How to register your marriage certificate after a destination wedding

Getting married to the love of your life at your dream destination overseas is a magical experience. However, after all these photos, champagne, and parties, you must register your marriage certificate. 

Whether you plan on returning to your home country, applying for a visa, or travelling the world together, having a registered marriage certificate is essential. It makes your union recognised in your home country and helps in legal or official processes where you must show your marriage status. 

This article will explain the steps, documents required, and tips for avoiding issues. 

Why registering your marriage matters

Registering your foreign marriage certificate is important for the following reasons.

• Ensures your marriage is legally recognised in your home country
• Serves as evidence of marriage when needed 
• Ensures you have legal protection and claims in case of divorce, separation or death of your spouse
• Ensures clear inheritance rights and transfer of assets 
• Smooth legal processes like a change of name, an insurance policy or a custody hearing 

Documents required

Different countries have unique requirements for registering a marriage. However, before you proceed with marriage registration, there are some documents you must have to allow you to wed in your destination location. Some includes 

• Passport 
• Marriage license
• Certified copy of marriage certificate
• Birth certificate 
• Divorce decree or death certificate (If  any partner is widowed or divorced)
• Certificate of No Impediment to marry 

Typically, these documents must be in the language of your destination country to get accepted. When you return to your home country to register the foreign marriage certificate, it must also be in your country’s official language. 

For example, the document must be in Spanish if you are getting married in Spain. If your home country is France, and you want to register the foreign marriage certificate there, you must provide it in French. You will need certified translations of the documents, as well as notarisation or an Apostille Stamp if required.

How to register a marriage after a destination wedding

If you want to register your foreign marriage certificate after the destination wedding, here are the steps to follow;

Confirm the destination country’s marriage laws

Each country has unique requirements for getting married. The rules often differ when your partner is a citizen of that country vs. when both of you are foreigners travelling to wed there. You should research the country by checking the official government website for marriage requirements. 

For example, if you want to get married in Canada, you must first apply for a marriage license and get approval by submitting the required documents. You must also confirm if a marriage certificate from your destination wedding location is valid and recognised in your home country. 

If it isn’t, you might be unable to register for marriage. In that case, having a symbolic wedding instead of a civil wedding will be best. More on this later in the article.

Gather required documents 

If you meet the marriage requirements and the marriage certificate is valid in your home country, you can start gathering documents. This will often include 

• Visa application document 
• Marriage license or approval documents 
• Personal identification documents 
• Any other documents required by immigration or the marriage authority in that country or state
• Certified translations of documents not in the destination language

Ensure all documents are valid, original, in good shape, and correctly formatted. The last thing you want is for your wedding date to be moved because of documentation issues. 

Conduct a legally recognised wedding 

For a wedding to be legally recognised, it must follow the marriage laws of that country. This usually means having a civil wedding with witnesses and an appointed officiant. For example, religious weddings in France aren’t recognised as legal marriages. For it to be legal, you must have a civil wedding ceremony first. So it’s best you follow the proper process, as only legally recognised weddings can be registered. 

Register the marriage at the destination wedding 

After the ceremony, you (or the officiant) must file your marriage with the local registry to receive an official certificate. For example, if you get married in France, your officiant will record the marriage, and you are issued a livret de famille. You can request a marriage certificate afterwards.

Apostille or legalise the certificate (If needed)

The certificate may need an apostille (for Hague countries) or legalisation (for others like Canada) to be accepted. Visit the official government website or an embassy to confirm which category your country falls into. 

Translate the certificate (If required)

If your marriage certificate isn’t in the home country’s language, you must translate it. To ensure it’s accepted, you will need a certified translation from a translator/ translation company. The cost of translation varies depending on the language pair and timeline. For example, you can get a certified translation of a marriage certificate from Translayte starting from $25 per page, with options for expedited delivery. 

Register or notify authorities in your home country

Depending on your home country, you may have to register the marriage certificate or notify authorities. For example, if you had your destination wedding in the US and have a USCIS marriage certificate, you must register it at the French consulate or local civil registry if your home country is France.

Cost of registering a marriage certificate 

The cost of registering a marriage certificate varies from $20 to $100, depending on the country. This cost often includes initial registration, translation, legalisation, authentication, and obtaining copies of the marriage certificate.

Tips for a smooth process

• Always check requirements months in advance.
• Keep multiple certified copies of your marriage certificate.
• Use professional translators/translation companies with experience translating civil documents for the destination country to avoid rejection.

• Save all receipts and tracking numbers when sending documents.
• If you’re applying for spousal sponsorship, include a legalised/apostilled certificate.
• Consult a family lawyer or consulate to ensure the marriage is fully recognised at home.

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