.
Documents Required for French National
- Copy of Valid Passport
- Original Birth Certificate (extracted within 3 months before the date of marriage)
- Copy of Domicile Proof (latest phone bill, utility bill, or bank statement)
As clarified with the administration, domicile does not need to be your family address in France. It can be your current residential address even if it is a rental.
Documents Required for Foreigner
- Copy of Valid Passport
- Original Extracted Copy of Birth Certificate
Get it within 3 months before the date of marriage. - Original Certificate of Single Status
You can check out here on how to obtain the extracted copy of birth certificate and certificate of single status in Malaysia. - Copy of Domicile Proof (latest phone bill, utility bill, or bank statement)
As clarified with the administration, domicile does not need to be your overseas family address. It can be your current residential address even if it is a rental. - French translations of the above-mentioned birth certificate and certificate of single status.
The tricky part is – ONLY a local translator, recognised by your birth country’s local French Embassy, can translate them in the issuing birth country.
Endorsement / Legalisation of Documents
Next, the foreign spouse needs to visit the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the birth country to endorse/legalise the documents in point 2 and 3.
Thereafter, he/she needs to visit the local French Embassy in the birth country to legalise the documents in French translations mentioned in point 5. In addition, over-legalise the documents in point 2 and 3 (after they have been legalised by the Ministry of Foreign Affair).
Then, you are all set to submit the form and documents for the publication of banns. You should do it at least six weeks before the date of your marriage.
Step 2: Registry of Marriage in Singapore
After the publication of banns, you can now register your marriage either within the ROM or outside of ROM. The process is very simple and straightforward.
Step 3: Apply for an Extract Copy of Marriage Certificate from ROM
After your ROM, proceed to the ROM website. Under ‘Services’, select ‘Apply for an Extract Copy of Marriage Certificate’. Follow the instructions to apply for the extract copy, the fee for this service is $50. Enter your details correctly as you will forfeit your request and payment if your data entered is wrong and they are not able to find your record.
You can then collect the extracted copy on the next day from ROM. Otherwise, postal option is available within 7 days (2-3 weeks for overseas addresses).
Step 4: Endorsement of Extract Copy of Marriage Certificate by Ministry of Foreign Affairs Singapore
Walk-in without appointment to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Singapore with your extract copy of marriage certificate to get it endorsed. It takes less than 5 minutes and costs $10. Best efficiency in the public sector I’ve ever seen.
Step 5: Marriage Transcription Before The French Administration
After everything is in order, book an appointment online with the French Embassy in Singapore to submit the documents. This includes the transcription request form and the endorsed extracted copy of marriage certificate.
Step 6: The Waiting Game
Now, you only need to wait for about 6 weeks to get the Livret de Famille!
What happens if I did not submit the Publication of Banns before my ROM?
You will still have to prepare and submit all the documents listed in step 1. Submit them when you submit the marriage transcription request to the French administration. According to the administrative officer, the waiting time will simply be longer (>3 months) as your request is not prioritised anymore.
Getting the Livret de Famille
It was unfortunate that it took me a very long time to understand the exact requirements of all the documents. These have therefore led to an even longer process for my transcription process. To make things worse, I had to run back-and-forth between Singapore and Malaysia to gather all the necessary documents.
I’ve heard of stories where people waited more than 6 months and have yet to receive their livre de famille. I was lucky (sort of) that mine arrived in exactly two months! Bear in mind that you’ll need to present a piece of French identity card for the collection, i.e., only the French can collect your livre de famille from the embassy.
I hope that my post will be of help to those who face similar difficulties preparing for the marriage transcription. They are just little setbacks that will pass, and brighter days to create wonderful stories with your beloved are ahead!
If you have any questions, feel free to ask me in the below comment section!
Hi ,
This is very informative, thanks for making this guide. One question though, is your husband a french national who also resides in Singapore or he lives in france and just came here in singapore for your wedding?
Thanks,
Ros
Hi Ros, thanks for stopping by! My husband is a french national residing in Singapore and the ROM was first done in Singapore. French nationals who do not reside in Singapore can also register the marriage here, as long as one of the parties is physically present in Singapore for at least 15 continuous days prior to filing the notice of marriage. Hope this helps 🙂
Hi,
Where can I get the forms needed for Publication of banns? Also do I need to get an appointment to submit the documents? Do they require both parties present to submit the documents for Publications of banns?
Thanks and appreciate all the info I can get 🙂
Hi Ros,
you will need to make appointments for both of you to submit the documents for Publication of Banns. Both parties need to be present.
One appointment is for one passport, so you will need to make 2 consecutive appointments.
Hope this helps! Let me know how everything turns out 😉
Hello! Thanks for your informative post. I’m also a Malaysian marrying a french and I’m overwhelmed by the documents needed. Firstly, are you a PR? Do you know if the steps change for Singaporean PRs? Secondly, did you have to endorse/legalise the documents in point 2 and 3 in KL?
Hi SL, SPR has the same set of required documents 🙂
Yes, you need to legalise the documents in point 2&3 (AND their French translations), by both the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the French Embassy in KL.
Ok I am a bit lost. How will I obtain a translation of birth cert and and certificate of single status if i’m only receiving them when I’m in PJ? Following the steps in “How to Apply for Certificate of Single Status in Malaysia” article, it means i need to get them certified by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs AFTER I have french translations?
Sorry for any stupid questions. You’re a huge help!
Unfortunately you will need to arrange for the translations after you get the single cert, birth cert, and foreign ROM cert (if you have any).
The Malaysian ministry of foreign affairs will only legalise the Malaysian documents. The translations are for the french embassy in KL to legalise, together with the original documents that were legalised by the foreign affairs.
My advise is to sort out what documents you’ll receive on your first trip to KL, and what you’ll need to do.
Then, sort out what other things you’ll need to do on your subsequent visit(s).
To do all in one trip is quite impossible, unless you’re staying for some time in KL.
Don’t worry about the registration of marriage on the Malaysian side for now. They are the easiest and most straightforward of all. I don’t think that I will be covering that because it’s very clearly stated on the Malaysian Embassy website 🙂
Hi, can i know what exactly is the original extracted copy of birth cert. I was born in indonesia but now i’m a singaporean. It seems like i still hv to go back to indonesia to get this certificate? Or is just to translate the original certificate to french?
Your blog is a lifesaver!! Which translator did you use? How long did it take for them to get back to you? Does it mean you print them out and bring them to the Malaysian French Embassy or can you just do both translation+endorsement at Malaysians french embassy?
Trying to figure out how many days in KL I need to book.
Hey Dhashni, thanks for reading!
I’ve used Alliance Française Malaysia for the Malaysia-issued documents and Alliance Française Singapore for the Singapore-issued documents. They are both quite responsive, efficient, and reliable. I am guessing this is because they are the appointed translators in both countries, so they are familiar with what the Embassies are looking for.
I can’t remember the exact duration for the translations to be ready (~a week), you should email them for the exact time needed. At the same time, email them your documents to be translated and wire them the payment. When you’re in KL, you can collect the translations straightaway. This way, you don’t have to stay in KL for the week 🙂
Did your french spouse have to accompany you for the Putrajaya trip? Does his passport and ID need to be seen as well? Or can i just go alone?
Hi Siv, he did go with me to Putrajaya, but they only need to see his passport copy and did not request to see him in person. I guess you could call them to confirm 🙂
THANK YOU FOR THIS PAGE! It is super helpful. For the publication of banns (Step 1), did you need to create two seperate appointment since 1 rendez-vous = 1 passeport?
Also do both people need to be there for this step? and step 5?
You’re welcome 🙂 I did 2 separate appointments back-to-back since they mentioned ‘one appointment per passport’. In the end it wasn’t really that strict in terms of entry (even if they are not back-to-back) as long as there’s 2 appointments.
Hi! Your page was really helpful! Do you happen to know where to get the English version forms for all the steps? Especially the publication of banns step and the marriage cert transcription step. Thanks!!
Hi there! Thank you so much for your post, I’m not Malaysian but still marrying a French it’s very helpful. I can see the process would be similar though. Reading through the comments, was wondering where in the French Embassy site do you make the appointment booking? Would it be this one? https://sg.ambafrance.org/Consular-Section And it would fall under ‘Civil Status’? Thank you!!
Hello,
Thanks for your infos. I am French and got married to a Malaysian lady in Singapore without publishing the banns. I want now to register the marriage in the french administration.
I am confused regarding the certificate of single status. There is no mention of that document in the transcription procedure described in the website of the French embassy in Singapore. Did you get the information that this document is required when visiting the embassy? Also, as we are already married, does it still make sense to request it?
I believe your situation was exactly the same as mine.
Your wife needs to request for the certificate of single status before she register the marriage in Malaysia. This is because technically, her status is still single in the Malaysian records.
I am certain that the certificate of single status is required for marriage transcriptions in most European countries. However, this requirement may have changed as of now, so if you’ve gotten any confirmation, do share here for the other readers to know!
Hello, thanks for the info 🙂
What the certificate of celibacy? Where were you informed it is a necessary document? There is no mention about it on the French consulate website. I am getting confused.
Certificate of Celibacy is referring to Certificate of Single Status. It was a required document when I was applying for the transcription of marriage at the French Embassy.
If you suspect that this is no longer required, it’s best to contact the embassy to clarify. Do share here if you have any helpful information! 🙂
Hi im an Indian and my husband is a French
We are waiting fir out transcription of marriage from almost 7 months by now and we have nit received anything
did you receive it yet?
I am indian too and having same issue.
This post is very helpful. Me and my French fiancé is planning to get married in France. He is living now in France. I am from Philippines but currently living in Hongkong. Is the requirements to get transcription of marriage the same even if we get married in France? (Since I will just get married in France and will still return to Hongkong after our marrige.) I hope you can answer my question. Thank you
Hi there, from what I hear it is similar but not the same.
It’s best to check with your local offices on this 🙂
Thanks. This is so helpful as me and my husband are doing the same.
Hi, I’m in the exact same situation. MY (SPR) & French spouse, and have done ROM in Singapore.
Thank you for your post !
May I check if we need to extract the birth cert (from KL) , and ROM marriage cert (from SG) if we have the original copy ? can we just photocopy and have them endorsed?
Also, cos we have done our ROM in SG, since MY does not have the info , do I still use the same method to get the Certificate of Single Status? Thanks !
Hello!
Im so thankful for your article.. Me and my husband just got ROM here in Singapore last 5 July 2024. Unfortunately i was not able to process the publication of Banns. May i clarify that the only documents i need to extract 3 months after the ROM is the marriage certificate? Does this means that all the documents needed at Step 1 not included? i can use the documents extracted before our ROM?
I will really really appreciate your response. Im totally lost processing my livre de famille.. I don’t know when and how to start.. This is very helpful! Thank you so muchh
My understanding is that you still need to process the publication of banns if you’d like to apply for the family booklet. You will submit all the required documents during the appointment of your marriage transcription request.