How to register your marriage in Spain (UK guide)

Whether you’re seeking sun for the ceremony or staying for the long run, getting married or settling down in Spain is an exciting milestone. As with any overseas adventure, there is often paperwork and planning involved, especially if you register a marriage in Spain.

In this guide, we explain what you need to do if you’re planning a wedding ceremony in Spain, or if you plan to register a foreign marriage in Spain.

Whatever your plans, make sure you have easy access to your money overseas. With a Wise account, you can hold multiple currencies including euros – perfect for moving between the UK and Spain.

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Registering your marriage in Spain

Navigating foreign laws and customs is tricky in any circumstance, and Spanish bureaucracy has a reputation for being complex - but it doesn't have to be.

Below, we’ll cover the exact documents and registration requirements for UK citizens in two clear scenarios.

Scenario 1: Getting married in and registering in Spain

If you’re planning your wedding ceremony in Spain, these are the legal requirements you must fulfil before the marriage can happen and be registered.

Check residency and eligibility

Alongside being two consenting adults above the age of 18, at least one partner must be a Spanish national or a legal resident in Spain for a specific time period. This is usually two years, but varies by region.¹

If neither you or your partner is a resident, you might struggle to secure a civil marriage in Spain. Check with the local Civil Registry (Registro Civil) in the municipality where you plan to marry, to see if marriage is permitted for non-residents.

Document checklist from the UK

To apply for a marriage license, you’ll need a variety of documents, translated into Spanish and endorsed by an apostille to prove legitimacy.

Documents you need to provide include²:

• A valid passport with at least one year left on it
• Proof of your identity
• Witness identification
• First names and surnames of previous spouses and marriage dissolution dates
• The authority chosen to perform the marriage
• Proof of residence or domicile in the past two years
• A certificate of no impediment (CNI)
• Potentially: A marital status certificate

Every municipality has its own set of requirements, so check the Civil Registry where you’re getting married for specifics, and review UK government guidance on getting married in Spain.

Apostille, translation and application

It’s not enough to gather and send the relevant documents – you need to get an apostille and a translation, and then submit a marriage file (expediente matrimonial) for approval. Let’s take a closer look at what each step means:

• An apostille is a stamp or seal of approval issued by a governing body – for instance, the UK government. To get married in Spain, your UK documents must have an apostille to prove they’re legitimate. You can apply for an apostille online, for a fee.
• A sworn translator is required to translate English documents into Spanish. You’ll need to find a translator who is registered with the Spanish consulate and authorised to translate documents with legal standing.
• The expediente matrimonial process involves submitting identity documents, proof of address and single status, and documents related to previous divorces. Depending on municipality rules, you may have a personal interview at a Spanish consulate, and could need to bring witnesses.

Registering your Spanish marriage in the UK

When you return to the UK, there’s no requirement to register your Spanish marriage. The marriage certificate you obtain in Spain is recognised in the UK – just make sure you keep it somewhere safe, should you need it in the future.

Scenario 2: Registering a pre-existing UK marriage in Spain

If you got married in the UK and choose to relocate to Spain, here’s what you need to do to register the marriage in your new country of residence.

Why should you register your UK marriage in Spain?

It’s not always mandatory to register your UK marriage in Spain, but it’s essential for things like residency and tax allowances, social security, healthcare, and even inheritance and property law to ensure your rights are recognised.

If you or your spouse aren’t a Spanish national, having your marriage registered in Spain can also enable you to apply for residency.

Inscription process to register a marriage in Spain

The process for registering a marriage in Spain is called inscription (inscripción de matrimonio).

There are typically three parts to the process:

• First, you need to get your original marriage certificate apostilled to prove it’s legitimate. It must be legalised by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO). It’s likely you’ll also need to provide proof of identity documents, birth certificates, and passports.³
• Secondly, you must get a sworn translation of the marriage certificate and supporting documents. Look for an accredited translation agency or agent who can produce legally certified translations.
• Finally, you need to submit the translated marriage certificate and request to register a marriage to the Civil Registry where you’re located.

Once this process is complete, you’ll receive a Spanish marriage certificate and a family book (Libro de Familia) containing birth, death, and marriage records.

Can you register a marriage in two countries?

You can’t get married in two countries, so to speak, but if you marry overseas and return to the UK, the marriage will be recognised in the UK too.

And if you marry in the UK, you can also register the marriage in Spain should you settle there instead.

Be Smart, Get Wise

Whether you marry or relocate to Spain, there’s no shortage of paperwork. Getting clear on the legal and logistical requirements of registering a marriage will save you stress – and means you can get on with married life a little easier.

Having easy access to your money, so that you can send money for legal and translation fees and provide the right documents, helps make the process run smoothly too. A Wise account is your ideal companion for marital life, in the UK or in Spain. You can hold multiple currencies, and pay in local ones around the world.

Wise uses the mid-market exchange rate, so you get more for your money. And you can set up preferred exchange rate notifications that let you know the best time to make exchanges. That could mean a little extra in your pocket as you start your next chapter together.

Sources used in this article:

1. Gov.uk - eligibility and requirements for a legal marriage in Spain
2. Spanish consulate - documents needed
3. Spanish consulate - marriage requirements and registering

Sources last checked on 18th Sept 2025