Registered partnership

How does it work?

Together with the municipality, you will discuss, among other things:

• the date
• the location
• which official you would like
• who your witnesses will be during the ceremony
• what the costs are

It is important that:

• you and your partner are both 18 years of age or older
• you are unmarried and do not have a registered partnership with anyone else

Difference between marriage and registered partnership

There are three differences between marriage and a registered partnership:

• When you get married, you say “I do” to each other. In a civil partnership, this is not required.
• If you do not have minor children, a registered partnership can be dissolved without going to court. In the case of a marriage, you must always go to court to get a divorce.
• Registered partnerships do not allow for legal separation, whereas marriage does.

What should I do?

• You must notify the municipality that you wish to enter into a registered partnership. You must do this at least 14 days in advance at the municipality where you want your partnership to be registered.
• Please list the names of your witnesses for the ceremony. These individuals must be at least 18 years old. You may have a minimum of two and a maximum of four witnesses. For a free civil partnership, you may have two witnesses.

Registered partnership with a non-Dutch citizen

If your partner is not a Dutch citizen, he or she must first submit a "Declaration of No Sham Marriage." In this declaration, your partner states that he or she is not entering into a partnership with you for the purpose of obtaining a residence permit. The IND will verify this declaration.

You do not need this statement if you:

• hold citizenship of both of these countries
• both of you have a permanent residence permit
• both of you have permanent asylum status
• want to register a foreign civil partnership that is more than ten years old in the Netherlands
• want to register a dissolved foreign partnership in the Netherlands

Make an appointment

To make an appointment, please call our Customer Service Center. They are available during business hours.

How much does it cost?

Costs of registering a civil partnership at city hall or at a designated location

• Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.€422.00
• Free on Wednesdays between 9:00 and 9:30 a.m.
• Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.€617.00

Costs of registering a partnership at your own location

• Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.€478.00
• Saturday between 9:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.€685.00
• For information about venue costs, please contact the property manager or owner

Costs for a private registrar

• For the appointment of a person of your choice as a civil registrar:€210.00 per day
• For the appointment, without oath, of a person of one’s choice as a civil registrar:€101.00 per day

Cost of a partnership certificate

• Faux leather partnership booklet, printed€33.45
• Leather-bound partnership booklet, printed:€43.50
• Art-decorated calligraphy partnership booklet€50.00
• Leather-bound partnership booklet with calligraphy€59.50
• Calligraphy
  • Add child(ren)€11.25

Witness

• Witness provided by the municipality of West Maas en Waal € 47.00 per witness

What do I need?

• valid identification for you and your partner
• copies of your witnesses' valid identification documents 

Location

If you wish to register your partnership at a location of your choice, you must obtain permission from the owner or manager. To obtain this permission, you will need a completed and signed consent form.

Declaration of Consent for a Wedding or Registered Partnership at a Location of Choice

Additional information

• If you wish to convert your registered partnership into a marriage, you must request a "certificate of conversion" from the municipality.
• Do you both live outside the Netherlands, and does at least one of you have Dutch citizenship? If so, you must file the report with the municipality of The Hague.
• A domestic partnership is not recognized if you or your partner is under the age of 18.

Other Requirements

• You may not enter into a civil partnership with your own child, brother, sister, parent, grandparent, grandchild, half-brother, or half-sister.
• You cannot be forced into a registered partnership.
• Are you under guardianship? If so, you need permission from your guardian or the subdistrict court.

If you do not meet the Requirements, the Minister of Justice and Security may still grant permission. For example, if you are siblings by adoption. This is called a marriage dispensation.

Consequences of a registered partnership abroad

Some countries do not recognize registered partnerships. This could have consequences if, for example, you plan to move to another country. Check with the embassy to see if this applies to you.

Agreements with the municipality

If you enter into a registered partnership, you can make arrangements with the municipality regarding the registration of your partnership. For example, you can discuss the location where you would like to register, as well as the date and time. You can also make arrangements regarding the format of the ceremony.

You are not required to say "I do," but you may if you wish.

Would you like to register your partnership for free? You can do so on Wednesdays from 9:00 to 9:30 a.m. You must always Make an appointment to do so.