In Germany, you can get legally married only at the 'Standesamt' (Registry Office/Registrar). The German Registrar usually requires the following documents for this process:

•Passport
•Birth certificate
•If resident in Germany: 'Melde-/Aufenthaltsbescheinigung' issued by the local Ausländerbehörde or Meldebehörde. This is not the residence permit, but it confirms the applicant's current address in Germany
•If one (or both) of the partners has (have) been married before, proof of termination of the previous marriage, i.e. a death certificate or divorce decree, as may be relevant.

The Indian partner will also be asked to present a certificate of no impediment to the marriage ('Ehefähigkeitszeugnis'). Since the Indian authorities do not issue such a formal certificate based upon a national register like in Germany, the Indian partner has to obtain exemption from this requirement from the President of the Higher Regional Court (Oberlandesgericht) in Germany. In order to do so, it is often required by the German authorities to present affidavits from the family that the Indian partner is eligible for marriage.

Please contact your German Registry Office in order to get further details about the marriage application.

During this process you may be asked to have your Indian documents certified by the German Embassy or Consulate General in India. For further details, please refer to the section Attestation of documents, signatures and copies.