What documents do I need to get married in Tenerife?
CIVIL MARRIAGE IN TENERIFE, SPAIN.
To get married in Spain – civil ceremony – both foreign and Spanish nationals HAVE TO meet certain requirements and to provide certain documents.
Please find below a list of the documents you will normally need:
1. Passport or National Identification Document
- Both parties intending to get married need to provide these.
- Please check special requirements for non-EU citizens – they may also need a valid visa or residence permit.
2. Birth Certificates
- A certified copy of your birth certificate; it must have been issued within the last six months. You will need an official translation into Spanish; please note it must be apostilled or legalized as well.
3. Proof of Civil Status
- In Spanish, this is called «Certificado de Estado Civil». It proves that the person concerned is free to marry. It must have been issued within the last six months and translated and apostilled if not in Spanish.
- Note: If you are divorced or widowed, you will need to provide:
- Divorce Decree.
- Death Certificate of your previous spouse.
4. Empadronamiento (Certificate of Residence)
- It shows where you live in Spain. It’s issued by the Ayuntamiento of the place where you live.
5. Certificate of No Impediment (Certificado de No Impedimento)
- This document is required to prove that there are no legal obstacles to the marriage.
- It must also be translated into Spanish and apostilled.
7. Sworn Affidavit of Marital Status (Declaración Jurada de Estado Civil)
- Some municipalities in Spain may also require a sworn affidavit confirming that you are legally able to marry.
8. Presence of Witnesses
- You will need at least two witnesses for the civil ceremony.
9. Application Form (Formulario de Solicitud)
- You’ll need to fill out and submit the civil marriage application form at the Civil Registry (Registro Civil), where the wedding will take place.
Additional Notes:
- Document Translation & Legalization: documents issued abroad must be officially translated and will normally require an Apostille or legalization. Without this they may not be valid.
- Non-Residents: Some regions may allow non-residents to marry. However, the process can be a little bit more complex.
To sum up…
Once you have all these documents with you, contact your Civil Registry office to start the process, which can take some weeks or even months depending on where you are.
You can also contact us if you need any help! We will be happy to assist you.
What documents do I need to get married in Tenerife?
