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Terms & Conditions

Terms and Conditions

You must read the Terms and Conditions before you can proceed to make an application for a Certificat de Coutume or Nulla Osta to allow you to enter into a marriage abroad.

General Statement:

This Online application facility to allow you to apply for a Certificat de Coutume or Nulla Osta is hosted and controlled by the Department of Foreign Affairs. Users of the online application are considered to have accepted these Terms and Conditions.

Online payments

Your Credit/Debit card will be debited by the Department of Foreign Affairs on the date of your application unless otherwise stated.

The Department of Foreign Affairs accepts only 3D secure transactions.

Cardholders must be over 18.

The following cards are accepted:

If applications are returned to you without being approved, your payment will be refunded. A refund will also apply if an application is cancelled by you.

The Department of Foreign Affairs is responsible for processing your application and commits to issuing your Certificate of Freedom for your marriage abroad within 8 weeks of the date of marriage if submitted within the correct timeframe.

Copyright

The material featured on this site is subject to Government copyright according to the Copyright and Related Rights Act, 2000. The material may be downloaded to file or printer for personal use only. Where this material is being issued to others, the source (including URL) and copyright status must be acknowledged.

The permission to reproduce Government copyright material does not extend to any material on this site which may be the property of a third party. Authorisation to reproduce such material must be obtained from the copyright holders concerned.

Disclaimer

The contents of these pages are provided as an information guide only. They are intended to enhance public access to information about the Government and its Departments. While every effort is made in preparing material for publication no responsibility is accepted by or on behalf of the State for any errors, omissions or misleading statements on these pages or any site to which these pages connect.

Although every effort is made to ensure the reliability of listed sites this cannot be taken as an endorsement of these sites.

Data Protection & Privacy Statement

Data Protection is concerned with the protection of your fundamental right to privacy and your right to exercise control over how your personal information is used. More information on this matter can be found on the following website: www.dataprotection.ie  

The Department’s privacy policy, including information on your rights, including the contact details of the Data Protection Officer is available here:

https://www.dfa.ie/about-us/our-commitments/privacy-policy/

Your personal details will be treated with the highest standard of security and confidentiality, strictly in accordance with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018.

By proceeding to use this site, you acknowledge that the processing of the personal data you provide as part of the Application (including data that you may provide relating to a Third Party) will be processed for the purposes below.

The Department of Foreign Affairs may use information it holds about you for the purposes of:

a)      Assessing your entitlement to a Certificat de Coutume/Nulla Osta for Marriage Abroad and the issuing of a certificate to you in that regard

b)      To contact you if required in connection with your application or to respond to any communications you might send to the Department regarding your application

In particular the following personal information relating to you and your intended spouse or civil partner will be processed by the Department:

  • Forename and Surname
  • Date of birth
  • PPSN
  • Change of name details
  • Place of birth
  • Passport details
  • Mother’s maiden name
  • Father’s name
  • Home address
  • Email address
  • Contact telephone number
  • Gender
  • Marital Status
  • Marriage/Previous Marriages
  • Path to Irish Citizenship?

The personal information you provide in the course of your application, relating to you and/or a third party, shall be retained by the Department of Foreign Affairs for record purposes and in line with the National Archives Act 1986 (as amended).

Disclosure of Information

Where information is provided to us as part of the online application process for a Certificat de Coutume or Nulla Osta, applicants should be aware that information provided on the application form may be disclosed to other Irish Government Departments, Agencies, Public Authorities and Foreign Governments in order to verify information which has been made in regard to any application for a Certificat de Coutume or Nulla Osta.

Changes to this Privacy Statement

We reserve the right to amend this statement at any future date and any changes will be posted on this page.

Virus Protection

We make every effort to check and test material at all stages of production. It is always wise for you to run an anti-virus program on all material downloaded from the Internet. We cannot accept any responsibility for any loss, disruption or damage to your data or your computer system which may occur whilst using material derived from this website.

Freedom of Information

The Freedom of Information (FOI) Act came into effect on 14th October 2014.

Under FOI each person has a right to:
• access information held by a Government Department or certain public bodies
•  have personal information relating to you held by a Government Department or certain public bodies corrected where it is inaccurate, incomplete or misleading
• obtain reasons for a decisions made by a Government Department or certain public body where the decision affects you

For more information on your rights under Freedom of Information, visit www.foi.gov.ie

**REMINDER**
To save and print your application form you will need Adobe reader on your PC. To download Adobe reader please click here

By proceeding to make an application online you have agreed to the above Terms and Conditions.