A Certificate of No Marriage (CENOMAR), as the name implies, is a certification issued by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) that declares that a person has not yet been married. Also known as a Certificate of No Record of Marriage or a Certificate of Singleness, the CENOMAR is one of the requirements in order to obtain a marriage license.
In legal terms, a single person is an individual who has never been married. If a person was previously married but was divorced or widowed, he or she is considered as “unmarried.” However, if a person’s marriage was annulled or declared void ab initio (not valid from the beginning), and assuming that the person has not contracted marriage before, then the person is still considered single.
Why is the CENOMAR so important? Without a CENOMAR, a couple cannot obtain a marriage license that is required for a church or civil wedding. The CENOMAR proves that a person has not contracted marriage previously and that he or she is unattached. Any marriage wherein one party is still subsisting is considered null and void under the Family Code of the Philippines. Bigamy, in which an individual contracts a second or subsequent marriage before the previous marriage has been legally dissolved or before the absent spouse has been declared presumptively dead, is punishable as a crime under the Revised Penal Code.
Aside from marriage, a CENOMAR is also needed for some jobs and positions that require the applicant to prove that he or she is single. It may also be required for fiancee visa applications. Philippine embassies may also require a CENOMAR for Filipinos who want to get married in a foreign country.
The Philippine Statistics Authority is the sole agency authorized to issue the CENOMAR. It is also the central repository of marriage records and receives copies of marriage certificates from local civil registrars in the Philippines.
How to Request a CENOMAR Online
Just like many government transactions nowadays, getting a CENOMAR can be done through the Internet. This eliminates the need to go to the PSA office to apply for this certificate. This is especially useful if the requester is residing abroad and doesn’t have the means to request for records in person.
Unlike other civil documents, there are no specific CENOMAR requirements. Applying for a CENOMAR online is fairly easy and straightforward by filling out an online form and providing some personal information.
Here are the information you need to request your CENOMAR online:
- Complete name of the person to be certified
- Complete name of the father
- Complete maiden name of the mother
- Date of birth
- Place of birth
- Complete name and address of the requesting party
- Number or copies needed
- Purpose for the certification
Via the PSA Serbilis Website
You can request for your CENOMAR online using the PSA Serbilis website (formerly e-Census). You will receive your document in 3 to 13 working days.
Step 1: Visit the PSA Serbilis website.
Step 2: Click the “Click here to request now” link or go here.
Step 3: Read the terms and conditions. Click the “I Accept” button.
Step 3: Enter your contact and delivery information including home address, telephone or mobile number and email address. Click the “Next” button.
Confirm that your details are correct, then click “Confirm.”
Step 4: On the Request Summary page, choose CENOMAR.
Step 5: Fill up the request form as honestly and completely as possible.
Click “Save” when you’re done.
Step 6: Confirm that your details are correct, and then click “Confirm.” Otherwise, click “Change/Edit” to make any changes.
Step 7: You will be redirect back to the Requests Summary page. Click “Submit.”
Step 8: Pay the fee which is ₱430 per copy for local delivery and $25.30 for abroad. PSA Serbilis has several payment options including online credit card payment, BDO online banking and Unionbank online banking. You can also pay through Bayad Center.
If you opt to pay at BDO or Unionbank branches, be sure to present a printed copy of the acknowledgement page.
Step 9: Wait for delivery in 3 to 13 working days after payment (6-8 weeks for abroad).
Via PSAHelpline.ph
Another way to request your CENOMAR online is through the PSAHelpline.ph website.
Step 1: Go to the PSAHelpline.ph website. Click the “Order Now” link at the top of the page (or click here).
Step 2: Choose “Certificate of Singleness / CENOMAR.”
Step 3: Choose your purpose for requesting the CENOMAR.
Step 4: Complete the CENOMAR application form. Click “Continue” when you’re done.
Step 5: Enter the name of the person who will use the CENOMAR. If you are requesting for yourself, select “Owner of the Certificate” in the last field. Click “Submit” when you’re done.
Step 6: On the Checkout page, provide your contact information, delivery address and, optionally, the name of the authorized representative who will receive the documents in your behalf.
Tick the box which says “I certify that all the information I’ve provided is true and correct,” and then click “Continue.”
Step 7: Pay for your CENOMAR through online payment channels such as Visa/Mastercard, Bancnet or Gcash, or through over-the-counter payment channels like Metrobank, Bayad Center, 7-Eleven or Bancnet ATM. The fee is ₱465 per copy.
Step 8: Wait for delivery in 2-7 working days after payment.
CENOMAR Validity
Take note that the CENOMAR validity is only for 6 months from the date of issuance.
If you need your CENOMAR within 1-2 working days, it’s advisable to request for the document at the nearest PSA office. The PSA office accepts walk-in applicants. Just fill up the CENOMAR form (which you can download here) and bring it to the counter that processes CENOMAR certificates.
A list of PSA offices nationwide can be found here.
That’s it! Getting your CENOMAR online has never been this easy. If you have any questions, feel free to comment below.
