Getting married overseas
Part of the Marriage topic
Learn about what you should know if you get married overseas.
In short
Many couples find it easier to get married in Australia, either before or after having an informal ceremony overseas.
Your marriage certificate will then be available in the Australian state where you get married, not from another country.
What you should know
If you choose to get married in another country:
- confirm legal requirements by contacting the country’s consulate or embassy
- your marriage will be registered in that country and not Australia
- get a marriage certificate after your wedding and before you leave that country.
You can't register an overseas marriage in Australia. An overseas marriage is usually recognised under Australian law if it meets certain rules:
- the marriage is registered in the country where it took place.
- it must follow Australian laws. This means
- both people must be at least 18 years old
- neither person can already be married to someone else
- the couple must not be closely related. This includes family members like a parent, child, grandparent, grandchild, sibling, or half-sibling.
Managed by: Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages