Documents for Getting Married Abroad:
The Complete UK Guide
Complete guide to document and legalisation requirements when getting married abroad.
Documents for Getting Married Abroad: The Complete UK Guide
Getting married abroad is an increasingly popular choice for UK couples. The weather, the setting, and the smaller guest list all make an overseas wedding appealing. The one part of the plan that has to be right is documentation – every country requires a fixed set of UK documents to be presented before the ceremony can take place, and those documents must be legalised for use abroad.
Two rules govern the whole process. First, every country requires proof you are legally free to marry. For non-Commonwealth destinations, that proof is a Certificate of No Impediment (CNI) issued by your local UK register office. For Commonwealth destinations – Cyprus, Malta, Mauritius, Barbados, Jamaica, Saint Lucia, and the many others listed later on this page – the UK government does not issue CNIs, and the document you need instead is a Statutory Declaration signed before a UK solicitor or Notary Public.
Second, the UK documents you submit abroad almost always need an apostille.
This guide walks through the full UK document journey for couples marrying overseas. It covers the core document list, the CNI vs Statutory Declaration question, when an apostille is needed, destination-specific checklists for the countries we work with most often (Spain, Italy, Greece, Cyprus, and the wider Commonwealth), realistic timings, and how to order the apostille service for your documents.
Always confirm the exact document requirements directly with the local authority, registry office, wedding planner, or consulate in the country where you plan to marry before arranging your apostille or translation services.
Which UK Documents Do You Need to Get Married Abroad?
The exact document set varies by country, and in some destinations it varies between municipalities too – Greek marriage laws, for example, are set by the local town hall (dimos), so requirements in Crete can differ from those in Zante. That said, a core UK document list applies to almost every overseas wedding.
| Document | Purpose | Required? |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate of No Impediment (CNI) – or Statutory Declaration for Commonwealth countries | Proves you are legally free to marry under UK law | Yes |
| Full (long-form) UK birth certificate | Proves identity, age, and parentage – must be the long-form version with parents’ details. Check with the local authorities if this document is required. | Sometimes |
| UK passport (copy, sometimes certified) | Proof of nationality and identity | Sometimes, depends on the destination |
| Deed poll / change of name certificate | Where either partner’s current name differs from their birth certificate | If applicable |
| Decree absolute or final divorce order | Where either partner has been previously married | If applicable |
| Previous marriage certificate | Sometimes required alongside the decree absolute as proof of the dissolved marriage | If applicable |
| Death certificate of former spouse | Where either partner is widowed | If applicable |
| Deed poll / adoption certificate / baptism certificate | Where your circumstances require one of these | If applicable |
Certificate of No Impediment or Statutory Declaration?
Every country that allows UK nationals to marry needs proof you are legally free to marry. Which UK document provides that proof depends on whether your destination is a Commonwealth member. This is the single most common source of confusion for UK couples planning a wedding abroad – get it right at the start and the rest of the process is straightforward.
When You Need a Certificate of No Impediment (Non-Commonwealth Countries)
The Certificate of No Impediment (CNI) is an official UK document, issued by your local register office, confirming that there is no legal reason why you cannot marry. Foreign civil registries rely on it because they cannot check UK marriage records.
You will need a CNI if you are marrying in Spain, Italy, Greece, Portugal, France, Mexico, Brazil, the Netherlands, or in any other non-Commonwealth country.
Important – A CNI is required for each person.
How to apply for a CNI
- 1Book a notice of marriage appointment at your local register office. Both partners usually need to attend in person, bringing ID and proof of address.
You can find your local register office here.
- 2A 28-day notice period applies after you give notice. This is set by UK law and cannot be shortened.
- 3Once the 28 days have passed and no objection has been lodged, the CNI is issued.
- 4
Collect the CNI, then send it to us for apostilling before you travel.
CNIs are typically valid for 3 months from the date of issue. Italy will only accept a CNI less than 3 months old on the date of the ceremony. Plan your timeline backwards carefully.
When You Need a Statutory Declaration (Commonwealth Countries)
Important: The UK government does not issue Certificates of No Impediment for marriages in Commonwealth countries.
If your wedding planner or the local authority abroad has asked for a CNI, and your UK register office has refused to issue one, this is why.
For Commonwealth destinations – Cyprus, Malta, Mauritius, Barbados, Saint Lucia, Antigua, Jamaica, Grenada, Seychelles, the Bahamas, Fiji, and the many others listed below – the document you need in place of a CNI is usually a Statutory Declaration.
A Statutory Declaration is a written declaration of your current marital status, signed in the presence of a UK solicitor or Notary Public. It confirms that you are single, divorced, or widowed and free of any bond of engagement or marriage. A separate declaration is required for each partner.
If the local authority in your destination insists on a CNI, the British High Commission or Consulate in the destination country can issue a letter confirming that the UK does not issue CNIs for marriages in that country.
Once the Statutory Declaration has been signed by a solicitor or Notary Public, it can be apostilled for use abroad. We handle the apostille step.
Sample Statutory Declaration
This is a sample format. Exact wording may vary depending on the country and authority.
My full name is ______________________________ and I reside at ______________________________
My nationality is ______________________________
My passport number is ______________________________ Date of issue ______________________________
My religion is ______________________________
I ______________________________ do declare that I am single / divorced / widowed and now free of any bond of engagement or marriage and can lawfully enter into this my first / second marriage.
______________________________
(Declarant’s signature)
Declared this ______________________________ (date)
At ______________________________ (Solicitor’s address)
Before me ______________________________ (Solicitor’s name)
______________________________
(Solicitor’s signature)
Solicitor’s / Notary’s stamp
Do your Documents Need an Apostille
For every country that is a member of the Hague Apostille Convention, UK documents are legalised for use abroad by the apostille issued by the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO). Most popular wedding destinations for UK couples are Hague members, so the apostille is all you need on the UK side of the process – you may also need a sworn or certified translation where the local language is not English. Italian authorities often insist on an Italian Sworn translation of your documents.
Destinations covered by the apostille legalalisation include Spain, Italy, Greece, Cyprus, Malta, Portugal, Mauritius, Mexico, Barbados, Saint Lucia, Jamaica, and the majority of Commonwealth wedding destinations.
A small number of popular wedding countries – including the UAE, Vietnam, and Thailand – are not Hague members and require additional attestation through the relevant embassy. If your wedding is in one of these countries, contact us and we can advise on the specific process.
The next sections walk through the destinations we work with most often and the exact document bundle each one requires.
Getting Married in Spain: Document Checklist
Spain is one of the most popular wedding destinations for UK couples. As a Hague Convention member, Spain accepts UK documents legalised by apostille. Spanish authorities also require a sworn translation (traducción jurada) into Spanish for almost every document, carried out by a translator officially accredited by the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The typical document requirements are as follows:
Getting Married in Italy: Document Checklist
Italy is a Hague Convention country. UK documents must be apostilled and often also need to be accompanied by a certified Italian translation produced by a Sworn Translator (unless it is a dual language document). Italy is strict on CNI validity – the CNI must be less than 3 months old on the date of the ceremony.
Italy also commonly requires a separate statutory declaration of freedom to marry (sometimes referred to as a bilingual statutory declaration), signed in the presence of a UK solicitor or notary in both English and Italian. This is in addition to the CNI, not instead of it. We can assist with the apostille and sworn translation.
Bilingual statutory declaration of freedom to marry
Signed before a solicitor or notary, then apostilled.
View the statutory declaration template
Getting Married in Greece: Document Checklist
Greece is a Hague Convention country. UK documents must be apostilled and often need to be accompanied by a sworn translation produced by an official Greek Sworn Translator.
Greek marriage laws are localised – requirements for a wedding in Crete can differ from those in Rhodes or Zante. Contact the local town hall (dimos) or your wedding planner to confirm the exact list before posting documents.
We can provide the apostille and sworn Greek translation for UK documents being used on the Greek mainland and on all the Greek islands, including Santorini, Crete, Zante (Zakynthos), Kefalonia, and Corfu.
Getting Married in Cyprus and other Commonwealth Countries
Getting Married in Cyprus
Cyprus is an increasingly popular UK wedding destination. Because Cyprus is a Commonwealth country, the UK government does not issue a Certificate of No Impediment for marriages taking place there.
The document you need in place of a CNI is a Statutory Declaration, signed before a UK solicitor or Notary Public, declaring that you are single and free to marry.
The typical document requirements are as follows:
Other Commonwealth Wedding Destinations
The same rules apply to every other Commonwealth destination – no CNI is issued by the UK, and the Statutory Declaration signed before a UK solicitor or Notary Public is the standard alternative.
If the local authority insists on seeing a CNI, the British High Commission or Consulate in the destination country can issue a letter confirming that the UK does not issue CNIs for that marriage.
The full list of Commonwealth member countries is:
Africa
Asia
Caribbean and Americas
Europe
Pacific
Typical document requirements for a Commonwealth wedding:
How Long Does It Take? Plan Your Timeline
The UK document process for an overseas wedding typically takes 6–8 weeks end-to-end for a non-Commonwealth country and 2–3 weeks for a Commonwealth country. The critical step for non-Commonwealth weddings is the CNI – you cannot begin until you have given notice at a UK register office, and notice requires a fixed 28-day wait.
Commonwealth weddings avoid this entirely, because the Statutory Declaration can be signed the same day you see a solicitor. Every other step in the process can usually be compressed using a service provider like us.
| Step | Non-Commonwealth (CNI) | Commonwealth (Statutory Declaration) |
|---|---|---|
| Book notice / solicitor appointment | Same day to 2 weeks, depending on your local register office | Same day to 1 week, depending on the availability of the solicitor |
| 28-day notice period | 28 days (fixed) | Not applicable |
| CNI issued or Statutory Declaration signed | 1-2 days after notice period ends | Same day as appointment |
| Send documents for apostille (and translation where needed) | 1-2 days, depending on the postal method you use. You can hand-deliver documents to us if convenient. | 1-2 days, depending on the postal method you use. You can hand-deliver documents to us if convenient. |
| FCDO apostille | 1-2 working days using a service provider like us. Approximately 15-20 working days if sending directly to the FCDO. | 1-2 working days using a service provider like us. Approximately 15-20 working days if sending directly to the FCDO. |
| Sworn or certified translation (where required) | 1-2 working days using a service provider like us. | Usually not required |
| Documents returned | 1-2 working days. We offer a next working day delivery service which is available at checkout. | 1-2 working days. We offer a next working day delivery service which is available at checkout. |
| Total | 6-8 weeks – faster if using a service provider like us | 2-3 weeks – faster if using a service provider like us |
Sworn translations are typically completed within 1–2 working days where expedited processing is possible.
We cannot shorten the CNI 28-day waiting period - that is set by UK law - but every other stage of the process can often be accelerated.
Please note: Processing times are provided for guidance only and cannot be guaranteed.
Order Your Apostille and Translation Services
Fast apostille – 1 to 2 days legalisation service
We handle UK apostille and sworn translation services. You send us your original UK documents; we return them apostilled, translated where required, and ready to present at your ceremony. Discounted rates apply to orders containing multiple documents.
Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know before ordering your apostille and sworn translation for Spain.
