My husband and I got married recently and reality is now hitting me. It’s time to obtain and update all our legal documents and the first step is getting a PSA certified Marraige Certificate.Â
It is such a pain in the arse here in our country unfortunately especially when updating or obtaining legal records.
In the Philippines, the release of official PSA Certified True Copy of Marriage Certificate after the wedding is a long process and usually takes 3-6 months. But what if the married couple needs the legal document ASAP, is there a way to speed up the process? The answer is YES!
In case you missed it, NSO (National Statistics Office) is now called PSA (Philippine Statistics Authority) and the Frontline Service Counters for the copy issuance of civil registry documents (Birth, Marriage and Death Certificates) and CENOMAR at East Avenue, Quezon City, transferred to its new location at Solicarel Buildging I and II, Ramon Magsaysay Blvd., Sta. Mesa, Manila (Near LRT2 Pureza Station) last September 30, 2016.
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Our Marriage Facts
Month of Marriage: August 2017
Place of Marriage: Makati City
Local Civil Registrar (LCR) Where Marriage is Registered: Makati City
Date of Registry: August 29, 2017
Advance/Early Endorsement Process for PSA Marriage Certificate
Requirements:
1. Endorsement Letter to Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) Quezon City from your Local Civil Registrar (LCR)
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2. Office of the Civil Registry Group (OCRG) copy of Marriage Contract
3. Courier Receipt
Process:
Note: Do this as soon as you get your copy of the Marriage Contract from Local Civil Registrar or Church
1. Request at your respective Local Civil Registar (LCR) for an Advance/Early Endorsement to Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA)Â
2. Present a copy of your Marriage Contract from Local Civil Registrar (LCR) to official. Local Civil Registrar (LCR) will prepare the Endorsement Letter and Office of the Civil Registry Group (OCRG) copy of Marriage Contract. (In my case, I was redirected by the Local Civil Registrar (LCR) of Makati to Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) Outlet, NCR District 3, Makati)
1. Request at your respective Local Civil Registar (LCR) for an Advance/Early Endorsement to Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA)Â
2. Present a copy of your Marriage Contract from Local Civil Registrar (LCR) to official. Local Civil Registrar (LCR) will prepare the Endorsement Letter and Office of the Civil Registry Group (OCRG) copy of Marriage Contract. (In my case, I was redirected by the Local Civil Registrar (LCR) of Makati to Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) Outlet, NCR District 3, Makati)
3. Pay the corresponding fee. (Prices may vary. In my case I paid 120 Pesos, including the shipping fee)
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4. Get the Endorsement Letter and Office of the Civil Registry Group (OCRG)Â copy, photocopy the documents and keep the photocopies.
5. Enclose the ORIGINAL Endorsement Letter and Office of the Civil Registry Group (OCRG) Copy of Marriage Certificate in a brown envelope. Address the envelope to the addressee indicated on the letter and send this to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) Main Office using next-day delivery. (In my case,  Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) Outlet, NCR District 3, Makati mailed my documents on my behalf)
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6. Keep the courier receipt. (In my case, I got the receipt 2 days after  Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) Outlet, NCR District 3, Makati mailed my documents because it was holiday the following day)
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7. Following day, proceed to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) Office at Solicarel Building II, Ramon Magsaysay Blvd – Service Rd, Santa Mesa, Metro Manila. Below is the map for reference:
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8. Upon entering Building II (two) , ask where to go for advance endorsements. It’s located at the 3rd floor.
9. Go to the helpdesk (left side) and present the Courier Receipt and photocopy of early/advance endorsement letter and Office of the Civil Registry Group (OCRG) copy of Marriage Contract.
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10. Helpdesk will give you a form to fill out where you can request the number of copies (140 Pesos each regardless of the amount of page).
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11. After filling out the form,Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) representatives will double check your form, Courier Receipt and photocopy of early endorsement letter and Office of the Civil Registry Group (OCRG)Â Copy of Marriage Certificate.
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12. Proceed to Cashier Window (5 onward) to submit form and pay. The date and time of release and pick-up will be stamped at the back of the receipt. It’s usually 2-3 weeks from the date you sent the documents to Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).
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13. There is already a set schedule for releases posted at the cashier window depending on what day you process/pay your application.Â
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14. On the date and time of release, prepare a valid Identification Card to present upon pick up and go to the same building, but this time at the 5th floor, right side.Â
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15. Give your receipt to the security guards in charge and wait for your name to be called at window R1.Â
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FAQs:
1. What are the acceptable Valid IDs?
1. What are the acceptable Valid IDs?
Answer: Office/Company ID, School ID, Unexpired SS/ GSIS/ Pag-Ibig/ Philhealth/ Professional License/ Senior Citizen/ Driver’s License/ Passport/ NBI Clearance/ TIN/ Philpost/ Voter’s/ PWD.
2. What if I did not pick up/claim my requested certificate on the date and time of release?
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Answer: Documents unclaimed 30 days after the date of release will be disposed.
Gist based on our timeline:
- September 20, 2017 – Requested for an advance/early endorsement at Makati City Local Civil Registrar (LCR) but was redirected by the Local Civil Registrar (LCR) of Makati to Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) Outlet, NCR District 3, Makati and they mailed my documents on my behalf using same-day delivery.
- September 22, 2017 – Went to Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) Office to pay for copies
- October 09, 2017 – Picked up Official Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA)  Certified True Copy of Marriage Certificate
Government Reference:Â https://psa.gov.ph/civilregistration/requesting-civil-registry-document/marriage-certificate
Great Info! Looking to get our Marriage Certificate ASAP as well.
Do you know by any chance if we can have the documents shipped instead of claiming at head office?
THANKS SA INFO PO.. LAKING TULONG
Omg this is the right answer to my question!! Thank you so much!!
You're welcome Julius. I hope you already claimed yours. 🙂
You're welcome Carmie. I hope you already claimed yours. 🙂
Hi Diane, apologies for the late revert. I believe they have an option to have it shipped. I hope you already claimed yours. 🙂
We just processed last March 30,2021 and I’m hoping we can get our PSA marriage certificate as soon as possible because we really need it before April 28 at this month???
We just processed last March 30,2021 and I’m hoping we can get our PSA marriage certificate as soon as possible because we really need it before April 28 at this month.?
Hi Marilou, sorry for the late revert. I hope you were able to get your PSA Marriage Cert on time.
Hi! I have a question po. After obtaining marriage certificate from Local Civil Registry, is it automatically registered to PSA, or should I still register it to PSA?
HI Mondragon, apologies for the late revert. Your marriage will be automatically registered na to PSA, you just need to wait for a few months to obtain the PSA certification.
3-6 months after the wedding or after mapa rehistro sa munisipyo? March po kasi kami kinasal kaso May na namin naparehistro sa munisipyo due to lockdown po. Ngayon po nag request na ako ng certificate of marriage sa PSA kaso wala pa daw po silang record. What month kaya ako pwede mag request ulit?
Hi Mariz, apologies for the late revert. Have you tried calling PSA or sending them a message via email/Facebook official page? I myself isn’t sure since our situation is different now due to the pandemic. Hope you get your PSA certification soon.
Panu po Yung tulad namin mag asawa Nasa abroad kami pero need namin ang PSA marriage contract.. Kasi galing sa municipal Lang Yung dala namin dito.?
Panu kami mag apply for PSA?
Hi Normia, apologies for the late revert. I am not sure how to go about it especially now that it is pandemic. Have you tried calling PSA or sending them a message via email/Facebook official page? I hope you get your PSA certification soon.
Saan po makabili nang blankong forn ng marriage certificate po..
Tank you…
Form po yan ma’am…sorry po
Where to buy blank form of marriage certificate
Hi John, apologies for the late revert. You mean a blank marriage certificate template? You can check google images for it. I am sure PSA or LCR is not allowed to randomly give out blank forms to unauthorized person po.
Hi @joychewtheworld, in my case i really need a copy of our marriage certificate for visa application. After wedding I wasn’t able to request for an early endorsement since I was busy with work and didn’t find time to visit Lcr. it’s been 5 mos now but we don’t have any records yet in Psa. Do you think I can still do the things that you did for me to get it already?
Does it mean that when you requested this advance copy and released to you mean that the marriage is already posted in PSA? or if you needed again a copy of it and requested personally and not that endorsed by LCR you are not able to get a copy yet?lets say a week after the release of your mc thru this LCR endorsement..thanks
Yes, it was already posted in PSA by the time I requested; hence, the recommendation from LCR. Yes, you can get another copy of your PSA certified MC in any PSA branch near you if you’re already done with the steps I mentioned (it doesn’t have to be from the main branch).
@atarashiiabby You should coordinate with your LCR first before going directly to PSA. Your LCR will file your marriage on your behalf. The process may be slower due to the pandemic. I hope you can get your MC certified the soonest. Good luck!