Thinking about getting married in Portugal as a UK citizen? It’s possible, but there are a few legal steps to follow. One of those steps involves obtaining documents and applying for a marriage licence from the Portuguese Civil Registry Office. In this article, you’ll discover the key requirements, steps, and costs. You’ll also learn about when certified translations are necessary, and how Translayte can help make the process smoother.
Table of Contents
Can foreigners get married in Portugal?
Yes. Foreigners can legally marry in Portugal, even if neither partner lives in the country. Portuguese law allows international couples to marry as long as they meet the basic legal requirements.
Unlike when getting married in France, there is no residency requirement for the couple to marry in Portugal. Meaning you or your partner doesn’t have to live in Portugal to be able to get married there.
To be legally valid, a marriage must be conducted as either a civil ceremony or a Catholic religious ceremony.
As a foreigner, you can start the process from abroad, and use a representative to submit documents if needed. However, you and your partner must attend the ceremony in person.
Documents issued outside Portugal must be translated into Portuguese and legalised, either with an apostille or through consular legalisation, depending on the country of origin.
Legal requirements for getting married in Portugal
Foreigners can legally marry in Portugal if they meet the country’s civil law requirements. The process applies to both residents and non-residents and ensures that both parties are free and eligible to marry.
Here are the main legal requirements for marriage in Portugal;
Legal age: Both partners must be at least 18 years old. Those aged 16 or 17 need written parental consent.
Freedom to marry: Both must be legally single, divorced, or widowed. You will need to submit a proof of status.
Marriage licence: Issued by the Civil Registry Office before the ceremony and is valid for six months.
Processing time: Usually takes four to six weeks.
Type of ceremony: Only civil and Catholic religious ceremonies are legally recognised. Other religious or symbolic ceremonies must follow a civil registration.
Property regime: Couples must choose how assets will be shared.
Language: All legal ceremonies are in Portuguese. You may need to hire a sworn interpreter if either person does not speak the language.
Representation: Applications can be made through a power of attorney, but both partners must attend the ceremony in person.
After the wedding, you will receive an international marriage certificate. This may need to be apostilled or translated for registration in your home country.
Residency requirements for getting married in Portugal
You do not need to hold a residence permit, live in Portugal, or spend a minimum number of days in the country before the ceremony. Couples can apply for their marriage licence while abroad or through a legal representative acting under a Power of Attorney.
However, both partners must attend the ceremony in person, as Portuguese law requires their presence to confirm consent. This means that even if a representative handles the paperwork, the couple must travel to Portugal for the wedding day.
Portugal's marriage requirements for UK citizens
Age requirement: Both individuals must be at least 18 years old. If under 18, parental consent is required.
Both partners must be legally free to marry: This means they cannot be already married or in a civil partnership.
Documentation: You'll need to provide documents to verify your identity, civil status, and other details relevant to the marriage process.
Close family ties: You cannot marry your:
Sisters or Brothers
Mother
Father
Daughter/Son
Grandparents
Granddaughters/Grandsons
Aunt/Uncle
Niece/Nephew
Stepdaughters
Mother-in-law
Daughter-in-law
Son-in-law
Consent: Both couples must be mentally stable and consenting to the marriage. This means they can't have noticeable dementia, be forced, or be under threats.
Criminal records: You or your spouse must not be awaiting trial or convicted as perpetrator or accomplice of a willful homicide.
Documents required to register a marriage in Portugal
Valid Passports or ID Cards: Both partners need to present valid identification.
Birth Certificates: These should be recent (issued within the last six months), and for foreign citizens, they may need to be apostilled and translated into Portuguese.
Residency Certificate (if applicable): If one partner lives in Portugal, proof of residency is usually required.
Divorce/Death Certificates (if applicable): If either partner has been previously married, proof of the termination of the previous marriage (e.g., divorce decree or death certificate) is necessary.
Prenuptial agreement: Must be signed, notarised, and registered before the wedding.
Power of Attorney: Required if a representative submits the application on your behalf.
Note: Certificates and documents that are not written in English, French, or Spanish must be accompanied by a certified Portuguese translation. Additionally, documents issued outside of Portugal must undergo apostille or consular legalisation depending on the country of origin to be valid for use in Portugal.
Additional documents for Catholic weddings:
If you are having a Catholic religious ceremony, you may also need to provide:
Baptism, Communion, and Confirmation certificates
Pre-Cana course completion certificate
Letter of freedom to marry from your parish priest or bishop
Permission for mixed-faith marriage, if one partner is not Catholic
Document translation & Legalisation process
All foreign documents submitted to a Portuguese Civil Registry Office must be officially recognised under Portuguese law. This means they need to go through a legalisation process and, in most cases, be translated into Portuguese by a certified translator.
The exact process depends on the country where the documents were issued and whether it is a member of the Hague Apostille Convention.
Legalisation or Apostille
Before translation, each document must be verified to confirm its authenticity.
If your country is a member of the Apostille Convention: Your documents must be stamped with an Apostille Certificate by the issuing country’s competent authority. For example, The UK, most EU countries, and the United States are Apostille members.
If your country is not an Apostille member: Your documents must go through full consular legalisation. This means they must be stamped by your country’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and then by the Portuguese Embassy or Consulate in your country.
Certified translation into Portuguese
Once legalised, each document must be translated into Portuguese. Portuguese Civil Registry Offices only accept translations done by sworn or certified translators. Translations must match the original document exactly and include every word, seal, and signature.
You must submit:
The original document (with apostille or legalisation), and
The certified Portuguese translation.
How to apply for a marriage licence in Portugal (Step-by-Step)
Before you can legally marry in Portugal, you must apply for a marriage licence at a Civil Registry Office (Conservatória do Registo Civil). This licence confirms that both partners are free to marry and that all documents meet Portuguese legal standards.
The process is straightforward but can take several weeks. It’s best to start your application early, especially if your documents need to be translated or legalised.
Here’s what the process entails;
1. Gather your documents: Collect all required documents, including your passports, birth certificates, certificate of no impediment, and any divorce or death certificates (if applicable). Make sure each document is original, recent, and properly legalised.
2. Translate and legalise documents: If your documents were issued outside Portugal, they must be translated into Portuguese by a certified translator and legalised or apostilled, depending on your country.
3. Submit your application: Submit your documents to the Civil Registry Office in the area where you plan to marry. If you are not in Portugal, you can appoint a representative (such as a lawyer or wedding planner) to submit them on your behalf using a Power of Attorney.
4. Confirm ceremony details: When submitting your application, specify the type of ceremony (civil or Catholic), your chosen date, venue, and matrimonial property regime.
5. Pay the fees: The standard application fee is around €120. If your ceremony is outside registry office hours or at a private venue, an additional fee of about €200 applies.
6. Wait for approval: The registry will review your documents and confirm eligibility. This usually takes four to six weeks, depending on the local office and the completeness of your application.
7. Receive your marriage licence: Once approved, the licence is valid for six months. You must hold your ceremony within this period; otherwise, you will need to reapply if it expires.
Step-by-step process for marriage in Portugal
Weddings in Portugal must follow a process to ensure they’re legally recognised there and in the UK. Here is the process for UK citizens:
Confirm eligibility
Before travelling to Portugal for your marriage ceremony, you must confirm if you are eligible to get married according to Portuguese laws. We’ve mentioned some of the requirements above; however, there might be others unique to your situation. You can confirm the rules from the Portuguese Civil Registry Office, or Conservatória do Registo Civil, or other official government websites.
Obtain Certificate of No Impediment
You must obtain a certificate of No Impediment from the registry office in the UK. This certificate simply shows that you are legally cleared to marry your partner. You can follow this official guide to obtain yours. If your partner isn’t a UK citizen, they should request the CNI or its equivalent from their home country.
Gather all the requested documents
Once you've received your UK CNI, you should gather the other documents required. This often includes a passport, birth certificate, and divorce documents. You might have to translate the document into Portuguese and get an apostille before submitting it in Portugal.
You will also need to authenticate yourself using a Digital Mobile Key or Citizen Card. Fill in all required information, including the type of wedding ceremony, date, time, and your chosen matrimonial regime (prenuptial agreement). Your spouse will receive a notification and can accept the request to complete the process. You'll get a notification within 4 weeks with a decision. If the marriage is approved, you must get married within 6 months of receiving the approval.
Note: A representative with power of attorney or a priest can initiate a marriage license application on your behalf.
Get married
If your request is approved, you’ll need to plan your wedding ceremony within six months. If you choose the civil wedding ceremony, it will be held at the registry office you've selected. You can also request a different venue or have the wedding ceremony on the weekend. These options will cost you extra money.
Note: Civil ceremonies in Portugal require two witnesses over 18 years old.
Receive the marriage certificate
After the marriage is registered, you can request a certificate. The marriage certificate confirms the facts set out in the register of marriages. You can request in person at
Civil registry offices
Citizen's shops
IRN registration spaces
You can translate and apostille the marriage certificate if you intend to use it in the UK or outside Portugal.
Note: If you or your partner does not understand Portuguese, you’ll need to hire an interpreter for the registry visit and wedding ceremony.
How much does it cost to get married in Portugal?
The cost of the marriage process and registration in Portugal is €120. This fee covers the pre-wedding and registration process once the couple is married.
However, in some situations, you’ll have to pay €200 for the marriage process and registration. The situations include
Non-urgent marriage celebrated outside the registry office
Non-urgent marriages are celebrated at the registry office outside opening hours or on Saturdays, Sundays, or public holidays.
You should also budget for document translation and apostille services. At Translayte, our certified translation rates start from $31.75 per page. You can also request a quote to get complete pricing for complex translation requirements.
Note: Catholic ceremonies have different fees depending on the parish
Prenuptial agreements (matrimonial regimes) in Portugal
When you marry in Portugal, you’ll be asked to choose a matrimonial property regime. This determines how property and assets are managed during the marriage and how they’re divided if the marriage ends. It’s an important decision, especially for international couples who may own property or assets in different countries.
The three main regimes are:
Community of Acquired Property (Comunhão de adquiridos)
The default regime is in effect if no other choice is made.
Assets acquired during the marriage are shared equally.
Assets owned before marriage, or received through inheritance or gifts, remain personal.
General Community of Property (Comunhão geral de bens)
All assets, whether acquired before or during marriage, become joint property.
Not available if one spouse already has children from a previous relationship.
Separation of Property (Separação de bens)
Each spouse keeps full ownership of their assets, both before and during the marriage.
This situation is common among international couples or where one spouse owns significant assets.
If you want a specific regime other than the default, you’ll need to sign a prenuptial agreement (convenção antenupcial) before the marriage at a notary’s office in Portugal. This agreement is then registered with your marriage.
How long does it take to get married in Portugal?
It usually takes 1–2 months to complete the marriage process in Portugal, though additional time may be needed to gather foreign documents and legalisations. This timeline includes a 4-week wait time for the Portuguese marriage licence approval. You also have to consider the time it takes to get your certificate of No Impediment, translation, and apostille for other documents. It's best to start preparation early so you have time to rectify any issues or delays.
How can Translayte help?
Translayte provides professional sworn translation and apostille services to support your Portuguese marriage paperwork. Our document translation meets the Portuguese government and embassy requirements, ensuring you avoid delays. Here’s how we can help
Certified Portuguese translations: We provide certified translations of your documents (passport, divorce certificate, etc.) accepted by Portuguese and other global authorities.
Legalisation & notarisation: Translayte can assist with apostille services for translated documents, such as birth certificates, ensuring their full compliance with Portuguese legal standards.
Fast turnaround: Translayte offers expedited delivery options with a 12–24-hour timeline if you're on a tight schedule.
Transparent and Competitive pricing: Our translation rates start at $31.75 per page with no hidden charges.
Don't allow poorly translated documents to delay your Portuguese wedding plans. Request a quote to get high-quality translations.
