Getting married overseas

This page is for Australians thinking about getting married overseas.

This page has general advice only. Contact the nearest embassy or consulate of where you're going if you need specific advice.

Read this page to learn about:

• proving you're free to marry
• getting your marriage recognised in Australia
• becoming an Australian citizen through marriage.

Proving you're free to marry

Some countries will ask you to prove you aren't already married before you can get married there. Each country decides what proof it will accept.

The most common documents you need are:

• a Certificate of No Impediment to Marriage (CNI)
• certificates from a registry of births, deaths and marriage.

The country you're going to may have more rules you must follow. For example, they may not let you marry unless you've lived there for some time. 

We can't tell you what you will need. Find out the laws about marriage where you're going. There may be different regional and national laws.

Contact your destination's embassy or consulate for specific details.

Certificates of No Impediment to Marriage (CNI)

DFAT can issue a CNI in Australia. But some local authorities only accept CNIs issued in their country. Ask your destination's embassy or consulate:

• if you need a CNI
• if you can get the CNI in Australia
• if the CNI also needs an authentication or apostille.

Certificates from a registry of births, deaths and marriage

Your closest registry of births, deaths and marriages can give you:

• a statement that there's no record you have been married before
• a Single Status certificate
• a No Record Result certificate.

Local authorities may also ask for:

• divorce papers
• the death certificate of a deceased spouse
• your original birth certificate and passport.

Australian recognition of overseas marriages

You can't register an overseas marriage in Australia. But in most cases, your marriage is legally recognised here. 

To be recognised, when you got married it must have been:

• valid under the law of the country where it happened
• valid under Australian law if it had occurred in Australia.

A foreign marriage certificate is usually accepted as proof of the marriage. But you may be unable to use it as proof of a name change. Find out from your local registry of births, deaths and marriages.

Talk to a lawyer to confirm your overseas marriage certificate is valid in Australia. 

When a foreign marriage isn't recognised in Australia

Australia doesn't recognise overseas marriages where one or both of the people are:

• already married to someone else
• not old enough to get married
• too closely related
• forced to get married.

Learn more about which marriages Australia will recognise. 

Read our advice about forced marriage. 

Becoming an Australian citizen through marriage

Marrying an Australian citizen doesn't ensure you can come to Australia. Or become a citizen. Foreign citizens must follow Australia's immigration laws to enter and live here.

Learn more about partner visas and becoming an Australian citizen (Department of Home Affairs).

Read more

• Understand how and when consular services can help.
• If you're party to a forced marriage overseas, you can be arrested in Australia.
• Information on legalising documents in Australia and overseas.

See also

• Read the Marriage Act 1961 and the Marriage Regulations 2017.