Laws and regulations governing marriages in the United States of America vary from one state to another. Therefore, the American Embassy in Brussels, Belgium, does not maintain specific information about these requirements and questions about these may best be addressed to the appropriate authority in each individual state.
For example, a majority of states will require that at least one party to the marriage is a resident of the state where marriage is contemplated; that a blood test be performed to accompany the application for a marriage license; that a number of certified/authenticated documents be submitted. On the other hand, some states may not have such requirements. However, in general, the documents required consist of proof of identity like a passport; proof of age such as a birth certificate; proof of celibacy (certificate from the Belgian commune showing that the person is single, divorced, or widowed). All of these documents may be required to be translated into English and may have to be authenticated by means of the "apostille". The central authority designated in Belgium to authenticate official documents by means of the "apostille", is the Belgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Is a Marriage Solemnized in the United States of America Valid in Belgium?
To be valid in Belgium, and recognized as such, the marriage celebrated in the United States of America needs to be validated in Belgium by the Civil Registrar ("Ambtenaar van de Burgerlijke Stand/Officier de l' Etat Civil"). To do this, the Civil Registrar will have to be submitted a certified copy of the marriage certificate, duly authenticated by means of the "apostille", and translated into the French or Dutch languages. Please note that the Belgian authorities will keep the certified copy of your marriage certificate for their records and you should therefore obtain a separate certified copy of your marriage certificate from the State Vital Statistics Office where the marriage was registered or filed. This certified copy can then be submitted to the office of the Secretary of State in the state where the marriage was celebrated to be further authenticated by means of the "apostille" before being submitted to the Belgian authorities with the translation.
For information about addresses/telephone numbers of Departments of Vital Statistics and Offices of the Secretary of States in a specific state, you may contact the Consular Section of the American Embassy, Brussels, by telephone at 02/508 2383 between the hours of 09:00 a.m. and 12 noon; by fax at 02/513.04.09; or by e-mail to brusselsconsinfo@state.gov
Information above provided by U.S. Embassy in Belgium
