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Foreigners marrying in Spain often need to apply for a Certificate of No Impediment to marriage. Authorities request this document to verify that there are no legal impediments to your marriage. To apply, visit the embassy or consulate of your home country in Spain (the UK, for example, now accepts applications online only).
In this article, you will learn who needs a CNI in Spain, the requirements, the application process, and when certified translation services are required.
A Certificate of No Impediment (Certificado de Capacidad Matrimonial) for Spain is a document that confirms no legal impediments are preventing you from marrying in Spain. This CNI is also called:
Certificate of Freedom to Marry
Certificate of Legal Capacity to Marry
It is one of the essential documents that allows you to initiate the marriage process as a foreign national getting married in Spain.
The CNI confirms that:
You are not currently married, or if you were, the marriage has been legally dissolved
You meet the legal age requirements for marriage
You are mentally competent to consent to marriage
There are no legal impediments under your home country's laws, such as close family relations or existing marriages.
Foreigners marrying in Spain must provide a CNI or the equivalent document from their country to initiate the marriage process. Here's what you must know:
All foreign nationals marrying in Spain must provide a CNI or equivalent to prove they can legally marry in Spain. For example, if an Australian and a UK citizen are marrying in Spain, they must provide their respective country' CNI. The Australian will need an Australian CNI, while the British citizen will apply for a UK certificate of no impediment to marriage.
If you are a Spanish citizen marrying a foreign national, your partner must provide a CNI. For example, if you are marrying an Australian citizen, they must apply for a Certificate of No Impediment to marry in Spain.
If you are a Spanish citizen marrying overseas, you must provide a CNI if required. For example, if you are getting married in Italy, you must obtain a Spanish CNI, which is referred to as the Certificado de Capacidad Matrimonial in Spain.
Spanish citizens marrying in Spain do not have to apply for a CNI. You can use other documents the civil registry office requests. This often includes a death certificate and divorce documents if you are widowed or divorced. This rule also applies to people with dual citizenship. You can use your Spanish citizenship to marry in Spain without applying for a CNI from your country of origin.
Note: Some countries don't issue a Certificate of No Impediment but provide an equivalent. For example, if you are a US citizen getting married in Spain, you can apply for
An Affidavit of Single Status (a sworn statement before a notary) or
A Declaration of No Impediment (a notarised document).
These documents are then apostilled for use in Spain. Always confirm which documents are required from your home country and the Spanish civil registry.
Where you apply for CNI in Spain depends on your nationality. Here's what you should know
As a foreign national, you can apply for a CNI at your home country's diplomatic mission in Spain. This includes:
The Embassy located in Madrid
Consulates in major cities such as Barcelona, Seville, Málaga, Valencia, and Bilbao, among others.
For example, if you are a UK citizen, you can apply for a CNI online through GOV.UK to the British Consulate-General in Madrid. First, have a notary in Spain sign the forms, then send the original documents to the Consulate by post or courier. Paper applications have not been accepted since 3 February 2025. You can't apply at the Spanish Civil Registry, as only your government can issue official documents regarding your legal status under the laws of your nationality.
Spanish citizens who are residents in Spain can apply at the Civil Registry office before travelling to the country where the wedding ceremony will be held. If you are already a resident of the destination country where you will marry, you can apply at the Spanish diplomatic missions there.
For example, if you are a Spanish citizen staying in Italy and want to marry there, you can apply for the CNI at the Spanish Consulate in Italy.
Valid Passport: Must be current, with at least 6 months of validity remaining.
Birth Certificate: Full/long-form version, recently issued (within 3-6 months), apostilled.
Proof of residence in Spain: Certificado de Empadronamiento from your local town hall, issued within 3 months.
Completed application form: Obtained from your embassy/consulate.
Passport-sized photographs: Typically, 2-4 recent photos are required per embassy specifications.
Divorce Decree: Final divorce documents, apostilled (if previously married and divorced).
Death Certificate: If previously married and widowed.
Sworn affidavit/declaration: Statement swearing you're free to marry, signed at the embassy.
Proof of legal status in Spain: Residence permit (TIE), visa, or NIE.
Partner's information: Full name, nationality, date of birth, sometimes a copy of ID.
Note: If any of these documents are not in Spanish, they must be officially translated by a sworn translator (traductor jurado). You can request a free quote for sworn translation services from Translayte at competitive market rates.
To apply for a CNI in Spain, you must obtain the required document, fill out the application form and pay fees. Here are the steps to follow:
The issuing authority will differ depending on your situation. If you are a foreign national marrying in Spain, you should apply at your home country's embassy or consulate in Spain. In contrast, Spanish citizens marrying abroad can apply at the Spanish Civil Registry (Registro Civil) or the Spanish consulate in the foreign country.
Collect all necessary documents and verify whether they require an apostille or a sworn translation by an official translator (traductor jurado). Typically, documents issued abroad will need an apostille or consular legalisation for use in Spain.
You can submit your application in person, by post, or online. The option depends on the issuing country and embassy rules. For example, the British Consulate-General in Madrid accepts online applications only. If you are applying in person, you must schedule an appointment at your embassy/consulate. If an embassy accepts applications by post or online, you don't need to schedule an appointment; however, they may have additional requirements. This often includes application timelines, document formats, and delivery options.
Once you've completed the application, you must pay the required application fees at the time of submission. The processing time can vary from 24 hours to 6 weeks, depending on the country and demand.
Retrieve your certificate once ready. You can pick it up in person or have it delivered by post, depending on the authority. If required by the receiving authority, arrange for the CNI to be apostilled or legalised.
If your CNI is not in Spanish, have it officially translated by a sworn Spanish translator (traductor jurado) before submitting to Spanish authorities.
Processing times vary significantly depending on the issuing authority:
Ireland, certain EU countries: Immediate to same-day
United Kingdom: up to 30 working days from the date the British Consulate-General in Madrid receives your original documents; the CNI cannot be issued until at least 8 days after your application is approved
US, Canada, Australia: 3-5 business days:
Countries requiring internal verification: 1–2 weeks
Countries that need to verify documents with the home country authorities: 2–4 weeks
Rare and complex cases: Up to 6 weeks:
Spanish Civil Registry: 1–3 weeks, but this timeframe can be extended during high-peak periods.
Most CNIs are valid for 3 to 6 months from the date of issue. The duration often depends on the issuing country. For example, the Italian CNI, also known as Nulla Osta, is valid for 6 months, while the Danish CNI (civilstandsattest) is valid for only 3 months.
The cost of a CNI application in Spain depends on the country and the authority. The CNI fee, the apostille, and the sworn translation are charged separately, so add up the individual costs below to estimate your total.
Embassy/Consulate fees for foreign nationals: EU embassies: €30-€80, and non-EU embassies: €50-€150
Spanish Civil Registry for Spanish citizens: May vary by registry office from €0 to €30
Apostille services: €3-€20: In Spain (Ministerio de Justicia) and $10-$50 overseas.
Sworn translation (Traductor Jurado): €30-€60 per page.
Whether you need an Apostille or consular legalisation on your CNI depends on the issuing country's participation in the Hague Convention. If the country is a member of the Hague Apostille Convention, an apostille is required; otherwise, consular legalisation is necessary.
For example, if you obtained your CNI from the UK, it must be apostilled by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO). This is because both Spain and the UK are members of the Hague Apostille Convention. The same rule applies when using a Spanish CNI overseas.
You’ll need a sworn translation (traducción jurada) of your Certificate of No Impediment (CNI) and other supporting documents if they are not in Spanish. Spanish authorities (like the Registro Civil, local town hall, or notary) require all foreign documents to be in Spanish and officially certified.
A sworn translator (traductor jurado) is an authorised linguist recognised by Spain’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation (MAEUEC). Their signature and stamp make the translation legally valid in Spain, with no additional certification required. If you are getting married in Spain as a foreigner and need a sworn translation, it is advisable to use authorised translators with experience in translating civil documents into Spanish.
Daniel is an SEO content writer who creates clear and practical guides on immigration, translation, and travel documentation. He helps you understand official requirements, avoid delays, and submit the right documents for visas, citizenship, and other official purposes. When he’s not writing, Daniel enjoys volunteering at his local food bank.
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