Can foreigners legally marry in Mexico?
Foreigners can legally get married in Mexico. The process is pretty straightforward as long as you meet the local legal requirements.
You don’t need to be a Mexican resident to marry in the country. In fact, most foreigners get legally married in Mexico while visiting on a tourist visa (FMM), which is issued upon arrival. The key is to follow the civil marriage process, which is the only form of marriage legally recognised in Mexico and abroad.
Each state in Mexico may have slight variations in requirements, so it’s important to check with the local Civil Registry Office (Registro Civil) where your ceremony will take place.
If you're submitting documents from abroad, such as a birth certificate or divorce decree, they may need to be apostilled and translated into Spanish by a certified translator. We’ll explain this in detail below.
Types of marriages in Mexico
There are two main types of marriage ceremonies in Mexico: civil and symbolic. Knowing the difference is important if you want your marriage to be legally recognised in your home country.
Civil marriages
A civil marriage is the only legally recognised form of marriage in Mexico. It must be officiated by a government-authorised judge or official from the local Civil Registry Office (Registro Civil). Once completed, you’ll receive an official marriage certificate, which can be used to register your marriage in other countries or for immigration and legal purposes. Civil marriages are available to both residents and foreigners in Mexico.
Symbolic weddings
A symbolic wedding is a non-legally binding ceremony. It’s often chosen by couples who want a meaningful celebration without going through the legal process in Mexico. For example, if you’ve already had a civil ceremony in your home country, you can have a symbolic wedding in Mexico. These ceremonies can be spiritual, cultural, or entirely personalised, and are commonly held at beaches, resorts, or scenic venues.
Religious weddings
Religious weddings, such as Catholic, Jewish, or Christian ceremonies, fall under this symbolic category. While they are significant, they are not legally recognised in Mexico unless a civil ceremony is also completed. If you wish to have a religious wedding in a church or with a faith-based officiant, you'll still need to register the marriage with the Civil Registry to make it official.
What are the legal requirements to get married in Mexico?
Here’s what you’ll generally need to meet the legal requirements for getting married in Mexico:
- Minimum age: Both parties must be at least 18 years old.
- Valid identification: You’ll need to present valid passports and copies, along with your tourist card (Forma Migratoria Múltiple or FMM), which you get upon arrival.
- Completed marriage application: You must complete and submit a marriage application form at the local Civil Registry Office (Registro Civil) where the ceremony will take place.
- Witnesses: Most states require four adult witnesses, each with valid photo identification.
- Medical exam and blood test: A prenup medical certificate, including a blood test, is required. These tests must be done in Mexico, usually within 14 days of the wedding. Some locations may also require a chest X-ray.
- Officiation by a civil judge: The ceremony must be conducted by a civil judge or registrar from the local authority.
Documents needed to get legally married in Mexico
- Valid passports: With at least six months of validity remaining
- Tourist card (FMM): Issued upon entry into Mexico
- Marriage application form: This is provided by the local Civil Registry and must be filled out in Spanish. It includes your personal details and declaration of intent to marry.
- Birth certificates: Your birth certificates must be apostilled or legalised in the country where they were issued and translated into Spanish by a certified translator.
- Divorce decree or death certificate (if applicable): These must also be apostilled/legalised and translated into Spanish.
- Medical certificate & blood test results: A prenuptial medical certificate, including blood tests, is required by most Civil Registry offices.
- Valid ID for witnesses: Most regions require four adult witnesses, each with a valid passport or official government-issued ID.
Already divorced or widowed?
Some Mexican states require a waiting period between your divorce and your next marriage, often up to one year. This isn’t enforced nationwide, but you need to check with the local Civil Registry office where you plan to marry. You’ll also need to submit a final divorce decree or a death certificate of your former spouse.
How to get married in Mexico as a foreigner
Follow these steps to ensure your marriage is valid both in Mexico and your home country:
Choose your ceremony type
The first decision you'll need to make is whether to have a civil or symbolic ceremony. A civil marriage is legally recognised in Mexico and internationally. A symbolic or religious ceremony, on the other hand, is purely ceremonial. So you choose which one you both want.
Gather your documents
Make sure your documents are up to date and allow enough time to collect any necessary documents from government offices in your home country.
Legalise and translate your documents
Any documents issued outside Mexico must be legally valid for use abroad. This means they’ll need to be apostilled (if your country is part of the Hague Apostille Convention) or legalised through your home country’s foreign ministry and the Mexican consulate (if your country is not part of the convention).
Once legalised, your documents must then be translated into Spanish by a certified translator. This ensures they’ll be accepted by the Civil Registry Office (Registro Civil) when you apply for your marriage licence.
Get your medical tests done
Most Mexican states require couples to undergo a blood test, and some may also ask for a chest X-ray. These medical exams must be completed at a local clinic or laboratory in Mexico within 14 days before your wedding. You must submit the results as part of your marriage application.
Submit your application to the Civil Registry
Once your documents and medical results are ready, head to the local Registro Civil (Civil Registry Office) where your ceremony will take place. There, you’ll submit your application, pay any applicable fees, and confirm your wedding date.
Attend the civil ceremony
On your scheduled date, you and your witnesses will attend the civil ceremony, which is conducted by a judge or government official. The ceremony may take place at the Civil Registry office or, if approved, at an external venue of your choice. The ceremony is usually short and formal, but can still be personalised with your vows or additions.
Receive your marriage certificate
After the ceremony, you’ll receive an official Mexican marriage certificate (Acta de Matrimonio) in Spanish. If you plan to use this certificate outside Mexico, maybe for immigration, visa applications, or name changes, it may need to be apostilled in Mexico and translated into your local language.
Legalisation & Translation of foreign documents for use in Mexico
When submitting official documents such as birth certificates, divorce decrees, or death certificates, they need to be apostilled or legalised, depending on the issuing country.
Apostilles and legalisations are used to prove that your foreign documents are genuine and can be accepted by Mexican authorities.
If you're from a country that’s part of the Hague Apostille Convention (e.g. UK, US, or most of Europe), you’ll need to get your documents apostilled by the relevant authority in your home country.
Apostilles are usually issued by a central government office, such as the UK Legalisation Office, the US Department of State (or the Secretary of State at the state level), or the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in many EU countries.
If your country isn’t part of the Apostille Convention, your documents will need to go through legalisation. This means getting the document authenticated by your home country’s ministry of foreign affairs, and then further legalised by the Mexican embassy or consulate in that country.
For example, let’s say you’re from the UK and planning to get married in Mexico, and the local Civil Registry requires your birth certificate.
Here’s what to do:
- Obtain an official copy of your UK birth certificate (if you don’t already have one).
- Send it to the UK Legalisation Office to be apostilled. This proves it's a legitimate UK government document.
- Once apostilled, upload the document to Translayte for a certified Spanish translation. Afterward, your document is valid for use by the Mexican authorities.
At Translayte, we offer certified translations in Mexico that are accepted by Mexican authorities, and we can also help you with the apostille process to make things easier
Getting married to a Mexican national as a foreigner
If you're a foreigner planning to marry a Mexican citizen, the process is very similar to marrying another foreigner, with just a few differences.
A civil ceremony is still required for the marriage to be legally recognised in Mexico and abroad. However, your Mexican spouse will need to submit:
- A valid Mexican ID (INE card or passport)
- Their Mexican birth certificate
- Proof of address in Mexico
You, as the foreign partner, will still need to submit all the other required documents apostilled and translated.
Cost of getting married in Mexico
Civil ceremony fees
A legal (civil) marriage in Mexico costs between MXN $1,300–$3,500 (approx. USD $75–$200), depending on the municipality. Some locations charge more for off-site ceremonies (e.g., at a hotel or beach).
Medical tests
This can cost around USD $100–$300 per couple, depending on the clinic.
Translation and legalisation
The cost of certified translations is from $31.75 USD per page, while apostille services vary by country. Other costs include catering, drinks, a DJ, event planners, and more, depending on the nature of your ceremony.
When do you need a Certificate of No Impediment (CNI) to get married in Mexico?
A Certificate of No Impediment (CNI) is an official document issued by your home country confirming that you are legally free to marry. While a CNI is not always required in Mexico, it may be requested by certain Civil Registry Offices, especially if:
- You are marrying a Mexican national
- You’re previously divorced or widowed
- The local registry wants additional proof that you’re legally single
- You're from a country where CNIs are standard practice for foreign marriages (e.g., the UK, Ireland)
In the UK, CNIs are commonly issued by local registry offices. Some Mexican states will ask you to present a CNI, apostilled and translated into Spanish.
Recommended Reading
How to Get a Certificate of No Impediment (CNI) in the UK
