In short
Since 25 September 2023, couples no longer sign a physical marriage certificate in Singapore. The digital marriage certificate, issued once your marriage is registered, is now the official proof of marriage. If you sign a ceremonial certificate of marriage on the day, in front of your solemniser and two witnesses, that document is a keepsake rather than the legal record.
- The digital marriage certificate is the official record; a signed paper certificate on the day is a keepsake only.
- At a Registry site, your marriage is registered the same day.
- At your own venue, the solemniser registers the marriage online afterwards, and the digital certificate is usually emailed within about a week.
- You need two witnesses, each at least 21, of any nationality.
- The Registry of Marriages currently operates from a temporary site at The Esplanade Mall while its Canning Rise building is redeveloped.
- For questions about the certificate itself, check marriage.gov.sg or the Registry; for legalisation or an apostille for overseas use, the Singapore Academy of Law; for identity-document changes, the authority that issued the document.
The digital marriage certificate
Since 25 September 2023, the process for registering a civil marriage in Singapore no longer includes signing a physical marriage certificate. Instead, once your marriage is registered, a digital marriage certificate is issued, and this digital certificate is your official proof of marriage. This is the document that matters for legal and administrative purposes going forward.
This is a different document from any paper keepsake you may sign on the day itself, which is described below.
The ceremonial certificate of marriage: a keepsake, not the legal record
On the day of your ceremony, it is common for the couple, the solemniser, and the two witnesses to sign a ceremonial certificate of marriage. This paper certificate is a keepsake of the occasion rather than the legal record of your marriage — the digital marriage certificate, issued after registration, is what serves that purpose. Many couples still choose to have this keepsake certificate signed and framed, since it captures the moment with everyone's signatures.
Registering your marriage: at a Registry site or at your own venue
How and when the marriage is registered depends on where you solemnise. If you marry at a Registry site, the marriage is registered on the day itself. If you solemnise at a venue of your own choosing, your solemniser registers the marriage online afterwards, and the digital certificate is typically emailed to you within about a week of the ceremony.
This is worth keeping in mind when planning your timeline, particularly if you need proof of marriage for another purpose shortly after your wedding, since a venue solemnisation involves a short wait for the certificate compared with a same-day registration at a Registry site. Our guide to how ROM solemnisation works covers the full process from application to certificate.
Where the Registry of Marriages is located now
The Registry of Marriages has operated from a temporary site at The Esplanade Mall, #03-03/04, 8 Raffles Avenue, since 14 April 2025, while its Canning Rise building is redeveloped, with that redevelopment expected to run through to 2028. The Registry's other solemnisation site is the Ficus Room at Gardens by the Bay.
If you are planning a Registry-site solemnisation, it is worth confirming the current location and any booking details directly with the Registry, since a temporary arrangement like this can involve different opening hours or booking steps compared with a permanent site.
Witnesses
You need two witnesses for your solemnisation, and each must be aged at least 21. They can be of any nationality, and are commonly a sibling, close friend, or other trusted person from either side of the family. Our guide to finding a solemniser in Singapore covers who else needs to be arranged ahead of the ceremony.
What to check directly with the relevant authority
Some questions about your marriage certificate depend on your specific circumstances and are best checked directly with the relevant authority rather than assumed from a general guide. This includes:
- How to apply for a replacement copy of your marriage certificate, and what that process involves.
- Fees for certified copies of your certificate.
- Steps for legalising or apostilling your marriage certificate for use overseas.
- Rules or procedures around a name change following marriage.
For questions about your marriage certificate itself, check marriage.gov.sg or contact the Registry. To have a Singapore document legalised or apostilled for use overseas, the Singapore Academy of Law handles legalisation. For changes to identity documents, check with the authority that issued them. Requirements can be specific to your situation and can change.
Requirements around your marriage certificate are set by the Registry and can change, so confirm your own situation on marriage.gov.sg. If you would like your ROM ceremony photographed, see our ROM and solemnisation photography, our guide to how ROM solemnisation works, or our guide to finding a solemniser.