What You Need for a Wedding Abroad

Getting married in another country is a popular and extremely romantic idea. Before you start planning toasting your nuptials atop the Eiffel Tower, however, make sure you know the legalities involved in getting married abroad. Here, a few tips to help you on your magical journey.

Contrary to what you might have heard, getting married at a U.S. Embassy does not make your foreign marriage legal. You need to be married by the laws of the country in which you wed, which generally means marriage by a religious or civil official. Your foreign marriage will, most likely, be valid in the United States; direct queries to your state’s District Attorney’s Office.

The first step is to contact the local embassy or tourist office for the country you’re headed to; luckily, you can find most of this information online. Do not put this step off. As soon as you decide on a foreign affair, find out what the requirements are. General rules require birth certificates, death certificates, and divorce decrees and parental consent, if applicable. Some countries require blood tests.

Variations abound. For instance, should you marry in France, one of you needs to be a resident of the country for 40 consecutive days prior to your wedding. Since France only recognizes civil marriage, a religious ceremony has no legal authority. People often have civil ceremonies abroad, and then a bigger, more traditional religious ceremony either in that country or back home.

If you want to get married in Mexico, similar rules apply, although some of their states require chest X-rays that must be completed after your arrival. You need to have been divorced for a year before a legal second marriage. Unlike France, you only need to arrive in the country three business days’ before your ceremony, and all documents must be translated into Spanish.

Most countries require an Affidavit of Eligibility to Marry, a form that usually has to be completed in that country’s consulate or American embassy. Find out also about witnesses (you may need them to come from the United States, or you may be able to use local witnesses).

Should you plan an out-of-country marriage, make sure every procedure is followed, and that you have proper time to complete any forms and to take care of unexpected problems. Visit the U.S. Department of State which has a thorough section on marriages abroad, as well as information numbers. It’s advisable that you contact all the appropriate officials and start taking care of paperwork as soon as you’ve picked your wedding date.

-David Toussaint

Check Out Getting Your Family to Travel for Your Wedding
Check Out Welcoming Out of Town Guests in For Your Wedding
Check Out the Legal Requirements Needed for a U.S. Marriage