A CENOMAR, short for Certificate of No Marriage Record, is a document issued by the Philippine Statistics Authority stating that, based on the national civil registry, you have no record of a valid marriage under your name. It's a common requirement for couples applying for a marriage license, Filipinos seeking a fiancé or spouse visa abroad, and certain government or employment transactions. Here's exactly how to get one in 2026, including the actual fees and delivery timelines.
This guide covers Step 1: Understand What a CENOMAR Actually Certifies and Step 2: Know When You'll Need a CENOMAR, with the full details below.
- CENOMAR is issued by the PSA and certifies you have no recorded marriage in the national civil registry
- Walk-in fee is around ₱210; online delivery to your home costs around ₱420-₱430 including courier
- You can order through official PSA-authorized channels without visiting a PSA office in person
- Processing and delivery usually take 3-10 business days depending on your location
- Most commonly required for fiancé visas, marriage license applications, and some overseas job placements
Step 1: Understand What a CENOMAR Actually Certifies
A CENOMAR confirms that, as of the date it was issued, the PSA's national civil registry has no record showing you have ever contracted a marriage. It's different from a Certificate of No Marriage combined with other civil status documents — if you were previously married and later widowed, annulled, or divorced (recognized in the Philippines), your CENOMAR may instead reflect that marital history rather than showing 'no record,' so it's important to know your own civil status history before ordering.
Step 2: Know When You'll Need a CENOMAR
- Applying for a marriage license at your local civil registrar
- Applying for a fiancé (K-1), spouse, or partner visa with a foreign embassy or consulate
- Certain overseas employment or immigration applications that require proof of civil status
- Adoption proceedings and some court petitions requiring proof of civil status
- Annulment or legal separation proceedings, where your marital history needs to be verified
Step 3: Choose Where to Request Your CENOMAR
You have two main options: (1) walk in at a PSA Civil Registry System (CRS) outlet with a booked appointment, or (2) order online through the PSA's official online delivery channels. Visit the Philippine Statistics Authority's official website for the current list of authorized online ordering partners and PSA CRS outlet locations near you.
Step 4: Prepare the Information You'll Need to Order
Whether ordering online or walk-in, you'll need your complete legal name exactly as registered, your date and place of birth, your mother's maiden name, and a valid ID for identity verification. If you have a common name, providing an accurate middle name and birth details helps avoid delays caused by the system matching you to a different person with a similar name.
Step 5: Pay the Correct Fee for Your Chosen Delivery Method
As of 2026, a walk-in CENOMAR at a PSA CRS outlet costs around ₱210 per copy. If you order online for home delivery, expect to pay approximately ₱420 to ₱430 per copy, which includes the PSA processing fee, security paper, and nationwide courier delivery. Payment can typically be made through GCash, Maya, credit/debit card, or over-the-counter at partner outlets like 7-Eleven.
Step 6: Wait for Processing and Delivery
Walk-in requests with a confirmed appointment are usually released the same day or within a few working days. Online orders typically take 3 to 5 business days for delivery within Metro Manila and nearby provinces, and 5 to 10 business days for more remote provinces. Delivery times can be longer during peak application seasons, such as before major visa interview schedules.
Step 7: Check for a 'No Record' vs. Negative Result Issue
If the PSA cannot find your birth record properly linked in their system (a common issue for older records or those with unregistered or late-registered births), your CENOMAR request may return a negative or delayed result. In this case, you may need to first verify or correct your underlying birth record before your CENOMAR request can proceed smoothly.
Step 8: Have It Authenticated (Red Ribbon or Apostille) If Needed Abroad
If your CENOMAR will be used outside the Philippines — for example, submitted to a foreign embassy or consulate — you may need to have it apostilled through the Department of Foreign Affairs, since the Philippines is a signatory to the Apostille Convention. This replaces the older 'red ribbon' authentication process and confirms the document's authenticity for use in another country.
Frequently Asked Questions
A walk-in CENOMAR request at a PSA outlet costs around ₱210 per copy, while ordering online for home delivery costs approximately ₱420 to ₱430 per copy, which covers PSA processing, security paper printing, and courier delivery to your address. It is worth double-checking this against current, Philippine-specific sources before making a decision based on it alone.
Online orders typically arrive within 3 to 5 business days for Metro Manila and nearby provinces, and 5 to 10 business days for more remote areas, though processing can take longer during high-demand periods like before major visa application deadlines. Local context matters here — what applies in other countries does not always translate directly to the Philippine setting.
No. If the PSA's civil registry has a record of a marriage under your name, your certificate will instead reflect that marriage record rather than stating there is no record, since a CENOMAR is meant to accurately reflect your actual civil registry history, not simply issue a blank confirmation on request.
Generally, you should request your own CENOMAR since it requires personal identifying information, but authorized representatives with a notarized special power of attorney and valid ID can sometimes process the request on your behalf, particularly for walk-in transactions. Local context matters here — what applies in other countries does not always translate directly to the Philippine setting.
Yes, most local civil registrars require a CENOMAR (or its equivalent showing no impediment to marry) as part of the marriage license application process, to confirm neither party currently has an existing valid marriage on record. This is especially relevant for Filipino readers, since local platforms, pricing, and consumer habits often differ from other markets.
This usually means your underlying birth record isn't properly matched in the PSA's system, often due to late or manual registration years ago. You may need to first request a copy of your birth certificate to verify it's correctly on file, or coordinate with your Local Civil Registry Office to fix any discrepancies before your CENOMAR request can be completed.
Yes, CENOMAR is the standard Philippine document that foreign embassies and consulates typically require as proof of single/unmarried status when Filipinos apply for fiancé, spouse, or partner visas, though some countries may additionally require it to be apostilled before submission.
Conclusion
Getting a CENOMAR is a straightforward process, especially now that you can order online without visiting a PSA office in person. Just make sure your personal details match your PSA birth record exactly, budget for the correct fee based on your delivery method, and plan for a few extra days if you need the document apostilled for use abroad.
