Marriage abroad

Want to get married abroad for a very special experience? Do you want to get married barefoot on a white sand beach by the sea? Perhaps you are fascinated by a particular country and want to “seal the deal” there? Or do you dream of getting married in Las Vegas? The dream of getting married abroad is shared by many people. We will show you what you need to get married abroad and which countries are a particularly good pick.

If you want to get married abroad, you basically have two options. You can have a civil marriage in Germany and have a free wedding ceremony in another country. Or you can have a civil marriage abroad. However, if you want any tax benefits as a married couple in Germany, you must register your marriage in Germany and depending on the circumstances you might have to have it recognised. For a civil marriage abroad you’re going to need some documents, as well.

The documents needed for a civil marriage abroad may vary from country to country. So you better research exactly what you need beforehand. However, in general you can keep these documents ready:

• Passport or identity card
  You are going to need an identity document with a photograph. Within the EU, an identity card is often sufficient; outside the EU, you will always need a passport.
• Birth certificate
  You will always need your birth certificate to get married, that goes for Germany, too.
• Certificate of no impediment to marriage
  This certificate proves that you are eligible for marriage and that there are no legal obstacles. This certificate is issued by your local registry office.
• Certificate of unmarried status (depending on country)
  In some countries, you will also need proof that you are unmarried. This certificate is issued by your local registry office, as well.
• Registration certificate (depending on country)
  Some countries also demand proof regarding your main residence. This proof is usually represented by a registration certificate, which is issued by your local registration office.
• Divorce certificate (if applicable)
  You only need a divorce certificate if you have been married before. This confirms that you are now legally divorced and may remarry.
• Marriage certificate (if applicable)
  If you have been married before, you will need to produce both the marriage certificate and the divorce certificate.
• Death certificate (if applicable)
  If you are widowed, you will need to provide your former spouse’s death certificate.

Please note that you will need a certified translation into the respective national language for all official documents and certificates that you present abroad. These are done by sworn translators.

In Denmark marrying is as easy as it gets. It was even easier for foreign citizens to get married in Denmark before there was a change in the law. The documents verification was handled by the local registry offices and only took one to two days. Today, the documents are checked by a central office. This takes at least a week. In addition to that, you now need a certificate of no impediment to marriage, which was not necessary before 2019.  

There are differences in other EU countries when it comes to marriages for foreign nationals. In Spain and the Netherlands, for example, it is not that easy to get married as a foreign citizen. If you want to get married in Spain, you must have your main residence there. Furthermore, one of the spouses must be a Spanish national. The Netherlands have similar requirements, meaning you must either have your main residence there or one of you must be a Dutch national.

It is easier to get married in Sweden, Denmark, Italy, Austria and Switzerland. In these countries you can get married as a foreign citizen without any problems. You only need the following documents:

• Passport or ID card
• International birth certificate
• Certificate of no impediment with apostille
• Divorce certificate or divorce decree (if applicable)
• Death certificate (if applicable)

Note: You may need a certified translation of the certificate of no impediment, divorce certificate, divorce decree and death certificate.

• Passport or ID card
• International birth certificate
• Certificate of no impediment
• Divorce certificate (if applicable)
• Death certificate (if applicable)

• Passport or ID card
• Birth certificate
• Certificate of no impediment
• Divorce certificate or divorce decree (if applicable)
• Death certificate (if applicable)

Note: Documents can be provided in Danish, English or German.

• Passport or ID card
• Certified extract from/copy of birth register
• Certificate of no impediment
• Divorce certificate & divorce decree (if applicable)
• Death certificate (if applicable)

• Passport or ID card
• Registration certificate
• International birth certificate
• International marriage certificate and divorce decree
• International death certificate
• Extended proof of residence/registration by local registry office (replaces certificate of unmarried status which does not exist in Germany)

If you want to get married outside the EU, for example on a sandy beach in the Caribbean or in Las Vegas in the US, you better prepare for major hurdles and, above all, you will have to take a couple of things into account when it comes to recognition in Germany.

If you want to get married in the US, you will need a so-called marriage license. You can apply for one with a passport and a certified copy of your birth certificate.

You can get married relatively easily in Australia. However, you must take care of this early on, as you must submit your documents at least four weeks before your wedding date. You will need the following documents: international birth certificate, certificate of no impediment to marriage, divorce certificate and international marriage certificate (if divorced). Please note that you will need to have your documents translated into English and notarised.

Many people dream of getting married on a white sand beach by the sea. And the Caribbean has an abundance of these to offer on its many islands, such as the Bahamas, Barbados, Jamaica and Saint Lucia. Each island has its own regulations as to what exactly you need to get married there. In general, however, you will have to get the following documents ready: Passport, international certificate of no impediment, international birth certificate, Change of Name (if name has been changed before), divorce certificate (if divorced), death certificate (if widowed).

A wedding in Thailand allows for an ideal combination with your honeymoon. For some years now, marriages for German couples in Thailand have also been legally binding. In order for this to work, however, you must be married by a civil servant. You will need the following documents for this: passport, international certificate of no impediment and a consular certificate issued by the German embassy in Bangkok.

More and more people are dreaming of getting married in Bali. But getting married in Indonesia is not that easy. Marriage in Indonesia is heavily intertwined with religious rites meaning that you are required to be a follower of one of the recognised religions: Islam, Christianity (Catholic or Protestant), Confucianism, Hinduism or Buddhism. Marriages in front of a registry office are not possible in Indonesia. You will need the following documents for a wedding there: Passport, international birth certificate, international certificate of no impediment, baptismal certificate or baptismal certificate (translated into English).  

Please note that all documents usually have to be translated into the respective national language and notarised. Please also check whether you need legalisation or an apostille. It is best to research what exactly you need for your wedding abroad beforehand.