Marriage

Where to go. The law in Serbia and in Montenegro recognizes only civil marriages. Application for marriage is made at a municipal registrar's office in the city where you wish to marry. The marriage ceremony will take place two to three days after all documents have been submitted.

Documents to be submitted.
1. Valid U.S. passport as a proof of U.S. citizenship;
2. Birth certificate. You should submit a certified copy of the birth certificate. The birth certificate must be notarized with the seal "Apostille" under the terms of the Hague Convention, which can only be obtained from the state of birth in the U.S. The birth certificate must be translated by a court interpreter. The interpreter will affix his/her official seal on the translated copy.
3. Statement that he or she is free to marry. This statement is made in front of the United States consular officer in Belgrade; the notarial fee for this sworn statement is US$30.00;
4. Certificate issued by American consular officer that the marriage contracted in
Serbia or in Montenegro will be valid in the United States;
5. Proof of termination of any previous marriages (divorce decree or death certificate)
This document must also be translated;
6. Documents under 3 and 4 are, after being notarized by the consular officer, taken to the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs for the final notarization, at the Bircaninova st.no. 3, Belgrade.

Marriage certificate. The marriage is recorded in the Civil Registry. A Serbian or Montenegrin marriage certificate will be issued. One version will be in Serbian and the other in the so-called international form (which includes English).

Authentication of the Serbian or the Montenegrin Marriage Certificate. In order to use a Serbian or Montenegrin public document in the U.S. it must be certified with an Apostille under the terms of the Hague Convention.

General information. American diplomatic and consular officers cannot perform marriages. Marriage is a function reserved solely to the State, and is beyond the authority of American diplomatic and consular officers who are federal officials. In general, marriages, which are legally performed and valid abroad, are also valid in the United States. The Attorney General of the state, or states in the U.S., of domicile of the parties to the marriage is the proper authority to respond to inquiries with respect to the validity of marriages abroad.

back to top ^