If you’re a British national getting married or entering civil partnership abroad, you might need certain documents from the UK government, for example a certificate of no impediment (CNI).
You’ll need to contact the local authorities where you want to get married to find out what you need to do. In Spain, you need to contact the civil registry office where you’re planning to get married to find out about local marriage laws, including what documents you’ll need.
What are the basic requirements for getting married?
There may be local requirements, but the following applies across the whole of Spain:
- One of you must live in Spain or be a Spanish national.
- The civil registry office will also ask you for proof of your address. This should be:
- a utility bill or bank statement – if you don’t live in Spain
- your registration certificate (‘padrón’) from the town hall (‘ayuntamiento’) – if you live in Spain
- If you’ve lived in Spain for less than 2 years, you might also need to provide the ‘communication proof of address’.
For marriages in Barcelona city and applying to the Central Civil Registry, you’ll need a marital status certificate.
If you’re getting married elsewhere, the civil registry office will ask for one or both of the following:
The links above provide example certificates. Show these to the civil registry where you’re getting married and ask them which you need.
If your partner is British, they’ll need to make a separate application to the consulate with the same certificates. If they’re not British they’ll need equivalent documents from their local authorities.
How to get a Certificate of No Impediment (CNI)
Download and fill in the CNI application pack. The pack contains a list of the documents you’ll need.
You must sign the notice of marriage and affirmation in the application pack in front of a local notary public in Spain. They’ll charge you a fee.
Send the form and documents by courier to the address in the application pack.
The consulate will display your notice of marriage for 7 days. If nobody raises an objection, they’ll issue your CNI and send it to you with your original documents by courier. You’ll usually get your CNI 30 working days after the consulate receives your form and documents.
It costs £50 to give notice and £50 for the CNI. You’ll need to pay in the local currency by card. Fill in the payment form in the pack.
Your CNI will be valid for 6 months.
How to get a marital status certificate
Download and fill in the marital status certificate application pack – it contains a list of the documents you’ll need. The certificate costs £50. You’ll need to pay in the local currency by card. Fill in the payment form in the back.
You must sign the affirmation in the application pack in front of a local notary public in Spain. They’ll charge you a fee.
Send the form and documents by courier to the address in the application pack.
The consulate will send your certificate and original documents to you by courier. You’ll usually get your certificate 30 working days after the consulate receives your form and documents.
Getting married
You can have a civil wedding or a religious wedding. However, religious ceremonies aren’t valid on their own. You’ll need to have a civil wedding as well.
If you are a same sex couple, you will not be able to have a religious wedding in Spain.
Civil weddings
Take your certificates to the civil registry office where you’re planning to get married. The registrar will check your documents and set a date for your wedding.
Religious weddings
Take your certificates to the priest who’s going to marry you. The priest will check your documents and set a date for your wedding.
After your ceremony either you or the priest must register your marriage at the local civil registry office. You won’t be legally married until this has happened.
Will my marriage or partnership be recognised in the UK?
Your marriage or civil partnership will be recognised in the UK if both the following apply:
- you followed the correct process in the country where you got married
- it would be allowed under UK law
It’s not possible to register your marriage in the UK.
If your partner isn’t a British citizen, they can apply for British citizenship once they’ve lived in the UK for 3 years.
