Wedding Abroad Documentation

There is quite a lot of information here…but I do suggest reading it very carefully as it’s important you have all the correct wedding abroad documentation.

In most countries you will need to produce some or all of the following documentation.

The documentation may vary from country to country so it is best to check with the foreign Embassy or Consulate of the country in which you will be married.

• Full Long Form Birth Certificate.
• 10 Year Passport with at least 6 months validity remaining.
• Sworn Affidavits / Declaration of Single Status (no impediment)- statement signed and stamped by a notary public confirming both parties are free to marry. For some countries this must be prepared one month or less before your wedding date.
• Certificate of No Impediment – this document verifies single status and that you are free to marry.
• Proof of Residence – you may be required to produce documentation with proof of your current residence, usually council tax correspondence, a medical card, utility bill or driving licence is sufficient.
• If you are divorced – a Decree Absolute.
• If you are a widower – a Death Certificate and previous Marriage Certificate.
• If you are adopted – an Adoption certificate.
• If you are not of the minimum ‘age’ – a letter of consent from a parent or guardian.
• If you have changed your name by deed poll – stamped proof by a solicitor.

Specific requirements for individual countries are detailed in each country’s legal requirements guide.

No matter where you chose to have your destination wedding, you should also be aware of the following:

• Original Documentation
• Authentication / Legalisation and Apostilles
• Translations
• Time Frame for Submitting your Documentation
• How to Submit your Documentation
• Marriage after Divorce
• Medical Certificates
• Proof of Entry and Return Air Ticket
• Certificate of No Impediment
• Affidavit of Single Status

Original Documentation

Most countries require that your documentation is original or a certified copy.

Photocopies will not be accepted.

Authentication / Legalisation and Apostilles

Authentication / Legalisation is the official confirmation that a signature, seal or stamp on a public document is genuine. This is usually required by foreign authorities before they will allow a document issued in your country to be used for official purposes in their country. Please note that this process does not authenticate the contents of the document.

As a general rule, if your country is included in this list of countries who signed the Hague Convention – Abolishing the Requirement of Legalisation for Foreign Public Documents, you will need an Apostille stamp. For other countries (including Vietnam, most of the Middle East and China – except for Hong Kong and Macau), you will need a Authentication / Legalisation Certificate.

To find out how to obtain an Apostille, Authentication / Legalisation Certificate, please click on your country of citizenship below:

United Kingdom | Ireland | USA | Canada | Australia | New Zealand | South Africa

Translations

If your documentation is not in the local language of the country in which you are getting married, you may be required to have it translated.

In most cases this must be done by a certified translator. The Embassy or Consulate of the country in which you are getting married should provide you with a list of their certified translators.

Time Frame for Submitting your Documentation

The time frame for submitting your documentation will vary from country to country.

Some countries require your documentation to be submitted a number of months prior to your wedding whilst others only require it be submitted a couple of days before your wedding takes place.

Be sure you are fully aware of the timeline for submitting your documentation.

How to Submit your Documentation

Some countries require that your documentation is submitted in person and other countries will allow a third party, such as a wedding planner to submit the documentation on your behalf.

If the county where you are planning on getting married in requires you to submit your documentation in person a month or two prior to your wedding, you will need to make a special trip to do this.

Marriage after Divorce

Some countries require that a set amount of time must have passed after a divorce before you can remarry. For example, in Italy if a woman has been previously married she has to wait 300 days following divorce, annulment or widowhood before being allowed to remarry. This is also the case if you wish to marry in Turkey.

Medical Certificates

Some countries may require that couples have blood tests and a medical examination prior to the marriage taking place.

Proof of Entry and Return Air Ticket

Some countries may require certain nationalities to produce a return air ticket and / or show proof of entry.

Certificate of No Impediment

In order for non-nationals to marry in a foreign country you will most likely be required to produce legal documentation from your country of citizenship verifying single status and that you are free to marry. This is known as a ‘Certificate of No Impediment’, ‘Certificate de Coutume’, ‘Certificate of Nulla Osta’ or a ‘Certificate of Freedom to Marry’.

These certificates vary in the length of time they are valid for, which can sometimes only be a few months. Certain countries require that certificates be no older than 2 or 3 months at the time of your wedding. Therefore, it is important to check the requirements which apply to your circumstances and pay particular attention to timelines when you apply for a Certificate of No Impediment.

Please also be aware that a standard Certificate of No Impediment may be insufficient on its own to allow a marriage to take place in a foreign country. You may be required by the foreign authorities to comply with the following, so please ensure that you allow sufficient time for processing.

• Certificates may need to be translated.
• Certificates may need to be endorsed or exchanged for a locally acceptable version issued by your Embassy or Consulate in the country where you will marry.
• Certificates may need to be legalised i.e. stamped with an official stamp known as an Apostille.
• Certificates may require that witnesses swear an Affidavit stating that you are free to marry and that this is appended.

For further information on how to obtain a certificate from the relevant authorities, please click on your country of citizenship below:

United Kingdom | Ireland | USA | Canada | Australia | New Zealand | South Africa

Affidavit of Single Status (Declaration of Non-Impediment)

It is not always a requirement to produce a Certificate of No Impediment when you are getting married abroad. Some countries will be happy with an Affidavit sworn before a notary public. This document may also be known as an Affidavit of  Single Status or Declaration of Non-Impediment.

NOTE: This is a different document to a Certificate of No Impediment issued by your local registry office). Confusingly, a Affidavit of Single Status goes by many names (and it doesn’t help when the name of the document has been translated into English) – a Declaration of Non-Impediment, Declaration of Marital Eligibility, Affidavit of Marital Status or a Declaration of Single Status.  Getting it wrong can be disastrous – you could be putting your whole wedding at risk because the authorities reject your document.

Check you understand the difference between an Affidavit and a Certificate of No Impediment and make sure you know which you need. For UK citizens, information outlining the requirements and forms to be used may be found on the Foreign and Commonwealth Office website.

Contact the registrar or local authority in the country where your intended marriage will take place for details of which document you require – a Certificate of No Impediment – an Affidavit of Single Status (Declaration of Non-Impediment) or both.

United Kingdom – Certificate of No Impediment

UK Citizens Resident in the UK

In the UK a Certificate of No Impediment is issued by your local Registrar. The prescribed form when applying for a Certificate of No Impediment in England and Wales is slightly different to that of Scotland or Northern Ireland.

Exceptions to the standard application process are if you are getting married in a Commonwealth country (the UK does not issue CNI’s for marriages in Commonwealth countries, in its place you may be required to swear an affidavit confirming your legal capacity to marry) or if you are marrying an Irish national and live in England or Wales (an application for a CNI is made to the FCO in London). Information outlining these requirements and forms to be used may be found on the Foreign and Commonwealth Office website.

Application

• If resident in England and Wales, a Certificate of No Impediment is obtained by Giving Notice (publishing the Banns) at your local Register Office no more than six months before your wedding date. The actual Certificate of No Impediment will be issued after 29 days from when you have given notice. Additional information in regard to applying for a Certificate of No Impediment may be found on the Foreign and Commonwealth Office website.
• If resident in Scotland, a Certificate of No Impediment is obtained by Giving Notice (complete marriage notice form M10) at your local Register Office. The actual Certificate of No Impediment will be issued after 29 days from when you have given notice. It is important to note that Scottish Certificates of No Impediment are only valid for three months after the date of issue. Additional information in regard to applying for a Certificate of No Impediment may be found on the General Register Office for Scotland website.
• If resident in Northern Ireland a Certificate of Legal Capacity to Marry (Certificate of No Impediment) is obtained by Giving Notice (complete marriage notice form GRO446) at your local Register Office. The actual Certificate of Legal Capacity to Marry will be issued after 29 days from when you have given notice. Additional information in regard to applying for a Certificate of Legal Capacity to Marry may be found on the General Register Office for Northern Ireland website.

Required Documentation

You will be required to attend a short interview and provide proof of name, age and address. You can find a detailed list of the documentation accepted by the registrar here. In general you should provide the following:

• Details of your Ceremony Venue.
• Valid passport.
• Proof of address.
• If divorced, Decree Absolute.
• If widowed, Death Certificate of previous spouse (and Marriage Certificate).
• If your name has been changed by Deed Poll, proof is necessary.
• The relevant fee

All documentation should be original or certified copies.

Non-Resident UK citizens

UK (English and Welsh) citizens who are resident abroad generally have two options:

• Apply for a CNI by posting notice in the country where you wish to get married. You will need to be resident for at least three days prior to posting notice at the British Embassy. A CNI will be issued after 7 days.
• Some countries don’t require a CNI but instead an Affidavit of Single Status. You will need to swear this in front of a consular officer at the British Embassy or a local notary public. There is no residency or notice period.
• Go back to the UK and apply for your CNI at your local registry office.

To find out more about the procedure you need to follow for UK citizens living abroad, visit the FOC website or contact their nearest British Diplomatic or Consular Mission who will provide information on how to apply for a Certificate of No Impediment.

UK (Scottish) citizens who are resident abroad should request a “To Whom It May Concern” letter from the Marriage Section stating that a search of the marriage indexes in Scotland has been made. You can find out more from the National records of Scotland website, here.

UK (Northern Ireland) citizens who are resident abroad should complete a Marriage Index Search form.  You can find out more from the NI Direct Gov website, here.

Requirements are subject to change in accordance with the laws of the UK. Information updated July 2021.

Ireland – Certificate of Freedom to Marry

Irish Citizens Resident in Ireland

A Certificate of Freedom to Marry can be obtained from the Consular Division of the Department of Foreign Affairs. Tel: (01) 408 2682 or for the Munster area (021) 494 4763. If getting married in Italy Tel: (01) 408 2568.

The applicable forms must not be completed earlier than 6 months before your marriage and should be returned to the Department of Foreign Affairs at least 4 months before the date of your marriage. Please note that all Statutory Declaration forms must be completed in the presence of and witnessed by a Notary Public, a Commissioner for Oaths, a Solicitor in Ireland or a Diplomatic or Consular Officer.

Application

In order to obtain a Certificate of Freedom to Marry you must complete the online application form on the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade website.

Required Documentation

In order to complete your application, the following documentation must be presented.

• Original Long form Irish Birth Certificate.
• Original Death Certificate of previous spouse if widowed (and previous Marriage Certificate).
• Original Final Decree, if you hold a divorce issued by the Irish courts.
• Original Petition and Final Decree, if you hold a foreign divorce.
• Photocopy of details page of passport (Irish citizen and fiancé).
• Court Order if you are under 18 years of age.
• Original Naturalisation certificate, if you are a naturalised Irish citizen.
• The relevant fee.

Please Note: If any of the original documentation is issued in a language other than English or Irish, certified translations are required..

Marriages will only be recognised in Ireland if they have been civilly registered in the country in which they take place.

For further information please refer to the Irish Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade website on getting married abroad.

Non-Resident Irish citizens

Irish citizens who are resident abroad should contact their nearest Irish Diplomatic or Consular Mission who will provide information on how to apply for a Certificate of Freedom to Marry.

Requirements are subject to change in accordance with the laws of Ireland. Information updated July 2021.

USA – Affidavit of Eligibility to Marry

American Citizens Resident in the USA.

A Certificate of Freedom to Marry document does not exist in the United States. However, almost all countries will accept a Sworn Affidavit testifying to your freedom to marry known as an Affidavit of Eligibility to Marry.

Application

This may be accomplished by:

1. Executing the Affidavit before a U.S. consular officer at the American Embassy or Consulate in the country in which you will marry, or
2. Executing the Affidavit before a notary public in the United States, which will then required Authentication, or
3. The foreign authorities may allow you to execute the above Affidavit before a Consular official at the Embassy of Consular office (in the United States) of the country in which you will marry.

Some countries may also require witnesses who will execute Affidavits testifying to the fact that you are free to marry.

In general, both parties to the marriage will be required to attend when such a statement is being made.

Required Documentation

In order to complete your application, the following documentation must be presented.

• Original Birth Certificate or Passport.
• If widowed, original or certified copy of Death Certificate of previous spouse.
• If divorced, original or certified copy of Divorce Decree.
• The relevant fee.

For further information please refer to the U.S. Bureau of Consular Affairs website.

Non-Resident American citizens

American citizens who are resident abroad should contact their nearest American Diplomatic or Consular Mission, who will provide information on how to apply for an Affidavit of Eligibility to Marry.

Requirements are subject to change in accordance with the laws of the USA. Information updated July 2021.

Canada – Certificate of Non-Impediment to Marriage Abroad

Canadian Citizens Resident in Canada

A Certificate of No Impediment does not exist in Canada. However, a Statement In-Lieu of Certificate of Non-Impediment to Marriage Abroad may be obtained in its place from the Departments of Foreign Affairs and International Trade. Processing time for the Statements is approximately 15 working days.

Prior to making an application for the Statement, it may be prudent to obtain a marriage search letter from the government registries in the Canadian provinces where you’ve resided. This can take anywhere from 2 to 8 weeks to process.

Application

• An application for a Statement In-Lieu of Certificate of Non-Impediment to Marriage Abroad may be made in person or by mail.

Required Documentation

In order to complete your application, the following documentation must be presented.

• Original Certified Canadian Birth Certificate or certified true copies of Canadian citizenship record and Record of Landing form. If you have lost your Record of Landing form, this must be mentioned in the Statutory Declaration of marital status.
• If widowed, certified Death Certificate of previous spouse.
• If divorced, certified Divorce Certificate or Divorce Judgement.
• A Statutory Declaration of your present marital status, including the name and citizenship of your future spouse, your permanent address in Canada and the country in which you intend to marry. Statutory Declarations can be done before a Canadian Notary or Commissioner of Oaths.
• The relevant fee.

Note: Some countries will only accept a Statement from the Canadian Embassy in the country where you will marry, to the effect that there are no impediments.

For further information please refer to the Government of Canada website.

Non-Resident Canadian Citizens

Canadian citizens living abroad you should contact their nearest Canadian Diplomatic or Consular Mission who will provide information on how to apply for a Statement In-Lieu of Certificate of Non-Impediment to Marriage Abroad.

Requirements are subject to change in accordance with the laws of Canada. Information updated July 2021.

Australia – Certificate of No Impediment to Marriage

Australian Citizens Resident in Australia

A Certificate of No Impediment to Marriage is issued by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. At least one person applying for the CNI must be an Australian citizen or permanent resident.

Application

Download and complete the application form for a Certificate of No Impediment to Marriage (CNI), you can print it and fill it in, or complete it electronically. Don’t use an eSignature. You’ll need an authorised witness to watch you physically sign it. You will also need to submit a document legalisation request form.

Required Documentation

In order to complete your application, the following documentation must be presented. Supporting documents can be originals, or certified true copies. If the documents are not in English, they must be accompanied by an English translation that’s performed by a professional translator.

• If an Australian citizen, a valid Australian passport.
• If an Australian permanent resident, a valid foreign passport with evidence of permanent residence in Australia.
• If a foreign citizen, a valid foreign passport or valid photo identification.
• If widowed, Death Certificate of previous spouse.
• If divorced, Divorce Certificate for the previous marriage.
• If under 18 years of age, a copy of the judicial authorisation to marry. This must be issued by an Australian court of law.
• The relevant fee.

Your completed application form for a Certificate of No Impediment to Marriage and supporting documents can be submitted by mail or in person, find out more here.

Note: Some countries will only accept Certificates of No Impediment to Marriage issued by the local Australian Embassy or Consulate in the country in which the marriage is to take place.

For further information please refer to the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade website.

Non-Resident Australian Citizens

Australian citizens who are resident abroad should contact their nearest Australian Diplomatic or Consular Mission who will provide information on how to apply for a Certificate of No Impediment to Marriage.

Requirements are subject to change in accordance with the laws of Australia. Information updated July 2021.

New Zealand – Certificate of No Impediment to Marriage

New Zealand Citizens Resident in New Zealand

A Certificate of No Impediment to Marriage is issued by the Department of Internal Affairs, Birth, Deaths and Marriages. The certificate will be issued between 3 to 5 weeks on receipt of the application.

Application

In order to obtain A Certificate of No Impediment to Marriage you must complete the following.

• A Certificate of No Impediment to Marriage, form BDM189, which can be downloaded from the New Zealamd Government Website, here

Required Documentation

In order to complete your application, the following documentation must be presented.

• If divorced, certified copy of order of dissolution /divorce if either marriage or divorce occurred outside New Zealand.
• Certified copy of citizenship certificate, if applicable.
• The relevant fee.

Note: Some countries will only accept Certificates of No Impediment issued by the local New Zealand Embassy or Consulate in the country in which the marriage is to take place.

For further information please refer to the Department of Internal Affairs website.

Non-Resident New Zealand Citizens

New Zealand citizens who are resident abroad should contact their nearest New Zealand Diplomatic or Consular Mission who will provide information on how to apply for a Certificate of No Impediment to Marriage.

Requirements are subject to change in accordance with the laws of New Zealand. Information updated July 2021.

South Africa – Letter of No Impediment (Marital Status Letter)

South African Citizens resident in South Africa

A Letter of No Impediment (Certificate of No Impediment) is issued the by the South African Department of Home Affairs and has as a validity of 6 months.

Application

Contact your nearest Department of Home Affairs office to obtain the applicable application form.

Documentation

• A letter stating the reason for which you require the Letter of No Impediment.
• Certified copy of Passport or Identity Document.
• If widowed, certified copy of Death Certificate of previous spouse.
• If divorced, certified copy of Divorce Certificate.
• The applicable fee.

Non-Resident South African Citizens

South African citizens who are resident abroad should contact their nearest South African Diplomatic or Consular Mission who will provide information on how to apply for a Letter of No Impediment.

Note: Depending on the country in which you reside, applications can take up to 6 months to process.

Requirements are subject to change in accordance with the laws of South Africa. Information updated July 2021.

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