Given the multicultural society in which we live, it is becoming more and more common to see clients who have married abroad. One of the first considerations in such situations is whether the marriage is recognised in the UK. Civil and religious ceremonies can take place as long as the strict process is followed and documentation is approved. Catholic or Orthodox wedding ceremonies are celebrated in Greek. Yes, your marriage is legally recognized, but the legal requirements for marriage abroad vary from country to country. You need to be sure that your marriage will be legally recognized both in your country of residence and in the country where you want to get married. You certainly don`t want to find out after your wedding that your marriage is not legally valid. It`s definitely worth researching and finding as much first-hand information as possible to avoid this situation. For more articles and information on legal requirements, the following link „Legal requirements” contains each article related to the topic. You can also click on the country links below: Not only will you need to make sure your marriage is legal in the UK, but you will also need to contact the local authorities where you want to get married. They can advise you on the legal requirements to marry abroad in their country, the process and the documents required.
Different countries need different things, and documents may need to be legalized if you want to use them abroad. Read on to find out why proper documentation is important and what you may need to dig up. You can also use the tool to learn about registering a civil partnership abroad. To receive your CKD, your marriage announcement must be published in the local newspaper or at the town hall of the planned wedding venue 8 days before your marriage proposal. All important documents must then be sent to the priest or town hall 4 weeks before your wedding date. Overseas countries require different levels of „legalization” for documents, so some countries may only need documents that must be certified by a notary, while others may require an apostille stamp from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO). It is important to understand that your marriage must meet the legal requirements of the country where you are getting married and your country of residence. Plan your wedding abroad well in advance – you can even hire a planner. If you`re looking for the easiest places to legally get married abroad, here are some of the most popular countries: You will also need to purchase two certificates of non-impediment (CNI) from the UK government to legally marry abroad. A CNI costs around £30 each, lasts about a month and expires about 6 months after it is issued.
If a couple goes through a wedding ceremony abroad and then lives together as husband and wife, the marriage is considered legal in the UK. However, this presumption may be rebutted if there is sufficient evidence that the marriage is not legal. Gibraltar is a British Overseas Territory and British citizens can legally marry there. There are no residency or religion restrictions, but you must apply for a special marriage certificate. Your marriage certificate will be issued within 3 days, but it should be noted that the certificate must be translated into English to be legal at home. You or your planner must arrange to send the certificate to the British Embassy and then forward it to your home. The following information on the legality of marriages refers to opposite-sex couples with British citizenship who wish to marry abroad. I would also suggest hiring a wedding professional, such as a wedding planner, in the country where you want to get married.
This will help ensure that you follow the correct procedures and deadlines to submit all required documents. It can relieve a lot of stress to know that you have an expert who handles the legal aspects on your behalf. For foreign marriages to be recognised as legal in the UK, the following conditions must be met: If you are getting married abroad, you must bring important documents with you. These may include: Another amazing Mediterranean choice, Cyprus is a popular country for British residents getting married abroad. The legal requirements are relatively simple, but you must apply for the marriage in person beforehand and bring all the necessary documents. Some Cyprus holiday packages include a stay, a wedding and a honeymoon. The legal marriage process becomes much easier by hiring a professional wedding planner or discussing legality with your wedding venue who will regularly deal with the requirements. All states in Mexico require you to have a local blood test to determine blood type and be tested for HIV or STDs (sexually transmitted diseases).
This must take place between 15 and 5 days before your wedding day and a health certificate must be completed in Spanish. Greece is truly the pinnacle of a wedding destination, from mainland Crete to the quite remarkable Greek islands of Santorini, Ios and Mykonos, with spectacular backdrops and exciting ceremonial spaces in the foreground. And what more British couples can legally marry here? On the border with Spain, Gibraltar offers an easier legal procedure than its neighbour. There is no long residency requirement and you have the option to host a Spanish wedding reception after your wedding. Some countries, for example outside the Hague Convention, will also need an additional level of legalisation. An apostille stamp certifies the official (e.g. the signature of the notary or registrar) and is followed by a consular certificate confirming the apostille stamp. MSC notaries can help you ensure that the process is carried out correctly and that your documents are also legal abroad.
It is often faster and easier to translate, notarize and legalize documents in one. Often, these documents must be originals and verify whether certified true copies are acceptable. Many documents need to be notarized before they can be used abroad, and some may require an apostille stamp or additional legalization. It depends on the country where you are getting married abroad – countries have different rules on what makes a document „authentic”. As with any destination wedding, you need to recognize that the wedding process is different from that of the UK. Civil ceremonies that take place in Mexico will be legally valid in the UK if proper procedures are followed, religious ceremonies are more complex to hold here and are not legally binding. If you are getting married abroad, you should be aware that the legal validity of your marriage is governed by the laws of the country in which you are marrying, not the laws of the country in which you reside. Simply put, you must be Spanish or of a certain faith such as Catholic to get married legally in Spain. With its modern beach platforms, exclusive wedding villas, and Spanish country houses, there`s a great draw to get married here. The most popular country for British couples getting married abroad is Italy.
The legal requirements are relatively simple and there are no minimum residency requirements. In France and Spain, you must have lived there for some time. You will also need a certificate of non-impediment (CNI) to legally marry abroad, which formally states that there is no reason why you cannot marry and proves that you are free to marry. This document must be requested by the UK government, but you must follow the instructions of the local authorities where your ceremony will take place. Your ID may need to be legalized and translated. Compared to many other EU countries to get married abroad, Denmark is relatively simple. You will need to apply for a license online a few weeks before your wedding, but this can be done online from anywhere. Couples only need to be in Denmark a few days before the wedding. It is known as „The Vegas of Europe”. Caroline commented: „All that needs to happen is that a piece of paperwork is incomplete and the wedding cannot take place, so this is an essential aspect to do well.” In other words, in order for your marriage to be legally recognized in your country of residence, you must meet not only the legal requirements of the country where you are getting married, but also the legal requirements of your home country.
Of course, travel regulations change regularly and you should always check the current legal requirements of the country where you want to get married abroad. Read on to find out how we can help you make the right choice. We can tell you if the above countries require simple legalization, apostille stamp, or more complex consular legalization. First of all, there are a few documents you need wherever you legally choose to marry abroad, the most obvious being a passport. Make sure that the time you have in your passport is sufficient for your planned travel and wedding formalities.