Budapest, Hungary
Married Abroad
by Mary A. Schumacher
So, your international job has brought you an additional benefit - you're in love. Now you want to get married. Or, perhaps you and your loved one want to get married in a different country than the one where you are citizens. What do you do now?
Contact an Embassy. Contact your country's embassy in the country where you want to be married. Alternatively, contact in your country the embassy of the country where you want to be married. Either one should be able to tell you the current legal requirements for a valid marriage. Also, travel companies that offer package deals on foreign marriages should be up to date on meeting respective laws. However, I've provided a few examples below for the sometimes interesting requirements.
What to Expect. Expect that your marriage will be conducted by a local civil or religious official. You can also expect that in most cases, if you follow the legal requirements, your own country will regard your marriage in a foreign country as valid. Make sure that you know what these requirements are, so that your dream foreign marriage doesn't turn out to be just a piece of worthless paper. For example, Israel will acknowledge only religious marriage ceremonies, while Switzerland and Japan will validate only civil ones.
Finally, expect some legwork, since you will most likely have to organize a number of personal documents, and most likely have them translated.
Requirements. If you want a fast and easy marriage, go to Las Vegas. Other countries may require some or all of the following: a period of residency in the country, proof of single status or certificate of "non-impediment to marriage" by both partners, birth certificates, blood test results, passports, proof of divorce if either of the partners had been previously married, and parental consent if a partner is not of marriage age. Most countries will want documents officially translated into the country's language, and to have them notarized.
Japan recognizes only civil marriages, which take place when a couple goes to a Japanese municipal office for a civil marriage registration. Foreign nationals marrying in Japan must obtain from their own country's embassy a sworn Affidavit of Competency to Marry, indicating they have no legal impediments to marriage. Similarly, Thailand recognizes a legal marriage when the couple registers at the Civil Registry Office (Thai Amphur).
France has a residency requirement before a marriage can take place. Couples must live there at least 40 consecutive days before the service.
In Italy, a couple must bring two witnesses and all necessary documents to the Civil Registrar (Ufficiale di Stato Civile) of the municipality where they wish to marry, and declare their intention. If one of the partners is Italian or a resident of Italy, an announcement of the marriage must be posted at the city hall for two consecutive Sundays prior to the ceremony. Four days later, the marriage can take place. If neither partner is an Italian citizen or resident, this requirement is waived. However, the couple must still wait four days before marrying. Italy recognizes either a civil or religious ceremony.
In China, the marriage age is 20 for women and 22 for men. Couples are recommended to dress up in business attire when appearing before the municipal civil affairs office to register their marriage. Past experience has shown that dressed-up couples are registered within days, while those in casual clothing, such as jeans, could wait a month for their registration. Note if both partners are foreign nationals, they most likely will not be able to marry in China.
Clearly, each country has its own, sometimes time-consuming procedures for marriage. Again, I urge you to contact an appropriate source like an embassy for current marriage requirements.
Finally, don't expect that your foreign national spouse can automatically get your own country's citizenship. For example, the U.S. will not automatically provide a foreign spouse with a U.S. visa, or even entry. The spouse who is the U.S. citizen must file an I-130 petition to begin immigration procedures for the foreign spouse.
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