Update your status
If you are a Singapore citizen or permanent resident and your overseas marital event is not reflected, check the OMJ update service.
SINGAPORE · MARITAL STATUS
Overseas Marriage
Update
Understand the correct route, prepare your documents and check your marital status after your application.
The status update is administrative and does not itself issue a Singapore marriage certificate.
Choose the right service
An overseas marriage update on Our Marriage Journey is a request to update marital status in Singpass. It is separate from an application to register an overseas civil marriage with ROM, and it does not issue a Singapore marriage certificate.
Need a Singapore certificate?
Check the separate ROM overseas civil-marriage registration route and its conditions before applying. Do not assume that the status update issues a certificate.
Need proof or legal advice?
Ask the requesting organisation what proof it accepts. If legal recognition is uncertain, obtain advice based on the facts rather than treating a status update as a legal determination.
Registration of an overseas civil marriage with ROM is voluntary. A certificate issued by the competent overseas authority is generally evidence of the marriage, subject to the circumstances. An administrative update is not a ruling on legal validity; if you are unsure, seek qualified advice and check what the receiving agency accepts.
Update marital status: official guidance ↗ · ROM: Registration of overseas civil marriage ↗
Who can use this service?
To request a manual update, you must be a Singapore citizen or permanent resident. An applicant who has registered a marriage overseas and wants their marital status reflected in Singpass can apply under Overseas Marriage Update. The update is not a legal requirement.
First open the Singpass app, select My Profile, View all, refresh the profile using the three-dot menu, then select Family to check the displayed status.
Prepare your supporting documents
Gather the documents that describe your marriage and identity before starting. Prepare the documents below and review the official Overseas Marriage Update checklist. Some depend on your circumstances, and the application may ask for further evidence. Follow the prompts shown for your own application.
Marriage and identity
- Overseas marriage certificate: the original or a certified true copy. Endorsement may be required, depending on your circumstances.
- Spouse’s identity document: front and back copies of the spouse’s physical NRIC, FIN card or passport as applicable.
- Documents used to register the overseas marriage: front and back copies of identity documents used by both parties, such as passports, foreign identity documents or birth certificates, where applicable.
- Evidence of living as a couple: Examples include a child’s birth certificate, an HDB occupant list, a mortgage document, bank statement or utility bill. This list is not exhaustive; follow the documents requested for your case.
Additional documents where applicable
- Final divorce or annulment certificate from an earlier marriage, or the death certificate of a late spouse, as relevant.
- Front and back copies of a work or immigration pass issued by MOM or ICA, if applicable.
- An MOM approval letter where it applies to a foreign spouse who is or was a Work Permit holder. Check MOM’s rules and exceptions; do not assume that this applies to every foreign spouse or every type of pass.
- A deed poll if a name changed after marriage, and a statutory declaration if required for the case.
Translation and certification
An English translation is required if the original marriage certificate is in a “foreign language”. The translation must be provided by the relevant embassy, a certified translator in Singapore or a Singapore notary public. The public checklist does not define that phrase. In one example of the logged-in form, the question refers to a language other than Singapore’s four official languages. Do not assume that every non-English certificate is treated the same way: check the instructions in your own application and ask OMJ if translation or endorsement is unclear.
For an overseas Muslim marriage
For an overseas Muslim marriage, prepare additional documents alongside the general checklist: a ROMM letter of recommendation and a Kadi’s approval for a polygynous marriage where applicable; the Nikah certificate and an appropriately endorsed certified true copy; and both parties’ birth certificates. Certification may involve the relevant embassy, foreign ministry, an Apostille and a Singapore consulate, depending on the document and applicable route. Confirm the route for the issuing country and your documents with OMJ or ROMM before obtaining certification.
Before uploading
Keep scans clear and legible and review the file instructions shown in your own application. In one observed version of the application, the upload screen accepted PDF, DOC, PNG and JPG files of no more than 5 MB each. This is one observed application, not a verified limit for every case; use the live portal’s instructions if they differ.
View the official document checklist and start an overseas marriage update ↗
How to apply and check the result
- Check the status currently displayed in the Singpass app.
- Visit the OMJ Update marital status page and select Overseas Marriage Update.
- Sign in with Singpass, complete the applicant, spouse and overseas-marriage details, and upload the documents requested for your circumstances.
- Review the information and submit the application. Watch for notices or requests to provide further information.
- When notified that the update has been processed, refresh the Singpass profile and check the Family section. If the status is still wrong, follow the official enquiry route.
Submitting an application, having it processed and seeing an updated status in a particular service are distinct stages. Processing may take up to 15 working days after all required documents are received, depending on complexity; this is not a guaranteed result or deadline for every case.
Fees and support
Apex Gateway service feeS$200
Enquire about the scope of support before engagement.
Government marital status updateFree
The government service to update your marital status in Singpass is free. Other services, such as separate ROM registration, may have different fees.
Frequently asked questions
Eligibility, status and proof
Does Singapore keep one central register of everyone's current marital status?
No. There is no single central registry that tracks the current marital status of everyone in Singapore.
What if I need a Singapore marriage certificate for use overseas?
If you need a Singapore marriage certificate, check the separate ROM procedure for registering an overseas civil marriage. A Singpass status update itself does not issue such a certificate.
Must I register an overseas marriage with ROM to use government e-services?
No. Registering an overseas marriage with ROM is not compulsory for transactions with Singapore Government agencies.
I registered my marriage or divorce overseas. Must I update my marital status in Singpass?
No. The update is not a legal requirement. If you want to update your status for transactions with participating digital services, first refresh your Singpass profile and check Family. If it is not updated, use the relevant Overseas Marriage or Divorce/Annulment section on Our Marriage Journey, sign in with Singpass and upload the required supporting documents.
How can I obtain proof of a single marital status?
MSF does not issue a document proving marital status. Singapore citizens may search marriage records on the Our Marriage Journey portal and have the result legalised if necessary. Check with the organisation requesting proof whether it accepts the result. A search is not conclusive proof of a person’s current marital status; overseas marriages may not appear in the records.
Is updating marital status in Singpass mandatory?
No. This is an administrative update to support digital transactions. It is not a legal requirement and does not provide a marriage certificate or official documentary proof of marital status.
Why can't a work pass holder with a FIN see marital status in Singpass?
The marital-status field in the Singpass app is available to Singapore citizens and permanent residents. For FIN holders, the user-provided marital-status field is not available or viewable; the MyInfo portal was decommissioned on 1 April 2021.
Will the update provide a Singapore marriage certificate?
No. The service updates information displayed in Singpass and MyInfo for online transactions; it does not issue a Singapore marriage certificate or other official proof of marital status.
Who can apply for a Singpass marital status update?
The marital-status field in the Singpass app is for Singapore Citizens and Permanent Residents; they may use MSF’s e-service to request an update.
What can I do if I need an HDB eligibility letter while my status update is pending?
In the HDB form, select Clear MyInfo and choose your marital status manually before continuing. If the HFE application has a technical error, contact HDB directly and provide the error screenshot and the date and time of the attempt.
Documents and application problems
If statutory declarations are required, should spouses make them together?
When statutory declarations are required, each spouse must make a separate declaration before a Singapore Commissioner for Oaths, producing two declarations in total.
Where can I find a Commissioner for Oaths in Singapore or help overseas?
For Singapore, use the Singapore Academy of Law’s Commissioner for Oaths directory. If overseas, contact the nearest Singapore embassy or consulate through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; the mission can advise on making the declarations.
Official answer ↗ · Related official resource ↗ · Related official resource ↗
Why might a statutory declaration be required?
A statutory declaration is a written statement affirmed before a Commissioner for Oaths under the Oaths and Declarations Act. It is used to verify the submitted marriage details and confirm that no legal impediment affects the marriage.
Where can I find the required documents for an overseas marriage update?
Refer to the Overseas Marriage Update section of the Our Marriage Journey Update Marital Status page. The checklist may not be exhaustive, and MSF may request additional documents as needed.
Why is legalisation or an apostille requested for foreign documents?
Legalisation or an apostille verifies authenticity, including signatures, stamps or seals. Generally, documents should be legalised in the issuing country and, where applicable, endorsed by the Singapore Embassy or Consulate there. Check the specific requirements applicable to your documents.
What if I do not know information required in a mandatory field?
Send an enquiry through the Our Marriage Journey Feedback/Enquiry page with the details of your situation to receive guidance on your application. Do not guess or invent the missing information.
Why is the Continue button greyed out after uploading documents?
On a mobile phone, switch to landscape mode, scroll horizontally and check that all required documents are uploaded. If the problem continues, try completing the submission on a desktop or laptop.
Why might OMJ ask for a certificate already submitted to another agency?
Agencies share personal data on a need-to-know basis, so an agency may still ask for the same or further documents. Where the marriage is not recorded in MSF/ROM records, additional evidence may be needed for verification and processing.
Can foreign documents be legalised in Singapore?
Generally, legalise the document in the country of issue and then obtain endorsement from Singapore’s embassy or consulate in that country where applicable.
Checking Singpass and marriage records
Is an approved status update sent automatically to every government agency?
No. An approved update is not automatically sent to every government agency. Once it is reflected in Singpass, agencies whose online services are integrated with Singpass and MyInfo can retrieve the updated marriage information directly.
Why can't I find my overseas marriage in the OMJ marriage-record search after my status update?
Current marital status and marriage records are maintained separately. The Our Marriage Journey marriage-record search shows historical civil and Muslim marriages registered in Singapore. A marriage solemnised overseas will not appear in that search merely because Singpass marital status was updated.
What if my Singpass profile is unchanged after I receive the update email?
After the email notification, the update may take approximately 3–5 working days to appear. Refresh your Singpass profile through My Profile, View all and the three-dot menu, then check Family again.
Why are my spouse’s details absent after my status changes?
Yes. Singpass shows marital status and basic marriage information such as date, country and certificate number, but not the spouse’s personal details. The spouse should check their own account.
How can I check my marital status in Singpass?
Open Singpass, select My Profile and View all, use the three-dot menu to Refresh Profile, then select Family to inspect the status.
Singapore records and identity linking
Must both former foreign-ID holders link their local marriage records?
Both parties must apply separately through OMJ under Linking New ID to Local Marital Record.
Will a local marriage registered under a foreign ID link to a new NRIC automatically?
The earlier foreign ID may not be linked automatically to the current SC/PR ID. Apply through OMJ to link the current NRIC to the local marriage record.
Which documents are needed to link a local marriage recorded under a foreign ID?
Consult OMJ’s Linking New ID to Local Marital Record checklist. MSF can ask for additional documents, and the list is not exhaustive.
Is a manual update needed after a Singapore marital event registered with an NRIC?
No. The status is automatically updated within two weeks using the applicable official records from ROM, the courts and the Registry of Births and Deaths.
Divorce and spousal death
Where can I find the documents for a divorce or annulment update?
Check the Divorce/Annulment Update section of OMJ’s Update Marital Status page. The list may not cover every case, and MSF may ask for further documents. Processing starts only after all required documents are received.
Why does an earlier marriage still appear in ROM's search after my status is updated to divorced?
Current marital status and historical marriage records are maintained separately. A historical marriage record remains in the registry and may still appear in the official search. The search covers civil and Muslim marriages registered in Singapore.
How is status updated after a foreign spouse dies overseas?
If the late spouse held a long-term pass, report the overseas death to ICA’s Registry of Births and Deaths; the status is updated automatically after its acknowledgement letter. Long-term passes include the Student’s Pass, Dependant’s Pass, LTVP and Work Pass. If the foreign spouse did not hold such a pass, use the Our Marriage Journey Spousal Death Update.
What if a Singapore citizen or PR spouse dies overseas?
Report the overseas death to ICA’s Registry of Births and Deaths. Your marital status is updated automatically after the Registry issues its acknowledgement letter.
How long does a local divorce take to appear in Singpass?
A divorce granted in Singapore is typically reflected automatically within two weeks. If the status remains unchanged after one month, apply under Divorce/Annulment Update with the divorce documents. An expedited option is not specified.
Application and processing
How long does processing take after all required documents are received?
Processing takes up to 15 working days from receipt of all required documents, depending on the complexity of the individual case.
What can I do for an urgent transaction while my update is being processed?
After all required documents are submitted, processing can take up to 15 working days depending on case complexity. For an urgent transaction, enter your status manually where the online form permits and provide supporting documents directly to the relevant agency, whose requirements can differ.
Discuss your circumstances
Contact Apex Gateway to discuss your overseas marriage update and the documents requested for your case.