To get married in Canada, you need to meet the federal eligibility rules, get a marriage license from the province or territory where the ceremony will happen, hold the ceremony with an authorized officiant and two witnesses present, and have the officiant file the paperwork with vital statistics. Federal law sets who may marry; each province and territory sets the rules for licensing, ceremonies, and registration. There is no residency or citizenship requirement, so visitors can marry here too.
Who Can Marry in Canada
The Civil Marriage Act defines marriage as the lawful union of two persons to the exclusion of all others.1Department of Justice Canada. Civil Marriage Act (SC 2005, c. 33) Beyond that, four eligibility rules apply across the country.
Age. No one under 16 may marry in Canada. The Act sets this as an absolute floor with no exceptions for parental consent.2Department of Justice Canada. Civil Marriage Act (SC 2005, c. 33) – Section 2.2 If you are 16 or 17, most provinces require written consent from a parent or guardian before issuing a license.
Consent. Both people must give free and enlightened consent. A marriage can be annulled if consent was obtained through threats, coercion, or fraud serious enough to destroy a person’s genuine willingness to marry.3Department of Justice Canada. Civil Marriage Act (SC 2005, c. 33) – Section 2.1
No existing marriage. You cannot marry someone if you are already married to another person. Doing so is bigamy under the Criminal Code.4Department of Justice. Criminal Code – Section 290
No prohibited family relationships. You cannot marry a relative in a direct line (parent, grandparent, child, grandchild) or a sibling or half-sibling. These prohibitions apply equally to relationships created by adoption.5Department of Justice Canada. Marriage (Prohibited Degrees) Act – Section 2
You do not have to be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident. Visitors, tourists, and people on temporary visas can all obtain a license and hold a legally valid ceremony, and there is no waiting period tied to how long you have been in the country.
Getting a Marriage License
Every province and territory requires a marriage license before you can hold a legally valid ceremony. Apply through the provincial or territorial authority where the ceremony will take place, not where you live.
What to Bring
Both people typically appear together to apply. You will need your full legal names, dates of birth, and addresses. Most jurisdictions require two pieces of original identification, with at least one being a government-issued photo ID such as a passport or driver’s license. A birth certificate is commonly accepted as the second piece. No Canadian province or territory requires a blood test or medical exam.
If either person was previously married, you must show that the earlier marriage has ended. A Certificate of Divorce or equivalent final decree is standard. If your former spouse died, bring the death certificate. Documents not in English or French generally need a certified translation along with an affidavit from the translator attesting to accuracy.6Government of Canada. What Language Should My Supporting Documents Be In?
If Your Divorce Was Granted Outside Canada
A foreign divorce creates extra paperwork. Expect to provide the original decree or a court-certified copy, a certified English or French translation if it is in another language, and in some provinces a legal opinion letter from a Canadian lawyer confirming the foreign divorce is valid under Canadian law. Validation can take several weeks, so start early.
Fees, Validity, and Timing
A marriage license is generally valid for three months from the date of issue. Miss that window and you apply and pay again. Fees vary by province and territory, and sometimes by municipality; roughly $100 to $150 is typical. Some provinces allow the ceremony the same day the license is issued, while others impose a short waiting period. Ask the issuing office when you apply.
A few provinces still allow the publication of banns as a substitute for a license, mostly within religious denominations that follow the tradition. For most couples the standard license route is simpler.
Holding a Valid Ceremony
A legally valid ceremony requires three things: an authorized officiant, at least two witnesses, and both partners physically present, verbally declaring their intention to marry.
The officiant must be legally authorized by the province or territory where the wedding takes place. That includes religious clergy registered with the province, civil marriage commissioners appointed by the provincial government, and in some jurisdictions judges or justices of the peace. Each province maintains its own registry of approved officiants. If you found your officiant online, confirm their registration before the ceremony rather than discovering a problem after.
You need at least two witnesses present. They must be able to understand what they are observing and capable of signing the marriage documents. The minimum age varies: some provinces set it at 18 or 19, others have no fixed minimum as long as the person is old enough to understand the role.
Both people getting married must be physically present. Canada does not permit proxy marriages, and Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada will not recognize a marriage where one or both parties were absent, with only a narrow exception for Canadian Armed Forces members whose service-related travel restrictions prevented attendance.7Government of Canada. Does IRCC Recognize Marriages Conducted by Proxy, Telephone, Internet and Fax? Video calls, phone ceremonies, and fax-based marriages are all invalid.
A civil ceremony performed by a government-appointed commissioner and a religious ceremony conducted according to the customs of a recognized faith carry the same legal weight. In either, the couple verbally declares the intention to marry, the officiant pronounces them married, and the marriage documents are signed by the couple, the officiant, and both witnesses.
Registering the Marriage and Getting a Certificate
Your officiant is responsible for submitting the signed documents to the provincial or territorial vital statistics office, typically within 48 hours of the ceremony. You do not file this yourself, but confirm with the officiant that it has been sent. A properly performed ceremony is still legally valid if registration is delayed, but an unregistered marriage creates practical headaches when you need official proof.
Once the marriage is registered, you can order a marriage certificate from vital statistics in the province where the ceremony took place. The certificate is not the same document as the license. The license authorized the ceremony; the certificate is the permanent legal proof that the marriage happened. It does not arrive automatically. Request it online, by mail, or in person, and pay a separate fee. Processing runs from a few days to several weeks depending on the jurisdiction and whether you pay for rush service.
Keep at least one certified copy. You will need it for name changes on identification, insurance beneficiary updates, immigration applications, and tax filings.
If You Live Abroad and Plan to Marry in Canada
A Canadian marriage is legal here regardless of where you live, but you should confirm it will be recognized in your home country before you travel. The United States generally defers to the law of the place where the marriage was performed, and the U.S. State Department recommends contacting the attorney general’s office in the state where you live to confirm what documentation you may need.8Travel.State.Gov. Marriage Other countries have their own recognition rules, and some require registration with a local consulate or embassy.
Changing Your Name
Marriage in Canada does not automatically change your legal name. In most provinces outside Quebec, you can assume your spouse’s surname on government-issued identification like a driver’s license and health card by presenting your marriage certificate at the relevant office. That process is typically free for basic government ID. Assuming a spouse’s name this way does not change the name on your birth registration; a formal legal name change on the birth certificate requires a separate application through vital statistics.
Quebec is different. Both spouses keep the surname on their birth registration for all civil purposes, including signing contracts and applying for official documents. You may use your spouse’s name socially, but it will not appear on Quebec government identification. The rule applies even if you married outside Quebec, as long as you are domiciled in the province.