Key takeaways
- Whether and how you can marry abroad depends on the law of the country where the wedding takes place, not on UK law.
- Many countries ask for proof that you are free to marry, such as a certificate of no impediment (CNI) or a marital status certificate, which British passport holders apply for through the FCDO.
- The FCDO consular fee for a certificate of no impediment is £50, and the fee for receiving notice of an intended marriage is also £50.
- UK birth, marriage and death certificates need a paper apostille, because General Register Office documents cannot get an e-Apostille.
- A marriage that takes place abroad is registered in that country, and you cannot get a UK marriage certificate for it unless it was a consular marriage.
Planning a wedding in Spain, Italy, France or further afield involves more paperwork than most couples expect. Each country sets its own rules, local registries often add their own, and British documents usually need an apostille and a translation before a foreign registrar will accept them.
This article is for British nationals marrying or registering a civil partnership abroad. It lists the documents typically requested, explains certificates of no impediment, and shows how apostilles and translations fit into the timeline. For how apostilles work in general, see our guide to apostille and translation for UK documents used abroad.
Who decides which documents I need to marry abroad?
The country where you marry decides. GOV.UK says that "Whether you can get married or register a civil partnership in your chosen country depends on local laws", and advises checking with the person conducting the ceremony, the local marriage registration authority or a wedding planner (Getting married or registering a civil partnership abroad).
Some countries restrict who can marry there. In Spain, for example, GOV.UK notes that you or your partner must live in Spain or be a Spanish national. Check eligibility before you book a venue, because no amount of paperwork overcomes a residence rule.
Which documents are usually needed to marry abroad?
Most countries ask for a similar core set of documents. The table shows where each one comes from in the UK and how it is usually prepared.
| Document | Where you get it | Apostille usually needed? | Translation usually needed? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Full birth certificate | General Register Office or local register office | Often, and only on paper | Often, by a local sworn translator |
| Certificate of no impediment (CNI) or marital status certificate | UK register office or the FCDO online service | Depends on the country and issuing office | Sometimes issued in the local language |
| Decree absolute, final order or former partner's death certificate | UK court (with a wet ink court seal) or register office | Often | Often |
| Valid British passport | HM Passport Office | Check with the registry | Check with the registry |
Treat the table as a starting point. The registry where you marry will give you its own list, and that list is the one that counts.
What is a certificate of no impediment, and how do I get one?
A certificate of no impediment (CNI) is a document confirming that no legal obstacle to your marriage has been found, usually after a notice period. Some countries ask for a marital status certificate or affirmation instead, and Italy calls its version the Nulla Osta. The GOV.UK page for Italy confirms that "certificate of no impediment is Nulla Osta in Italian".
The FCDO runs an online service to check which documents you need and apply for them, but you must hold a valid British passport to use it. Depending on the country, you may first need a CNI from a UK register office and then exchange it locally. In Spain, GOV.UK says the authorities "will only accept a CNI issued there", so a UK CNI must be exchanged for a local one.
How much does a CNI cost?
The FCDO sets one fee for each consular service worldwide. Its consular fees list charges £50 for receiving notice of an intended marriage and £50 for issuing a certificate of no impediment, whether in English or any other language. Some applications also need a local notary to witness your affirmation, which carries its own fee.
How long does it take?
Allow weeks, not days. For Spain, GOV.UK warns that consular processing "can take up to a maximum of 30 working days" from receipt of your original documents, and that Spanish authorities usually treat certificates as expiring 3 or 6 months after issue (Spain: notarial and document services).
Do my UK documents need an apostille to marry abroad?
Usually yes, if the country is party to the Hague Apostille Convention. A birth certificate or decree absolute will need a paper apostille from the FCDO Legalisation Office, at £45 per document on the standard service, which usually takes up to 25 working days plus courier time (GOV.UK).
The faster e-Apostille is not available for "birth, death, marriage, civil partnership and adoption certificates, or any other document from the General Register Office". Plan for paper processing. Our explainer on the e-Apostille lists the other excluded documents, and apostille vs legalisation covers countries that are not in the Convention.
Who should translate documents for a wedding abroad?
Usually a sworn or authorised translator in the country where you marry. Foreign registries generally want translations they can rely on without further checks, which in civil-law countries often means their own sworn translators.
British consulates do not fill this gap. GOV.UK's Spain guidance states plainly: "British consulates in Spain do not translate documents." It points instead to the Spanish foreign ministry's database of accredited translators. Our comparison of sworn translators in Spain, Italy, France, Germany, Poland and Romania explains how each system works, and our article on translating before or after the apostille covers the right order.
How should I plan the paperwork for a wedding abroad?
Work backwards from the date of your registry appointment. A typical sequence is:
- Six months or more before: confirm eligibility and get the registry's written list of documents, including how recent each must be.
- Four to five months before: order fresh full birth certificates and any divorce or death certificates you need.
- About three months before: apply for the CNI or marital status certificate, timed so that it is still valid on the day. GOV.UK suggests applying about three months before your civil registry appointment for Spain.
- In parallel: send UK certificates to the FCDO for paper apostilles.
- Once apostilled: send the documents to a sworn translator in the destination country, with the spelling of all names confirmed.
- Before the appointment: check every document against the registry's list, including expiry periods.
What happens to the marriage certificate after a wedding abroad?
The marriage is registered in the country where it took place, and that country issues the certificate. GOV.UK states that you "cannot get a UK marriage or civil partnership certificate if your marriage or civil partnership happened abroad", unless it was a consular marriage at a British embassy, high commission or consulate.
A foreign marriage is recognised in the UK if it was lawful where it took place and would be allowed under UK law. GOV.UK adds that you may want to get the foreign certificate translated if you plan to use it elsewhere. If you need it for a UK visa, passport or name change, see our guide to marriage and divorce certificate translation for UK applications.
Common mistakes when preparing documents to marry abroad
- Using an old birth certificate. Many registries want a recently issued copy, so the one in your drawer may be rejected.
- Applying for the CNI too early. A certificate that expires before the ceremony has to be applied for again, with a new fee.
- Counting on an e-Apostille for civil status certificates. General Register Office documents need a paper apostille.
- Translating in the UK without checking. A UK certified translation is often not accepted by a foreign registry that expects its own sworn translators.
- Mismatched names. Middle names, accents and previous surnames should be spelled the same way on every document and translation.
How TranslationWorks can help
TranslationWorks is a UK-based translation agency that provides professional human translation of personal and legal documents by native-speaking linguists in 150+ languages, including Spanish, Italian, French, Portuguese, Polish and Romanian. Certificates of no impediment and apostilles are issued by the authorities described above, and some countries also require a sworn translation. We can translate documents where a professional translation is accepted, translate a foreign marriage certificate for later use in the UK, and help you understand documents written in another language through our translation services. Tell us where the translation will be submitted and what format the authority requires, and we will confirm what we can provide in your free quote.
