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Please be advised that the Consulate General of Ireland, New York website has moved and this page is no longer being updated. The Consulate website is now available at Ireland.ie/newyork.

How to apply for Certificate of Freedom to Marry

Please note that from 2 November 2016, we have now moved to online payments for applications processed in Ireland and the majority of locations worldwide for a Certificate of Freedom to Marry. Further information

If you are paying online, please have your credit/debit card details and the required supporting documents ready before you being your application. Further information can be found under the Supporting Documents section.

You should expect to receive your Certificate of Freedom for your marriage abroad within 8 weeks of the date of marriage if submitted within the correct timeframe.

Online questionnaire

To apply for a Certificate of Freedom to Marry, you must complete an online questionnaire about yourself and your upcoming marriage.

Statutory Declaration

Based on this questionnaire, you’ll be presented with one or more Statutory Declarations to complete and a checklist of supporting documentation you'll need to submit with your application.

You need to:

  1. Print and sign your questionnaire
  2. Print out a copy of each Statutory Declaration
  3. Print out your checklist
  4. Make the online payment
  5. Complete the Declarations and have them witnessed
  6. Post them to us with your supporting documentation and signed questionnaire.

Remember...

Print off or save each form right after your online questionnaire, as you won't be able to retrieve them later.

When to apply

Submit your application at least four months before the date of your marriage. Your witnessed statutory declaration(s) cannot be dated more than six months before the date we receive your application.

Remember...

Your application is not complete until we get hard copies of your questionnaire, statutory declaration(s), and all supporting documentation.

Your checklist will tell you exactly what supporting documentation you'll need for your application, which may include:

  • Your original long-form birth certificate
  • A court order, if you are under 18 years
  • Marriage and Death certificate of your previous spouse, if widowed
  • Petition and final decree of your divorce, if divorced
  • A photocopy of your current Irish passport
  • Your original naturalisation certification, if naturalised

Translating your documents

You'll need to submit certified translations of any of these documents, if the originals are in a language other than English or Irish.

Getting replacement documents

We need original documents (except for the photocopy of your passport) to process your application.

Getting your documents back

We will return all your original documents to you after we inspect them.

Remember...

If you haven't included all the necessary documents, your application will be returned to you.

Your statutory declaration must be witnessed before you can submit it.

Who can be a witness?

Your witness must:

  • Know you personally
  • Know a third party personally who can identify you
  • Be able to verify your identity through your official documents (e.g. a passport)

Applying in Ireland

Your witness can be:

  • A notary public
  • A Commissioner for Oaths
  • A solicitor

Applying abroad

Your witness can be:

  • A diplomatic or consular officer of Ireland
  • A notary public
  • A Commissioner for Oaths or someone authorised to administer oaths or declarations

Your witness needs to:

  • Witness you completing and signing your Statutory Declaration(s)
  • Complete and sign the relevant part of your Statutory Declaration(s)

Remember...

It’s against the law to make a Statutory Declaration that you know is false or misleading in any way.

 

Fees for making an application for Certificat de Coutume/Nulla Osta

Fees

Please ensure that the appropriate fee is included with your documentation. If applying to the Consulate General of Ireland in New York, the fee is $81 per Irish applicant.

Late Fee

Applications submitted 28 days or less before the date of the intended marriage or civil partnership will incur an additional fee of $81 per Irish applicant.

Payment may be made by money order/bank draft or certified bank check only. We cannot accept cash, credit/debit cards or personal checks.

Where to send your application

Send your completed application to:

Consular Section

Consulate General of Ireland

345 Park Avenue, 17th Floor

New York, NY 10154

We strongly recommend that if you are sending important documents or information to us that you use registered mail or a reputable courier service. We cannot be held responsible for documents lost in transit.