What is a CENOMAR and how do I get one?
Last updated: 2026-07-12 · Educational content; not legal advice.
Short answer
A CENOMAR (Certificate of No Marriage Record), also called a Certificate of Singleness, is a PSA document certifying that you have no recorded marriage in the civil register. You order it from the PSA the same way as a birth certificate — online through PSA Serbilis or PSAHelpline, or at a PSA Serbilis outlet — using your full name, date and place of birth, and your parents' names. It is commonly required when applying for a marriage license. Pay the current PSA fee shown on the PSA site.
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Frequently asked
How long is a CENOMAR valid?
The PSA does not print an expiry on it, but the agency asking for it (e.g., a local civil registrar for a marriage-license application) commonly treats a CENOMAR as current only if issued within the last several months. Confirm the acceptance window with the office requiring it.
What if my CENOMAR wrongly shows a marriage I never entered?
If a CENOMAR reflects a marriage that is not yours (possible identity or clerical issues), raise it with the PSA and the Local Civil Registry that recorded the marriage; correction may require documentary proof or, for substantial disputes, a court process.
Can someone else request my CENOMAR?
A CENOMAR can be requested by the person named or an authorized representative with a signed authorization and valid IDs. Check the PSA's current requesting rules before sending someone on your behalf.
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How to get and fix your government papers without a fixer — a PSA birth, marriage, or death certificate and a CENOMAR (order via PSA Serbilis / PSAHelpline), correcting a misspelled name or wrong first name administratively under RA 9048 and a wrong day/month of birth or sex under RA 10172 (no court needed; the birth YEAR still needs a Rule 108 court petition), late registration of an unregistered birth, the PhilSys national ID and its acceptance as valid proof of identity under RA 11055, applying for or renewing a passport at the DFA and its 10-year adult validity under RA 10928 (amending RA 8239), what to do when you lose your passport, getting an NBI clearance and resolving a 'hit', police and barangay clearances, registering to vote and transferring or reactivating your registration with COMELEC (RA 8189, mandatory biometrics under RA 10367), the cedula / Community Tax Certificate under the Local Government Code (RA 7160), and your anti-red-tape rights against fixers and undue extra requirements under RA 11032 (Ease of Doing Business Act) and RA 9485.