Self declaration form for marriage or civil partnership (PACS) in France
Self declaration form and accompanying notes for British nationals to get married or register a civil partnership (PACS) in France. For use in place of certificates of celibacy and custom.
Documents
Details
In France, opposite sex and same sex couples can:
- get married
- register a PACS (‘pacte civil de solidarité’ or ‘civil solidarity pact’)
PACS is the French version of civil partnership and is recognised in the UK.
For both marriage and PACS, you should contact the local town hall (‘mairie’) to:
- check the local laws about getting married or registering a PACS
- find out what documents you’ll need and when you need to submit them
- book an appointment to submit and sign the documents at least 6 weeks before your marriage or PACS ceremony
You, your partner or one of your parents must have been living in the town where you want to get married or register a PACS for at least 40 days before the ceremony.
If you’re getting married, you’ll need to have a civil ceremony before you can have a religious ceremony. You can book civil and religious ceremonies at the town hall.
Prove you’re free to get married or register a PACS
If you’re a British national getting married or registering a PACS in France, you do not need a certificate of no impediment (CNI) from the UK government. A CNI is a legal document that states that no barriers (called impediments) to your marriage or civil partnership exist.
Instead, the town hall might ask you for a:
- certificate of celibacy (‘certificat de célibat’)
- certificate of custom (‘certificat de coutume’)
British nationals cannot get these certificates but you can submit a self declaration form that states you’re free to marry or register a PACS, along with an explanatory note.
If your partner’s also a British national, you’ll both need to fill in and submit all documents to the town hall.
Submitting a self declaration form
- Print the self declaration form for marriage and civil partnership (PACS) and the explanatory note in place of a certificat de célibat / certificat de capacité matrimoniale.
- Fill in the self declaration form without signing it.
- Check with the town hall if you need the signature on the self declaration form legalised (certified as genuine). If you do, contact a local notary to do this.
- If the name on your passport is different to the name on your birth certificate, you may be asked for additional documents. Print the informative note on British birth certificates and change of name in the UK and collect evidence of your name change (for example, a deed poll).
- At the town hall appointment, submit the completed self declaration form, the explanatory note and, if needed, documents about your name change.
- If you did not need to get the signature legalised, sign the self declaration form at this appointment.
Your marriage or PACS will be recognised in the UK if:
- you follow the correct process according to the law in France
- it would be allowed under UK law