Who we are

When and how to contact us

Information protected

Our services and standards

How you can help us

How we monitor our performance

If you are not satisfied with our service

Learning from you

At the Marriage Registry, within the Public Registry, we are responsible for the administration of the Marriage Act, that regulates all marriages taking  place in Malta. 

Our Charter tells you about our services and the standards that you can expect from us in line with the recommendations of the Charters Support Unit. Through our charter we are committing ourselves  to providing you with a quality service on time.

The opening hours of our Office are as follows-

Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays- from 7.30 a.m. to 2.00 p.m.

Wednesdays only- from 7.30 a.m. to 2.00 p.m. and from 3.00 p.m. to 6.00 p.m.

Saturdays only- from 7.30 a.m. to 11.00 a.m.

Please call for an appointment on 22209200, 22209212-7

Email:              pubreg.marriage@gov.mt

When you visit us we:

• welcome you in a clean and friendly environment
• are quick, courteous and helpful at all times.

When you phone us:

• we answer promptly and identify ourselves.

When you write to us to us we:

• acknowledge your correspondence within one  working day of receipt
• send a reply within five working days under normal circumstances
• inform you periodically of the progress to your query.

When you send us an e-mail, we send:

• immediate acknowledgement
• send a reply within three  working days.

When you phone for your appointment, we will::

• give you an appointment within the period best allocated to your intended date of marriage and according to your specific circumstances.

When you visit our website or ask for information, we will provide you with the most accurate and up-to-date information available to us.

The Marriage Registry collects and processes information to carry out its functions under the Marriage Act, Chapter 255.  All data is collected and processed in accordance to the Data Protection Act 2001, the Marriage Act and other subsidiary legislation.

On the day of the given appointment the couple (those residing in Malta) are to call together at the Marriage Registry to apply for the Publication of the Banns between 3 months and not less than six weeks prior to the date of marriage. You are required to produce the following documents and fee:

You should also provide us with information regarding:

• the church where the marriage will be held
• the marriage date and time
• the name of the priest officiating at the ceremony
• the surname which the bride will be adopting after marriage.

You can expect us to:

• publish your Marriage banns four to five weeks before your marriage date
• normally take not more than 15 minutes to attend to your needs.

Ten days prior to the marriage date one of the intended spouses should call at the Public Registry to collect three documents which you should submit to the parish priest of the relative Parish where the marriage is to take place. When collecting these documents, you have to produce your Identity Card.

We are committed to provide you with these documents within ten minutes.

The Act of Marriage should be signed by the officiating priest, the spouses themselves and the therein mentioned witnesses.

Couples who are getting married in Gozo should apply for their marriage banns at the Marriage Registry in Gozo.

Civil Marriages

The Marriage Registry also provides the services for Civil Marriages. Three months and not less than 6 weeks prior to the marriage, the couple (those residing in Malta) are to call together at the Marriage Registry to apply for the Publication of the Banns. On the first visit to the Marriage Registry, you need to produce the following documents and fee:

• your birth certificates; (only applicable for Civil Status Certificates not issued by the Public Registry in Malta/Gozo)
• your identity cards and photocopies of same
• passports in case of foreigners
• a free status certificate is required in the case of foreigners or Maltese citizens residing abroad
• a photocopy of the identity cards of the two witnesses, who must have attained the age of 18
• foreign witnesses are requested to supply a photocopy of their passport showing particulars
• in the case of previous marriages a divorce/annulment document has to be produced
• payment in advance (vide fees) for services rendered by the Marriage Registry; the fee is not refundable in the event of cancellation of the marriage
• other documents may be requested by the Registrar according to the particular case.

Spouses under 18 years of age should be accompanied by their parents, who in turn are to file a written consent.

You should also give us information regarding:

• the place where the marriage will be held
• the marriage date and time
• the surname which the bride will be adopting after marriage.

You can expect us to:

• publish your Marriage Banns 4 to 5 weeks before your marriage date
• normally take not more than 15 minutes to attend to your needs.

The marriage may take place at the Marriage Office of the Public Registry or any other place open to the public that is accepted by the Marriage Registrar.

You can expect us to:

• conduct your marriage in a well-suited environment
• conduct the marriage ceremony professionally and in a dignified manner.

At the Marriage Registry we also offer the following services:

• information to assist a Maltese national marrying a foreigner
• register all marriages which have taken place abroad where at least one of the married couple is a Maltese national
• commence formalities needed to annotate in the relative Act of Birth, the legitimation ‘by subsequent marriage' of children born out of wedlock
• offer the services of a Marriage Office which is situated at ground floor level to cater for persons with special needs who want to apply for the marriage formalities.

You can help us deliver a better service by:

• being courteous and co-operative with our staff
• providing us with accurate and up-to-date information
• phoning on 22209200 for an appointment when applying for religious or civil marriage formalities.

Assessing how  well we perform against our charter standards is important for your satisfaction.  We assess and improve our standards from the queries or complaints we receive from you and through periodical surveys.  We also review our chartered standards periodically. 

We welcome any suggestions for service improvement. Kindly give us your  suggestions by filling in a Feedback Form found at the back of this leaflet and leaving it in the suggestion box or sending it by post to our office . You can also make a suggestion, lodge a complaint or ask a question by accessing the Customer Care System at www.servizz.gov.mt

All information is correct at time of going to print. More information can be found on the Charter Support Unit website and on the Marriage Registry website.

September 2004

Reviewed May 2005

Reviewed April 2011

Published by the Charter Support Unit, OPM

Printed at the Government Press