Marriage

Where you can sort this out

Příbram Town Hall, Civil Affairs Department, Registry Office

Other necessary documents, information, etc.

• a Czech Republic identity card or a valid Czech Republic travel document (if a travel document is presented, the fiancé must also provide an extract from the Population Register Information System regarding their personal relationship and place of permanent residence),
• birth certificate (original or officially certified copy),
• a final divorce decree for a previous marriage or the death certificate of the deceased spouse.

Foreign nationals

• travel document,
• birth certificate with a translation and the relevant certifications,
• certificate of legal capacity to marry, with a translation and the relevant certifications,
• a final divorce decree from a previous marriage, with a translation and certification, or a death certificate of the spouse, with a translation,
• confirmation of the right to reside in the Czech Republic, issued by the Czech Police; this does not apply to EU citizens, citizens of another signatory state to the Agreement on the European Economic Area, or their family members. This confirmation must not be more than 7 working days old on the date of the marriage.

Basic information

Marriage/civil partnership may be contracted

• at any registry office,
• before a municipal authority, a city district authority or a borough authority of a territorially divided statutory city, which falls within the administrative district of the registry office and is not itself a registry office,
• before a body of a state-registered church,
• before a body of a state-registered religious society,
• before any local authority, if the life of the person wishing to enter into marriage is in danger,
• abroad, before the captain of a ship flying the flag of the Czech Republic, the captain of an aircraft registered in the Czech Republic or the commander of a military unit of the Czech Republic abroad, if the life of the person wishing to marry is directly at risk,
• before a diplomatic mission of the Czech Republic abroad,
• abroad, also before an authority authorised for that purpose.

Procedure

Both fiancés, or one of them, must appear in person at the Registry Office, where they will be given a ‘Marriage Application Form’ to complete, along with further instructions on what other documents are required to process their application. 

This procedure does not apply to:

A marriage cannot be contracted

• with a married man or woman,
• between ancestors and descendants or between siblings; the same applies to kinship established by adoption, provided the adoption is still in force,
• a minor; in exceptional cases, a court may, for important reasons, authorise a minor over the age of 16 to marry,
• a person deprived of legal capacity; a person whose legal capacity is restricted may only enter into marriage with the court’s permission,
• a person suffering from a mental disorder which would result in the restriction or deprivation of legal capacity; the court may authorise such a person to marry if their state of health is compatible with the purpose of marriage.

A marriage shall not be valid

• if the man or woman was compelled to make a declaration of marriage by physical violence,
• if it was contracted by a minor under the age of 16,
• if it was not contracted before the competent authority of the state, a church or a religious community,
• if the conditions laid down by law for marriage by proxy have not been met,
• if, when the marriage was solemnised in a religious ceremony, a certificate issued by the relevant registry office was not presented to the officiant.

Time limit for processing

No time limits are specified for processing.

Who is authorised to submit an application, notification, etc.

The betrothed couple or an authorised representative of one of the betrothed.

Form – where to obtain it

Available at the Příbram Municipal Office, Registry Office; alternatively, it can be printed here: Marriage Application Form – print only on A3 paper, double-sided. 

Other parties to the proceedings

If a fiancé (or both fiancés) does not speak or understand Czech, or if a fiancé (or both fiancés) is deaf or mute, the presence of an interpreter is required during the declaration of marriage. One of the fiancés must arrange for an interpreter at their own expense. In such cases, the declaration of marriage cannot be made without an interpreter being present. The declaration of marriage is made publicly and in a ceremonial manner in the presence of two witnesses. Following the marriage, the first names, surnames and personal identification numbers of the witnesses are entered in the marriage register and on the marriage certificate; in the case of a foreign national who does not have a personal identification number, their date and place of birth are recorded. It follows from the above that a witness must present proof of identity at the marriage ceremony, i.e. an identity card or a passport.

The legislation governing this procedure

• Act No. 301/2000 Coll., on civil registers, first names and surnames, and on amendments to certain related acts,
• Decree No. 207/2001 Coll., implementing Act No. 301/2000 Coll. on registers, first names and surnames, and amending certain related Acts,
• Act No. 89/2012 Coll., the Civil Code,
• Act No. 634/2004 Coll., on administrative fees,
• Act No. 91/2012 Coll., on private international law,
• Act No. 500/2004 Coll., the Administrative Procedure Code.

Administrative (or other) fee

• marriage between fiancés who do not have residence in the Czech Republic – 5,000 CZK,
• conclusion of a marriage between fiancés, where only one of them has permanent residence in the Czech Republic – 3,000 Kč,
• issuance of a permit to enter into marriage outside the specified times or outside an officially designated room – 3,000 CZK.

The Town Council has set the following days, times and venues for wedding ceremonies

• Fridays between 09.00 and 14.00 in the Ceremonial Hall of the Příbram Municipal Office – Zámeček-Ernestinum. 
• Tuesdays from 1.00 pm to 3.00 pm in the Deputy Mayor’s office at the Příbram Town Hall (town hall building), Příbram I, Tyršova 108. This is a so-called civil ceremony, which is suitable for engaged couples who wish to marry in the presence of only the officiant and two witnesses. 

On these days, at these times and in these locations, the marriage ceremony is free of charge. 

Notes

The ceremony hall is equipped with a sound system capable of playing music from a USB stick. Additional services such as a celebratory toast, a photographer, a videographer, etc., are to be arranged by the couple at their own expense. 

Where to find further information

Further information can be found on the website of the Ministry of the Interior of the Czech Republic: www.mvcr.cz.

Ernestinum Manor House 

Ceremonial Hall