While the Cambodian Government has verbally advised on 22 January 2009 of the lifting of the marriage to foreigners ban, the Embassy can give no guarantee that the local authorities will comply.  Certificates of No Impediment and marriage affidavits are issued at the applicant's request and the onus is on applicants to check with the local authorities that they can get married in Cambodia.  

Marriage between a British national and a Cambodian spouse

At the Embassy

Before a British National can marry a Cambodian, as part of the formalities, the British National must produce to the Cambodian authorities a Certificate of No Impediment (CNI) - which can be issued by this Embassy.

Any British national wishing to marry must have been resident within the Consular District for at least 21 clear days (i.e. the first day being the day after arrival in the district) before giving notice of intention to marry. An appointment should be made with either the Consul or the Vice-Consul who will witness their oath of intention to marry. Both persons should attend and both should bring their passports with them.

If either person has been married previously, he/she must show the original Divorce decree absolute.

The British national is required to fill and sign an Affidavit of Marriage in the presence of the prospective spouse and of the Consul or the Vice-Consul. Fee for this service is £63.00.

Following the signing of the affidavit, a notice of Intention to Marry will be displayed on the Consular area notice board for three weeks. This is to ensure that there are no objections to the marriage taking place (similar to “Calling The Banns” in the United Kingdom). Assuming there are no objections, a CNI will be issued. Fee for this service is £63.00.

Alternatively, the British national may apply for a “Superintendent Registrar’s Certificate of No Impediment” to marriage pursuant to the marriage to foreigners Act 1906, at the office of the Registrar in the district in which he/she lived in the United Kingdom prior to travelling to Cambodia. Once this document has been seen by the Embassy, a “local” CNI will be issued within 1 day. Fee for this service is £63.00.

At the Offices of the Local Authority

Applicants must submit their request to marry with a duly completed application form to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MFA-IC). The relevant application form can be obtained at the MFA-IC.  Once your application is approved by the MFA-IC, it will be forwarded to the Ministry of Interior for further processing. Once the Ministry of Interior has examined the request they will then forward the application to the relevant local registrar in order to complete the formalities for marriage.

Supporting documentation required: 

• [a]. A request by the couple, to be submitted to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, seeking permission to marry must be certified by the Embassy of the Sovereign nation.
  
• [b]. Certificate of No Impediment or late Spouse’s Death Certificate or Divorce Decree Absolute
  
• [c]. Criminal Records
  
• [d]. Certificate on Profession and monthly income
  
• [e]. Copy of passport and entry visa into Cambodia
  
• [f]. Family record book (Cambodian only)
  
• [g]. Medical certificate issued by an officially recognised Cambodian medical institution

All documents must be legalised by the Embassy of the applicant except for the medical certificate.

Marriage application forms

Download the application form of marriage [PDF, 64 KB]

Marriage procedure between two foreigners in Cambodia [Word, 30KB]