PSA CENOMAR (“Certificate of No Marriage Record”) Online Application Guide
1. What a CENOMAR Is—and Why It Matters
A Certificate of No Marriage Record (CENOMAR), sometimes called a “Certificate of Singleness,” is an official civil‑registry certification issued by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) stating that, as of the date of issuance, the person named therein has no recorded marriage in the National Indices of Marriages.
Typical uses include:
| Purpose | Typical requesting entity | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Application for a marriage licence (Family Code, Art. 12[b]) | Local Civil Registry Office (LCRO) | CENOMAR must generally be issued within the last 6 months. |
| Fiancé(e) / spouse visa (K‑1, CR‑1, EU family‑reunification, etc.) | Foreign embassies & consulates | Some require “date issued not more than 3 months.” |
| Employment abroad / POEA clearance | Recruitment agency / employer | Often bundled with authenticated Birth Certificate. |
| Annulment / nullity / bigamy cases | Courts | Submitted as documentary evidence (Rules of Court, Rule 132). |
| Bank loans / property transfers | Financial institutions | Used to check civil‑status capacity to encumber assets. |
There is no statute fixing an expiry date, but agencies routinely impose their own “freshness” cut‑offs (90–180 days). Always confirm with the end‑user.
2. Legal Foundations
| Source | Key provision |
|---|---|
| Act No. 3753 (Civil Registry Law, 1930) | Establishes compulsory recording of births, marriages and deaths in the Philippines. |
| Republic Act 10625 (PSA Charter, 2013) | Merged NSO, NSCB, BAS & BLES into the PSA; vests the PSA with sole authority to issue civil registry certifications. |
| PSA‑CRG Memorandum Circular 2019‑01 | Permits acceptance of online or telephone requests via accredited service providers. |
| Data Privacy Act, RA 10173 & IRR | Protects personal data contained in civil‑registry instruments; requires consent/authority if requesting another person’s record. |
| RA 9048 as amended by RA 10172 | Allows correction of clerical errors in civil‑registry documents; a CENOMAR with an error must be corrected first. |
3. Who May Request
| Applicant | Documentary requirement |
|---|---|
| The registrant (owner) | One (1) valid government‑issued photo ID (passport, PhilSys ePhilID, driver’s licence, UMID, PRC ID, etc.). |
| Parent / legal guardian | Own valid ID + registrant’s ID or birth certificate. |
| Spouse | Marriage Certificate + both IDs (note: a spouse obviously won’t qualify for a CENOMAR if the marriage is already registered). |
| Authorized representative | Signed Letter of Authorization (LOA) or Special Power of Attorney (SPA), plus IDs of both parties. Notarization strongly advised, especially for court use. |
4. Online Channels
| Platform | URL | Best for | Base service fee* | Delivery fee* | Total* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSA Serbilis (in‑house) | https://www.psaserbilis.com.ph |
Budget‑sensitive users; provincial P.O. Box addresses | ₱ 155 | ₱ 30 Metro Manila / ₱ 40 provinces | ₱ 185–195 |
| PSAHelpline.ph (private partner; formerly NSOHelpline) | https://www.psahelpline.ph |
Faster Metro Manila delivery; multiple e‑wallet options | ₱ 365 | Included | ₱ 365 |
| *Indicative 2025 pricing. PSA revises fees periodically; always check the checkout page before paying. |
Both platforms are PSA‑authorized. Third‑party concierge websites that are not listed on PSA’s official advisory page expose you to possible overpricing or data breaches.
5. Step‑by‑Step Online Application (PSAHelpline Example)
- Create an order
- Select Certificate of No Marriage (CENOMAR).
- Fill in exactly the following:
- Full name (First, Middle, Last, any Suffix)
- Sex (as recorded)
- Date & place of birth
- Father’s full name
- Mother’s full maiden name
- Location of marriage licence application (if the purpose is marriage)
- Purpose of request (dropdown)
- Review privacy notice & consent under the Data Privacy Act.
- Choose quantity (one CENOMAR per person; you may order multiple copies).
- Select payment channel:
- Online: Visa/Mastercard/JCB, GCash, Maya, ShopeePay, GrabPay
- Over‑the‑counter: 7‑Eleven CliQQ, Bayad Center, Palawan Express, MLhuillier, Metrobank, BDO, etc.
- BancNet & UnionBank for straight bank‑to‑bank.
- Pay and note the reference number / OR No.
- Delivery
- Metro Manila: 2–4 working days after payment confirmation
- Luzon (non‑Metro): 4–7 working days
- Visayas/Mindanao: 6–9 working days
- Overseas: via DHL; 6–8 weeks (customs, pandemic restrictions may add time)
- Receive parcel
- Deliveries are personal & confidential. Show the same ID used in the order. An authorized recipient must present the LOA/SPA and copies of IDs.
PSA Serbilis screens are similar, although its payment gateways are more limited (Landbank iAccess, GCash, credit/debit cards, select over‑the‑counter banks).
6. Tracking and Customer Support
PSAHelpline—plug your order reference in the “Check Status” tab; SMS and email updates are also sent automatically.
PSA Serbilis—click “CRS Document Status Inquiry” and enter the 10‑digit tracking number.
Phone hotlines:
- PSAHelpline: (02) 8737‑1111 (8 AM–5 PM, Mon–Sat, excl. holidays)
- PSA CRS Help Desk: (02) 8461‑0500 local 702 / 703
7. Typical Pitfalls—and How to Fix Them
| Issue | Likely cause | Remedy |
|---|---|---|
| “No record of birth.” | Unregistered birth, clerical error, or late registration filed in local LCRO but not yet forwarded to PSA. | File for endorsement at the LCRO or request a “Negative Certification” and proceed with late registration under RA 3753. |
| “No record of marriage” when you know a marriage exists | Delayed transmittal of civil registry documents from LCRO to PSA CRS. | Go back to LCRO; request follow‑up transmittal and include Batch & Serial No. |
| Typographical error in name | Mis‑encoding by LCR or PSA CRS. | File a petition under RA 9048/10172 with the LCRO (administrative correction). |
| Duplicate registration | Two different LCR filings | File verification and consolidation; may require court order if facts conflict. |
8. Data Privacy & Security
- PSA classifies CENOMAR data as personal & sensitive.
- Online forms are TLS‑encrypted; payment processors are PCI‑DSS compliant.
- Your data are stored in PSA’s Civil Registry System under RA 10625 and NPC Circular 16‑01 retention standards.
- PSAHelpline/Serbilis purge unclaimed or unpaid transactions after 30 days.
9. Frequently Asked Questions
| Question | Short answer |
|---|---|
| Can I get a digital (PDF) CENOMAR? | No. PSA currently issues only security‑paper hard copies (“SECPA”). A photocopy or scan may not be accepted by agencies. |
| Is the blue PSA security paper different from the yellow one? | No—color changes are periodic anti‑forgery upgrades. Authenticity is verified by serial barcodes and dry‑seal microprint. |
| Do I need a CENOMAR if I am widowed / divorced? | Yes, because it will show the existing marriage record; attach the Death Certificate or Recognition of Foreign Divorce decree to establish capacity to remarry. |
| What if my fiancé(e) is a foreigner? | A foreigner typically secures a Certificate of Legal Capacity to Contract Marriage from his/her embassy instead of a CENOMAR. The Filipino partner still needs a CENOMAR. |
| Can I send a representative to receive the delivery? | Yes, with an LOA/SPA and both IDs photocopied; courier will refuse unattended deliveries. |
10. Practical Tips Before You Click “Submit”
- Match every spelling, accent, hyphen, and suffix to the birth certificate—errors cause automatic hits in PSA’s Anti‑Fixers & Error Detection (AFED) system.
- If the purpose is marriage licence, time your application so the CENOMAR is still “fresh” during your LCRO appointment and the publication period (10 days).
- Screenshots of payment acknowledgment and tracking numbers save you hours of customer‑service calls.
- Check courier holidays (e.g., Holy Week, year‑end) to avoid delivery gaps.
- Store the envelope sealed; some embassies reject documents with tampered security thermal patches.
11. Conclusion
Obtaining a CENOMAR online is now routine thanks to PSA‑accredited digital channels, but precision is critical. The certificate’s legal weight—whether for marriage, migration, or litigation—rests on strict compliance with PSA identity‑verification rules, the Data Privacy Act, and civil‑registry regulations. By following the steps and safeguards outlined above, you ensure a smooth, legally sound acquisition of your Certificate of No Marriage Record—without the queue, the travel, or the guesswork.