As I need to update some government documentation a marriage certificate is required to change my status from single to married. I went to a local PSA Branch in the area to get one.

For the walk-in process, here's what you need to bring and follow:

1. Government-issued ID
2. Complete the application form
3. Check with the screener to review the information written ( write in all caps for better visibility)
4. Pay the fees ( bring exact amount)
5. Wait for release

When the pandemic started and lockdowns were all over the place, I requested one online from their website and waited two weeks to get our certificate. The cost was 330 PHP back then including the delivery fee. The said marriage certificate was sent over to my employers to update their data base hence I do not have an original copy on hand. I have some scanned documentation and photocopies but as we know here in the PH when presenting everything to the government you need to show the original copy and have it photocopied for their safekeeping.

P.S.A. branch opened at 8:00 in the morning, if you do not want to experience a huge line be early. I arrived around 7:45 AM and a few are sitting on the bench provided in the waiting area. Exactly 8:00 AM they opened the door informing everyone to enter the premises in line.

BRING YOUR OWN PEN

There are free pens that you can use inside the building but since some people are using them as well to make sure that you can complete the form the soonest without waiting for others just bring one black ball pen.

Depending on your request, you need to get the correct form, either birth, marriage, cenomar (certificate of no marriage), or even death certificate. Each form has it's color so there's no mistaking the document that you may need.

Check all the marks needed and complete the form with all the information. In my case, I need to enter my name, Aprils's maiden name the date and place of our marriage, etc. Depending on how fast you write you can have this completed within two to three minutes.

After completing it, you will need to have it validated by the screener for screening you will also need to show a copy of your identification card. ( I presented my Philhealth ID ) She stared for a while as they questioned the date of marriage and asked if it was correct. I input February 29 2020 and she thought that it was an error on my end. Until she realized the leap year.

Once validated, you need to get a number from the machine for payment, then wait for your turn to be called.

ALWAYS HAVE THE EXACT AMOUNT

When I was called, I gave a 500 peso bill. The teller mentioned that she didn't have enough money for a change and requested that I pay an exact amount. I have multiple coins with me but it was not enough to cover everything until I saw that they were accepting electronic wallet payments.

I just scanned the QR code and confirmed that I needed to pay 155 PHP and everything was processed smoothly.

The receipt was generated and the teller told me to go upstairs to get my certificate. I presented the receipt, and my ID and waited for a few seconds and I got my certificate printed already.

It was a fast experience, probably in less than 15 minutes I was able to get what I needed and go home. Contrary to the experiences that I had back then when getting certificates it is so efficient. I remember ten years ago we needed to line up in a local branch in Muntinlupa at dawn and complete all the transactions around four in the afternoon or even more than that to get one birth certificate but now it was a breeze.

Aside from going to the local branch SM department store offers such services. The price is quite costly and there's a wait time of 3-5 business days so if you are not that quite busy and a local PSA office is available better to drop by.

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