CENOMAR, What is it Really?

CENOMAR. You'd most probably come across the term when planning a wedding, as most churches and some local civil registrars have this in their list of required documents.

CENOMAR stands for "Certificate of No Marriage". Its main purpose is to certify that a person does not have a marriage certificate filed in National Statistics Office, hence, he or she is eligible to marry.

National Statistics Office is the issuing agency for CENOMAR. CENOMAR is a public document, hence unlike a birth certificate where there are limitations on who are eligible to make the request (say, it should be the person himself, an authorized person, or the closest relative), request for a CENOMAR could be done by anyone. All that he/she needs to provide are the following info:

1. the person's full name
2. father's full name
3. mother's full maiden name
4. date of birth
5. place of birth
6. full name and address of the requesting party
7. number of requested copies
8. the purpose for obtaining such

(Note that items 1-5 refers to the person's data, and not the requesting party's data.)

Should you prefer to apply for a CENOMAR request in person via Census Serbilis Centers, the fee will be P 195 per copy (P 180 specific fee + P 15 documentary stamp tax). You will be able to get your CENOMAR in 1 to 2 working days.

If you request for CENOMAR via e-Census (National Statistics Office's internet transaction service), the payment would be P 415 per copy. This is inclusive of processing, delivery, and government taxes. For CENOMAR delivery outside the Philippines, each copy would cost USD 25.

Request for CENOMAR via e-Census within the Philippines could be paid via BDO (branches, internet banking, and ATM) and UnionBank (branches and online banking). Request for CENOMAR via e-Census outside the Philippines could be paid using credit cards (only those from US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Europe and Japan are accepted), via BDO Remit offices and partners offering Kabayan Bills Bayad, and other foreign correspondent banks.

If you used e-Census to make a CENOMAR request, when will the documents be delivered?

If the delivery is within Metro Manila, Metro Cebu or Metro Davao, you will get your CENOMAR in 3-5 working days after payment. For all other locations in the Philippines, your CENOMAR will be delivered 4-9 working days after payment. If you are in another country, delivery is 6-8 weeks after payment, via PhilPost.