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Getting married abroad

Spain: how to get married

A summary of the rules, taken from the official pages listed at the bottom. A fact we could not confirm there is left out.

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This is a summary, not legal advice. Rules change and offices differ: confirm everything with the registry office before you book anything.

Who can marry

  • Minors who are not emancipated cannot marry.[1]
  • Couples of the same sex can marry, on the same conditions as any other couple.[1]

The ceremony

  • A civil wedding is held by a mayor or an authorised councillor, a lawyer of the justice administration, or a notary.[2]
  • A religious wedding in a form recognised by the state has civil effect. Other recognised faiths need a prior capacity file, and the vows are made before a minister and two adult witnesses.[1]
  • A prior file (a notary's record or a file at the civil registry) is opened where one of you lives.[3]
  • Before the wedding, each of you is heard separately in a prior file.[2]

Timing

  • The certificate that you may marry is valid for this long: 6 months.[3]
  • Time to hold the wedding after that: 1 year. After it you file again.[2]

Documents

  • Documents from countries that belong to the Apostille Convention need no further legalisation; sworn translations by recognised translators need none either.[4]

Left out because we could not confirm it on an official page: the minimum age and its exceptions, fees, the exact list of documents, whether you have to live there, how far ahead to book. Ask the registry office.

Sources

Checked on 21 October 2026 against the pages below.

  1. [1] Código Civil (boe.es) (page dated 3 January 2025)
  2. [2] Ley 20/2011 del Registro Civil (boe.es) (page dated 3 January 2025)
  3. [3] administracion.gob.es: Matrimonio (page dated 31 March 2026)
  4. [4] Ministerio de Asuntos Exteriores: Legalización y apostilla (exteriores.gob.es)

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