Two Foreigners Getting Married in Cambodia
Well, finally done! We got our thumbprints in the Sangkat registry book and have a Certificate of Marriage with our names actually spelled correctly (after I corrected it for them to do again).
As far as I know, Chuang2u and myself are the only two foreign blokes who have married foreign girls in this country. The bloke at the Aussie embassy had never heard of it, the Cambo Ministry workers had never heard of it, the Phil Embassy bloke (a total prick) told us that we could only get a certificate of engagement, a Cambo bloke who organised marriages for mail-order brides said that it was flat out impossible. I asked my long-term tuk-tuk driver who's been on the job in PP for quite some time if he'd ever seen a foreigner get married in Cambo, "oh yeah, heaps!" he said. What about two foreigners asked I: "Oh no, you the first."
I might have given up had C2tu not shown me the actual pieces of paper that he'd obtained and just pissed off to Hong Kong to get it done. So many thanks mate, I owe you a couple of beers!
My odyssey was a bit different to the one C2tu described. I will record it here so that maybe some poor sod can save himself the amount of headaches I had over this. C2tu also got married in the provinces, so perhaps things are different in PP.
Anyway, the embassy requirements will vary depending on your countries, so I won't bother you there. But you will need something that basically says you aren't married. If you are lucky, an embassy like Australia will charge you $90 for a piece of paper that says that you have no impediment (based on your word) and that a marriage between and Aussie and, let's say a Russian, under Cambodian law would normally be recognised under Australian law. Twenty minutes, all done.
If you are unlucky, and have an embassy like the Philippines, they will demand all sorts of ridiculous paperwork; originals aren't good enough, they have to be DFA authenticated in the Philippines! They also wanted an affidavit from my then fiancés parents giving her consent to marry!!! And she is 21!!! And her parents haven't spoken for a long time.
Fortunately the local Sangkat didn't realise that the Philippine Embassy were such a bunch of cunts and accepted a scan of her notice of non-impediment along with mine. I think that they don't care if it's legal under Philippine law, just as long as it is under Cambo law. The Phils won't solemnise it but they can get fucked.
They never asked for the "Permission for foreigners to marry" paper from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Ministry, when we went there, told us that they don't have anything to do with foreigners getting married here. So I believe it's quite reasonable for me to assume that this law is no longer in place. So we actually got out of that place for free!
We told the first bloke who wanted $700 to fuck off and got our landlord to call up the boss of the sangkat; the price then went down to $450. Other than cash we needed:
- passport copies
- Cambodian visa copies
- (maybe a good idea to bring your actual passports along as well)
- copy of your lease agreement (to prove that you are dealing with the right Sangkat)
- passport photos (2-3)
- certificates of non-impediment from your country (from their point of view they just want to see that you aren't already married)
- details of your respective parents' names, DOBs, occupation, place of birth, nationality, address, place of birth
- Also, two witnesses. We used our landlord and his daughter as they live in the same Sangkat as we do, this apparently makes things easier.
You say nothing to them, you sign nothing, just yours and your missus' and your witnesses' thumbprints under your details of the registry and it's done. It may be prudent to take a photograph of this before it leaves your sight. Your country may hold the registry book in greater esteem than the certificate.
Come back the next day, with your receipt of course, for your marriage certificate (yes, it's the exact same as C2tu's)... make absolutely certain it is spelling-error free before you accept it.
You get an original with three notarised copies.
They tried to squeeze another $250 out of me to take it to the Ministry of the Interior to have it translated. When I asked why they said that my embassy would accept no other translation. I told them the embassy bloke had personally told me that they accept quite a few translators in town (like Pyramid) and I would get it done myself.
As far as I can tell, we are legally married under Cambodian law. We aren't taking it to the Phil Embassy, but we will get a translation and get the Aussie embassy to notarise it: should be kosher as far as international marriage laws go - I would like to see someone work out if it is legal under Cambodian/International law over the phone when I couldn't do it on the ground here!
Thanks again C2tu!!! and also that bloke from consular services at the Aussie embassy. Get fucked Philippine embassy prick.
As far as I know, Chuang2u and myself are the only two foreign blokes who have married foreign girls in this country. The bloke at the Aussie embassy had never heard of it, the Cambo Ministry workers had never heard of it, the Phil Embassy bloke (a total prick) told us that we could only get a certificate of engagement, a Cambo bloke who organised marriages for mail-order brides said that it was flat out impossible. I asked my long-term tuk-tuk driver who's been on the job in PP for quite some time if he'd ever seen a foreigner get married in Cambo, "oh yeah, heaps!" he said. What about two foreigners asked I: "Oh no, you the first."
I might have given up had C2tu not shown me the actual pieces of paper that he'd obtained and just pissed off to Hong Kong to get it done. So many thanks mate, I owe you a couple of beers!
My odyssey was a bit different to the one C2tu described. I will record it here so that maybe some poor sod can save himself the amount of headaches I had over this. C2tu also got married in the provinces, so perhaps things are different in PP.
Anyway, the embassy requirements will vary depending on your countries, so I won't bother you there. But you will need something that basically says you aren't married. If you are lucky, an embassy like Australia will charge you $90 for a piece of paper that says that you have no impediment (based on your word) and that a marriage between and Aussie and, let's say a Russian, under Cambodian law would normally be recognised under Australian law. Twenty minutes, all done.
If you are unlucky, and have an embassy like the Philippines, they will demand all sorts of ridiculous paperwork; originals aren't good enough, they have to be DFA authenticated in the Philippines! They also wanted an affidavit from my then fiancés parents giving her consent to marry!!! And she is 21!!! And her parents haven't spoken for a long time.
Fortunately the local Sangkat didn't realise that the Philippine Embassy were such a bunch of cunts and accepted a scan of her notice of non-impediment along with mine. I think that they don't care if it's legal under Philippine law, just as long as it is under Cambo law. The Phils won't solemnise it but they can get fucked.
They never asked for the "Permission for foreigners to marry" paper from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Ministry, when we went there, told us that they don't have anything to do with foreigners getting married here. So I believe it's quite reasonable for me to assume that this law is no longer in place. So we actually got out of that place for free!
We told the first bloke who wanted $700 to fuck off and got our landlord to call up the boss of the sangkat; the price then went down to $450. Other than cash we needed:
- passport copies
- Cambodian visa copies
- (maybe a good idea to bring your actual passports along as well)
- copy of your lease agreement (to prove that you are dealing with the right Sangkat)
- passport photos (2-3)
- certificates of non-impediment from your country (from their point of view they just want to see that you aren't already married)
- details of your respective parents' names, DOBs, occupation, place of birth, nationality, address, place of birth
- Also, two witnesses. We used our landlord and his daughter as they live in the same Sangkat as we do, this apparently makes things easier.
You say nothing to them, you sign nothing, just yours and your missus' and your witnesses' thumbprints under your details of the registry and it's done. It may be prudent to take a photograph of this before it leaves your sight. Your country may hold the registry book in greater esteem than the certificate.
Come back the next day, with your receipt of course, for your marriage certificate (yes, it's the exact same as C2tu's)... make absolutely certain it is spelling-error free before you accept it.
You get an original with three notarised copies.
They tried to squeeze another $250 out of me to take it to the Ministry of the Interior to have it translated. When I asked why they said that my embassy would accept no other translation. I told them the embassy bloke had personally told me that they accept quite a few translators in town (like Pyramid) and I would get it done myself.
As far as I can tell, we are legally married under Cambodian law. We aren't taking it to the Phil Embassy, but we will get a translation and get the Aussie embassy to notarise it: should be kosher as far as international marriage laws go - I would like to see someone work out if it is legal under Cambodian/International law over the phone when I couldn't do it on the ground here!
Thanks again C2tu!!! and also that bloke from consular services at the Aussie embassy. Get fucked Philippine embassy prick.
Thanks for the summary! Sounds like that info will definitely help someone in the future.....Dengchao wrote:Well, finally done! We got our thumbprints in the Sangkat registry book and have a Certificate of Marriage with our names actually spelled correctly (after I corrected it for them to do again).
As far as I know, Chuang2u and myself are the only two foreign blokes who have married foreign girls in this country. The bloke at the Aussie embassy had never heard of it, the Cambo Ministry workers had never heard of it, the Phil Embassy bloke (a total prick) told us that we could only get a certificate of engagement, a Cambo bloke who organised marriages for mail-order brides said that it was flat out impossible. I asked my long-term tuk-tuk driver who's been on the job in PP for quite some time if he'd ever seen a foreigner get married in Cambo, "oh yeah, heaps!" he said. What about two foreigners asked I: "Oh no, you the first."
I might have given up had C2tu not shown me the actual pieces of paper that he'd obtained and just pissed off to Hong Kong to get it done. So many thanks mate, I owe you a couple of beers!
My odyssey was a bit different to the one C2tu described. I will record it here so that maybe some poor sod can save himself the amount of headaches I had over this. C2tu also got married in the provinces, so perhaps things are different in PP.
Anyway, the embassy requirements will vary depending on your countries, so I won't bother you there. But you will need something that basically says you aren't married. If you are lucky, an embassy like Australia will charge you $90 for a piece of paper that says that you have no impediment (based on your word) and that a marriage between and Aussie and, let's say a Russian, under Cambodian law would normally be recognised under Australian law. Twenty minutes, all done.
If you are unlucky, and have an embassy like the Philippines, they will demand all sorts of ridiculous paperwork; originals aren't good enough, they have to be DFA authenticated in the Philippines! They also wanted an affidavit from my then fiancés parents giving her consent to marry!!! And she is 21!!! And her parents haven't spoken for a long time.
Fortunately the local Sangkat didn't realise that the Philippine Embassy were such a bunch of cunts and accepted a scan of her notice of non-impediment along with mine. I think that they don't care if it's legal under Philippine law, just as long as it is under Cambo law. The Phils won't solemnise it but they can get fucked.
They never asked for the "Permission for foreigners to marry" paper from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the Ministry, when we went there, told us that they don't have anything to do with foreigners getting married here. So I believe it's quite reasonable for me to assume that this law is no longer in place. So we actually got out of that place for free!
We told the first bloke who wanted $700 to fuck off and got our landlord to call up the boss of the sangkat; the price then went down to $450. Other than cash we needed:
- passport copies
- Cambodian visa copies
- (maybe a good idea to bring your actual passports along as well)
- copy of your lease agreement (to prove that you are dealing with the right Sangkat)
- passport photos (2-3)
- certificates of non-impediment from your country (from their point of view they just want to see that you aren't already married)
- details of your respective parents' names, DOBs, occupation, place of birth, nationality, address, place of birth
- Also, two witnesses. We used our landlord and his daughter as they live in the same Sangkat as we do, this apparently makes things easier.
You say nothing to them, you sign nothing, just yours and your missus' and your witnesses' thumbprints under your details of the registry and it's done. It may be prudent to take a photograph of this before it leaves your sight. Your country may hold the registry book in greater esteem than the certificate.
Come back the next day, with your receipt of course, for your marriage certificate (yes, it's the exact same as C2tu's)... make absolutely certain it is spelling-error free before you accept it.
You get an original with three notarised copies.
They tried to squeeze another $250 out of me to take it to the Ministry of the Interior to have it translated. When I asked why they said that my embassy would accept no other translation. I told them the embassy bloke had personally told me that they accept quite a few translators in town (like Pyramid) and I would get it done myself.
As far as I can tell, we are legally married under Cambodian law. We aren't taking it to the Phil Embassy, but we will get a translation and get the Aussie embassy to notarise it: should be kosher as far as international marriage laws go - I would like to see someone work out if it is legal under Cambodian/International law over the phone when I couldn't do it on the ground here!
Thanks again C2tu!!! and also that bloke from consular services at the Aussie embassy. Get fucked Philippine embassy prick.
- vladimir
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Two friends of mine got married in Thailand.
One Thai male married a Thai woman: cost: 12 Baht
One SA male married a Filipina woman, cost 500Baht. Both of them were living in Cambodia ta the time, but told the Khmers to effoff due to the $ they asked for, the $500 they saved at the time they spent on the honeymoon. I suggest all others do the same.
One Thai male married a Thai woman: cost: 12 Baht
One SA male married a Filipina woman, cost 500Baht. Both of them were living in Cambodia ta the time, but told the Khmers to effoff due to the $ they asked for, the $500 they saved at the time they spent on the honeymoon. I suggest all others do the same.
ירי ילדים והפצצת אזרחים דורש אומץ, כמו גם הטרדה מינית של עובדי ההוראה.
Congratulations!Well, finally done!
Total cost to myself was less than $200. I'm guessing that cost depends on whom you first approach and how you first approach them. Dengchao's list of paperwork for his sangkat looks very similar to the list that the MFA wanted from us - perhaps they've decentralised the procedure now and the smaller Thoms are setting their own prices.vladimir wrote:Two friends of mine got married in Thailand.
One Thai male married a Thai woman: cost: 12 Baht
One SA male married a Filipina woman, cost 500Baht. Both of them were living in Cambodia ta the time, but told the Khmers to effoff due to the $ they asked for, the $500 they saved at the time they spent on the honeymoon. I suggest all others do the same.
We jumped through all of the hoops, both here and in the Phils.. (how many Manila trips for her father...!!) and didn't get married in a central or foreigner-heavy sangkat here - we're out past the Japanese bridge, but not quite in the provinces.
Registered through the Phils embassy to the Civil Registrar General at the Dept of Foreign Affairs in Manila (a "Report of Marriage" - ), but not the UK embassy as the UK wanted more for that registry entry than we'd paid for the entire prior proceedings, inc all the Phils run-around.
The Phils embassy were very good for us; maybe that team have rotated back home now.
To the best of my knowledge, if the marriage is legal in the country you got married in, it's legal anywhere... Other countries may present hoops to be jumped through, but they can't say you're not legally married so long as it was legal wherever it was done.As far as I can tell, we are legally married under Cambodian law. We aren't taking it to the Phil Embassy, but we will get a translation and get the Aussie embassy to notarise it: should be kosher as far as international marriage laws go - I would like to see someone work out if it is legal under Cambodian/International law over the phone when I couldn't do it on the ground here!
- Phuket2006
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Have known a couple of Farang couples that have married here in Thailand.
The Sheraton Hotel in Laguana and a few other hotels will do a fancy ceremony and it is a piece of cake, ( as i have said before)
for US citizen the notarized paper stating ur not married will cost you $50
register at any amphur (35 baht in Phuket)
need passports, notarized note from embassy
statement showing where ur living ( can be a hotel)
sign the book and receive the marriage certificate
For Americans you then take the marriage certificate back to the us embassy an register the marriage and its then 100% legal and recognized worldwide
No idea why someone would go thru all the hassle and expense to be married in Cambodia.
But to all those that do the above will pave the way!!
Just in case for divorce u both visit any Amphur an sign a divorce agreement and its done
Good luck to you both
The Sheraton Hotel in Laguana and a few other hotels will do a fancy ceremony and it is a piece of cake, ( as i have said before)
for US citizen the notarized paper stating ur not married will cost you $50
register at any amphur (35 baht in Phuket)
need passports, notarized note from embassy
statement showing where ur living ( can be a hotel)
sign the book and receive the marriage certificate
For Americans you then take the marriage certificate back to the us embassy an register the marriage and its then 100% legal and recognized worldwide
No idea why someone would go thru all the hassle and expense to be married in Cambodia.
But to all those that do the above will pave the way!!
Just in case for divorce u both visit any Amphur an sign a divorce agreement and its done
Good luck to you both
"We are turning into a nation of whimpering slaves to Fear—fear of war, fear of poverty, fear of random terrorism, or suddenly getting locked up in a military detention camp on vague charges of being a Terrorist sympathizer." HST
Chaung2tu: thank-you! Maybe we can start a club now. We only need to get four membership cards done up!
Vlad and Pukhet: I understand what you're saying, but look at it this way:
Marriage here:
MY CNI: $90
Her DNI: $30
Sangkat fee: $450 (but watch the little buggers!)
Total tuk-tuk fees criss-crossing PP: maybe $20
TOTAL: $590-
Advantages: Was around many friends, it had to be done quickly, it will be nice for us to say we were married here as we'll always have fond memories of the place, we're special now because there aren't too many foreigner couples who have a Cambodian wedding cert AND I really, really really couldn't be fucked going to Thailand; I would've paid more money not to have to go back there right now
Cost of marriage in Thailand:
Flights: realistically given my short time frame prob $300
Accomm: Missus will want a nice one for this occassion for lets say three nights: $300
Increased Cost of living index: Let's say $300
The monk: $20
So, $920 is actually more expensive than getting married here!
The catch is, to that Aussie couple who wanted to get married here, that (it seems to me) you have to actually reside in Cambodia in order to get married. The Sangkat you must go to must be the one responsible for the area that you must prove you reside in (with your lease). The Sangkat is not the most romantic of places either... but I'm really proud that I got married in it.
Vlad and Pukhet: I understand what you're saying, but look at it this way:
Marriage here:
MY CNI: $90
Her DNI: $30
Sangkat fee: $450 (but watch the little buggers!)
Total tuk-tuk fees criss-crossing PP: maybe $20
TOTAL: $590-
Advantages: Was around many friends, it had to be done quickly, it will be nice for us to say we were married here as we'll always have fond memories of the place, we're special now because there aren't too many foreigner couples who have a Cambodian wedding cert AND I really, really really couldn't be fucked going to Thailand; I would've paid more money not to have to go back there right now
Cost of marriage in Thailand:
Flights: realistically given my short time frame prob $300
Accomm: Missus will want a nice one for this occassion for lets say three nights: $300
Increased Cost of living index: Let's say $300
The monk: $20
So, $920 is actually more expensive than getting married here!
The catch is, to that Aussie couple who wanted to get married here, that (it seems to me) you have to actually reside in Cambodia in order to get married. The Sangkat you must go to must be the one responsible for the area that you must prove you reside in (with your lease). The Sangkat is not the most romantic of places either... but I'm really proud that I got married in it.
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Is there a contact number of some1 in phnom penh who can help me and girlfriend to get married .we went MOF and MOI they cant do anything so we went to local sankagt near our hotel and they said they could do it , all me need is no objection letter from my embassy and we need to translate it and bring it back to them . its been 1 week now we are here and by wednesday my letter will be be attest by my embassy we are trying and i am waiting for the document from my embassy should have it this week . Then we will go to the local sangkot and will update u guys. If any1 as some1 in phnom pemh who can help us kindly PM me the contact number .. Will be of gr8 help thanx
Duane Martin
Duane Martin
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Also would like to know if we could get married on tourist visa of we need long term visa to get married
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Quick Question- If you legally marry a Cambodian woman, what legal implications does this carry as far as your money and real estate/business go in Cambodia? Is it the same as the west? If a divorce does happen, can your wife take you to the cleaners and get your home/business/cash?
Anyone who doesn't like Capitalism is a pathetic loser. God bless the USA and no place else.
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The basic rule is all assets are divided 50/50. One can of course amicably settle otherwise, or go to court.DetroitMuscle wrote:Quick Question- If you legally marry a Cambodian woman, what legal implications does this carry as far as your money and real estate/business go in Cambodia? Is it the same as the west? If a divorce does happen, can your wife take you to the cleaners and get your home/business/cash?
I came, I argued, I'm out
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Damn.andyinasia wrote:The basic rule is all assets are divided 50/50. One can of course amicably settle otherwise, or go to court.DetroitMuscle wrote:Quick Question- If you legally marry a Cambodian woman, what legal implications does this carry as far as your money and real estate/business go in Cambodia? Is it the same as the west? If a divorce does happen, can your wife take you to the cleaners and get your home/business/cash?
Anyone who doesn't like Capitalism is a pathetic loser. God bless the USA and no place else.
- Phuket2006
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sign a pre nup
"We are turning into a nation of whimpering slaves to Fear—fear of war, fear of poverty, fear of random terrorism, or suddenly getting locked up in a military detention camp on vague charges of being a Terrorist sympathizer." HST
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With zero legal validity in most countries.Phuket2006 wrote:sign a pre nup
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