Getting Married in Portugal as a Foreigner: Legal Requirements, Documents & Costs

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 a civil ceremony, a Catholic religious ceremony (recognised directly by the state), or another religious ceremony that is subsequently registered with the Civil Registry.

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.

Important: Since Brexit, UK nationals are required to obtain a Certificate of No Impediment (CNI) before marrying in Portugal. Foreigners organising their own wedding in Portugal are now required to have local legal representation, either a lawyer or a legal representative with Power of Attorney, to submit the marriage licence application.

Is a Portuguese marriage recognised internationally?

A marriage legally solemnised in Portugal is valid under international law. However, to ensure it is recognised for legal, tax, and immigration purposes in your home country, you must provide proof that the marriage was conducted according to the laws of Portugal.

You'll need an apostille stamp from the relevant Portuguese authority, which confirms the document is genuine and was issued by a legitimate public body. Once apostilled, the certificate is accepted in any other country that's also part of the Convention.

If you're submitting the marriage certificate to a country that hasn't signed the Hague Convention, you'll need full consular legalisation. This means the document is verified by the Portuguese Ministry of Foreign Affairs and then by the embassy or consulate of the destination country.

Many countries also require you to formally register a foreign marriage if you want it reflected in local records. For example, to update your marital status on a national ID, claim spousal benefits, or sponsor a partner for residency. This usually means submitting your apostilled (or legalised) Portuguese marriage certificate, along with a certified translation into the local language, to the relevant civil registry or embassy.  

• In the UK, a Portuguese marriage is recognised without needing to re-register it. But you'll usually still need an apostilled certificate with a certified English translation for things like visa applications or updating records with HMRC and the NHS. 

• In the USA, there's no central marriage registry, so recognition happens at the point of use such as immigration through USCIS, Social Security, or state-level name changes. You also need an apostille plus certified English translation. 

• In Canada there's no national re-registration requirement. But provincial authorities and Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) will ask for an apostilled certificate and certified translation. 

• In Australia, marriages from Hague Convention countries are recognised under Australian law. But you'll still need an apostille and certified translation for visa, Medicare, or name-change purposes. 

• Within the EU, things tend to be smoother thanks to regulations on public documents between member states. Some EU countries even accept multilingual standard forms without requiring a full translation, though this varies by country and by what you're using the certificate for.

Symbolic vs legal weddings in Portugal

A legal wedding in Portugal is a marriage that's officially recognised under Portuguese law and registered with the Portuguese civil registry (Conservatória do Registo Civil). It involves providing documentation often with certified translations into Portuguese. Once completed, the marriage is entered into the civil registry, and you receive an official Portuguese marriage certificate that's valid both domestically and, with the right apostille or legalisation, internationally. A legal wedding can take place in a civil registry office, or in a church or other venue if the officiant is authorised to perform legally binding ceremonies.

What is a symbolic wedding?

A symbolic wedding, on the other hand, has no legal standing whatsoever. It's essentially a ceremony, often held on a stunning beach in the Algarve, in a vineyard, or at a historic quinta, that celebrates the couple's commitment without involving any government paperwork or registry. 

Couples who choose a symbolic wedding in Portugal have usually already completed (or plan to complete) the legal part of getting married. The Portuguese event is purely about the experience: vows, rings, a beautiful setting, and a celebration with guests, with none of the bureaucratic requirements attached.

Pros and cons of each option

A legal wedding's biggest advantage is that it's final. Once it's done, you're legally married, with one certificate and one process. The downside is the administrative burden: gathering documents, getting translations certified, navigating residency requirements, and working within Portuguese bureaucratic timelines, which can take weeks or months.

A symbolic wedding's appeal is flexibility and simplicity. There's no need to satisfy Portuguese legal requirements, no waiting periods, no document gathering for the ceremony itself, and you can hold it virtually anywhere.  The downside is that you still need to handle the legal marriage separately, which means double the planning and potentially two ceremonies to organise.

Which option is best for foreign couples?

A symbolic wedding tends to be the more practical choice if you want to marry in Portugal for the scenery. Doing the legal paperwork in your home country, where you're already familiar with the system, and the documents needed are typically easier to obtain. That said, some You can take the legal-wedding-in-Portugal route, particularly if you already live there, have Portuguese family ties, or simply want everything finalised in one place. 

In that case, it's worth budgeting extra time for document preparation and translation, since any foreign certificates (birth certificates, divorce decrees, etc.) will need to be officially translated into Portuguese and often apostilled before the Portuguese authorities will accept them.

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. All documentation must be submitted to the Civil Registry at least one month before the ceremony. Allowing 3 months is strongly recommended to account for translation, apostille, and registry review time.

• Type of ceremony: Only civil and Catholic religious ceremonies are legally recognised. Other religious or symbolic ceremonies must follow a civil registration. Foreigners must use local legal representation to submit the licence application, doing the legalities independently is no longer permitted.

• Property regime: Couples must choose how assets will be shared.

• Language: All ceremonies are conducted in Portuguese. If either partner does not speak Portuguese, a sworn interpreter must be present at both the registry visit and the ceremony.

• 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.

• Certificate of No Impediment (CNI): This document, issued by your home country, confirms you are legally able to marry.

• 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 the following; 

All foreign documents submitted to Portuguese Civil Registry Offices must be translated into Portuguese by a certified translator, regardless of the document's original language. Check with your specific registry office for any exemptions.

• Apostille before translation: UK documents must first be apostilled by the FCDO, and then translated into Portuguese by a certified translator. Translating before apostilling is a costly mistake- the apostille must be attached to the original document.

• Document validity: Birth certificates, CNIs, and divorce/death certificates must typically be issued within the last 6 months. Certificates older than this will be rejected by the Civil Registry.

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 UK citizens, your documents must be apostilled by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) before being submitted to Portuguese authorities. This applies to birth certificates, CNIs, divorce decrees, and any other official documents.

• 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.

NOTE;

• Bilateral exemptions: Portugal has bilateral agreements with certain EU countries meaning birth, marriage, and death certificates from those countries do not require an apostille. UK documents are NOT exempt, they always require FCDO apostille.

Civil Registry Offices only accept translations done by certified or sworn translators. The translation must match the original document exactly and include every word, seal, and signature. Abbreviations or summaries are not accepted.

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: UK nationals and most foreign nationals cannot use the online portal, which is restricted to Portuguese and Brazilian citizens with an active Citizen Card. You must either attend the Civil Registry Office in person or appoint a local legal representative with Power of Attorney to submit on your behalf.

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.

8. After the ceremony: You will receive an international marriage certificate from the Portuguese Civil Registry. If you intend to use this certificate in the UK, you may need to have it apostilled by the Portuguese competent authority and/or translated into English by a certified translator.

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. 

Initiate the marriage process 

In Portugal, you must initiate the marriage process at the civil registry office or the online portal. This step allows you to declare your intention to marry and apply for the marriage license. 

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.Translation and apostille costs vary by document type and language pair. Request a quote for accurate pricing.

Here’s a summary of the cost requirements; 

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.

For international couples who own property or assets in different countries, the choice of matrimonial regime has significant cross-border implications. Legal advice is strongly recommended before choosing a regime, as it may affect inheritance rights, tax obligations, and property division in both Portugal and your home country.

Note: If no regime is selected, Portugal automatically applies the Community of Acquired Property regime (Comunhao de adquiridos) so, assets acquired during the marriage are shared equally.

Portuguese citizenship through marriage

Marrying a Portuguese citizen doesn't grant you automatic citizenship, but it does open up one of the more accessible routes to acquiring it. Under Portuguese nationality law, a foreign spouse can apply for Portuguese citizenship after being married to (or in a legally recognised civil partnership with) a Portuguese citizen for at least three years. To apply, you'll generally need to demonstrate that

• The marriage is valid and has lasted the required three years, 

• You have a genuine connection to the Portuguese community (this is often interpreted fairly broadly and can include basic knowledge of Portuguese, family ties, or time spent in the country), 

• You don't have a criminal record that would disqualify you. 

The application itself involves submitting documents such as your marriage certificate, your spouse's Portuguese citizenship documents, proof of the relationship's duration, a criminal background check from your home country (and from Portugal if you've lived there), and often a basic Portuguese language certificate (typically A2 level).

Acquiring Portuguese citizenship through marriage doesn't require you to renounce your existing citizenship, since Portugal permits dual nationality. 

Using your Portuguese marriage certificate in the UK

Your Portuguese marriage certificate is automatically recognised in the UK. You do not need to register the marriage again in England, Wales, Scotland, or Northern Ireland. However, to use the certificate for official purposes in the UK (changing your name on documents, applying for a spouse visa, etc.), you may need a certified English translation of the certificate.

If your certificate is in Portuguese only, you will need a certified English translation to use it with UK authorities, including HMCTS, UKVI, and employers. The original certificate should also be apostilled by the Portuguese competent authority before use in the UK.

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?

Need a certified Portuguese translation of your documents for a marriage application in Portugal, or a certified English translation of your Portuguese marriage certificate for use in the UK? Translayte works with certified translators whose translations are accepted by Portuguese Civil Registry Offices and UK authorities.

Request a free quote from Translayte today.