How To Get Married Abroad

1 Written by natasha on March 12, 2009 – 8:00 am

Are you considering a destination wedding?

In case you didn’t know, getting married abroad can require a lot of planning and added expense to meet the legal requirements of that country and the country where you reside.  This blog will focus on the requirements for a U.S. citizen to get married abroad.  But if you are in the UK, there is a site that covers requirements for getting married outside of the UK.

Here’s a quick guide to the U.S. State Department’s requirements for U.S. citizens getting married abroad. This is not a complete list and should not be considered legal advice.  All of the following information is available on the State Department website:  http://travel.state.gov/law/family_issues/marriage/marriage_589.html

• Follow the laws of the country where you’re getting married.  In other words, have a local official perform the ceremony and do not do it on American embassy grounds.
• Marriages performed abroad (in general) are also valid in the U.S.  If you have questions about the validity of the marriage in the U.S., contact the attorney general in the state in which the couple intends to live.
• The embassy in the country where you’re getting married is the best source to tell you the requirements of that country.
• Keep in mind that some countries have residency requirements. Some countries require that you live in that country for a lengthy period of time before you are permitted to get married there.
• Bring the appropriate documentation with you. Most countries require a U.S. passport, but they might also require birth certificates, divorce decrees, or death certificates. Some countries require that these documents be presented and authenticated long before the actual ceremony. This can also be expensive!
• Make sure you meet the age of majority requirement or you get appropriate parental consent if you are underage. The age of majority varies in other countries, though generally people under the age of 18 would require parental consent.
• All civil law countries require proof of legal capacity to enter into a marriage contract. This usually comes in the form of a certification by a competent authority that there is no impedement to the marriage. This is not a requirement in the United States.
• Some countries require blood tests.
• In some countries, marrying a national of that country will make the spouse a citizen of that country OR will make him/her eligible to become naturalized in that country. If you are planning to apply for a foreign nationality, contact an American embassy or consulate for more information — especially about how that might impact your American citizenship.
• If you are marrying an alien, get information on obtaining a visa for a foreign spouse. That information can be obtained from any office of the Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services in the Department of Homeland Security, U.S. embassies and consulates abroad, or the Department of State Visa Office.

Did you get married abroad? How did it go?

~ Natasha

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