Wedding Abroad Legal Requirements

Wedding abroad legal requirements - make sure you're fully informed.

You love the idea of having your wedding abroad however; there may be one very important question on your mind...

If we get married abroad will our marriage be legally recognised?

For most countries the answer to this question will be "Yes".

Yes, your marriage will be legally recognised but wedding abroad legal requirements do vary from country to country.

In most countries the legal requirements are relatively straightforward and are not as difficult as you may first think.

After gathering information about the legal requirements for getting married abroad through sources such as this website, I would strongly advise you to contact the foreign embassy or consulate of the country you are considering getting married in to obtain first hand information about their legal requirements.

You need to be sure that your marriage will be both legally recognised in your country of residence and in the country in which you choose to get married.

You definitely don't want to find out after your wedding has taken place that your marriage is not legally valid. It definitely pays to do your research and find out as much first hand information as you can to avoid this situation arising.

I would also suggest enrolling the help of a wedding professional, such as a wedding planner, in the country where you plan to get married. This will help to ensure you are following the correct procedures and timelines for submitting all the required documentation. It can take away a lot of the stress knowing that you have an expert dealing with the legalities on your behalf.

If you do get married abroad you need to be aware of the following:

Legal validity of your marriage in the country where you are marrying

If you are getting married abroad you need to be aware that the legal validity of your marriage is governed by the laws of the country in which you are marrying and not by the laws of the country in which you are resident.

Legal validity of your marriage in your home country

Although you must meet the legal requirements of the country in which you are marrying, you may still be bound by the laws of your home country in so far as your capacity to marry is concerned. For example, if you are under 18 and have not obtained a letter of consent to marry, your marriage may not be recognised under the laws of your home country.

Wedding Abroad Legal Requirements Overview

Required Documentation

The following page outlines the documentation you may be required to produce if you are getting married abroad.

Registering your Marriage

The following page outlines if and how you can register your marriage in your country of residence.

Civil Wedding Abroad

A civil wedding is the most popular type of wedding ceremony for couples getting married abroad and in some countries it is the only legally recognised type of marriage ceremony.

Wedding Blessing / Humanist Wedding Ceremony

Having a wedding blessing allows you to get married in the country of your choice even if you are unable to fulfil their legal and residency requirements.

Please note: although much care and attention has been taken to ensure the above information on wedding abroad legal requirements is correct please do not take it as legal advice.