Want to get married in Palawan? You might be out of luck

Beach weddings have always been very popular, and with some of the best beaches on the planet it is understandable why Palawan would be on your list.

Unfortunately, if you (or your spouse) are from the USA, Canada or Australia, you cannot have a civil wedding in Puerto Princesa, Palawan. Puerto Princesa are happy to issue marriage licenses and the Affidavit of legal capacity to marry is acceptable for you to obtain your marriage license. However, when you then try to schedule your civil wedding the Puerto Princesa Justice Hall will refuse to perform civil weddings for citizens of USA, Canada and Australia.

This is because the USA, Canada and Australian will not apostille your legal capacity to marry. The city of Puerto Princesa Justice Hall and Mayors office do not therefore recognise affidavits of legal capacity to marry for civil weddings, yet Puerto Princesa are happy to initially grant marriage licences! Welcome to the Philippines!

Yes it’s odd how one government agency will accept a document, yet another agency won’t accept the very same document from a government agency in the same city? Again, welcome to the Philippines!

This applies to civil weddings. The government agencies in Puerto Princesa will simply tell you to get married in a church – but of course that may not be feasible, possible or desired depending on your circumstances or beliefs. Similarly, couples that have tried the Catholic Church route have been handed a whole list of requirements and if you’re not catholic the church will want even more additional documents and requirements! So, just because you have a marriage license and you have met all the requirements you’re definitely NOT ‘good to go’.

Options

1. Other citizens of the USA, Canada and Australia have successfully been married outside of Puerto Princesa, so try other cities until you get a positive result.

2. Change islands. Get your marriage license reissued from a municipality more familiar and welcoming of foreign civil marriages (and adopt the PSA referendum indicating affidavit for legal capacity of marriage is the new procedure) such as Cebu, Manila, Angeles City etc.

3. Get married abroad. OK, this sounds drastic, but not only can it be more straightforward, it can also prove more advantageous if the unforeseen happens and you wish to get divorced at a later date. Hong Kong is a popular choice for straightforwardness and close proximity to the Philippines.