Getting Married in Spain as a Foreigner

Marriage in Spain starts with paperwork, not a date

In Spain a civil marriage is a legal act before it is a celebration. A Registro Civil or a notary has to review a preliminary file, the expediente matrimonial, and confirm that both of you can marry, that you consent freely and that nothing stands in the way. Only then can the ceremony go ahead. The couples who have the smoothest experience plan backward from the wedding day and give the paperwork the time it needs.

The three things you will deal with

1. Proof that you are free to marry

Foreigners prove they are single and eligible with a certificate from their own country, often called a certificado de capacidad matrimonial or a certificate of no impediment. It usually needs an apostille and a sworn translation, in that order. Offices apply their own limits on how recent it must be, so ask before you order. Our page on document legalisation for Spain shows how the chain fits together.

2. The civil registry file

The expediente matrimonial is opened at the Registro Civil that serves where one of you lives, or with a notary. Expect a review of your documents and a confidential interview with each of you. To show where you live you generally need your empadronamiento in order. A favourable decision is reported to last about twelve months, so time it with the documents inside it.

3. Who performs the wedding

Since Ley Orgánica 1/2025 took effect on 3 April 2025, civil weddings are performed by the official in charge of the Registro Civil, by a notary, or by a mayor or delegated councillor. Jueces de paz no longer do this. A notary can often offer more flexible dates, with the same legal checks.

Married abroad already?

A marriage celebrated abroad is generally recognised in Spain, but it does not automatically appear in the Spanish civil registry. If one of you is Spanish, it can usually be entered through the consular registry or the Registro Civil Central. If neither of you is Spanish, you generally keep using your foreign marriage certificate, apostilled and translated. A criterion reported in 2025 says registration is not mandatory for residency applications based on a marriage, though individual offices may still ask for more. Confirm with the office handling your case.

How marriage connects to your life in Spain

For many couples the wedding is also the key to staying together. A spouse of a Spanish or EU citizen can generally apply for a family member residence card, and a spouse of a Spanish citizen can apply for nationality after one year of legal residence instead of ten. Read more on family reunification in Spain and Spanish citizenship after residency. Marriage also changes how tax and inheritance work for residents, which is one more reason to get the civil status paperwork right.

Marriage or pareja de hecho?

Marriage is not the only option. A registered partnership is quicker to set up, but it differs on nationality, inheritance, pensions and tax, and its rules vary by region. Compare them in our guide to pareja de hecho before you decide.

Realistic timing

In a small town the file can move in weeks. In Madrid, Barcelona or Valencia the first appointment alone may take weeks, and summer slows everything. Add time if foreign documents have to be legalised and translated. We cannot give you one number, because offices differ. We can tell you what to order first, what to ask the office, and what usually goes wrong. Start gathering certificates two to three months before you expect to open the file.

What usually goes wrong

Translating before the apostille, so you pay twice. A certificate that expires before the interview. Names spelled two ways across documents. A missing proof of an earlier divorce. Assuming that living in Spain means a foreign marriage is already on record. None of these is serious alone, and all of them are avoidable if you check requirements with the office first.

Honest limits

Civil registration practice varies by region and by office, and rules change. This page reflects our understanding as of October 2026. Always confirm the current requirements with the Registro Civil or notary that will handle your file. Easy To Spain does not give legal advice, it helps you get the paperwork and the order of steps right.