A romantic wedding in Portugal... the stuff that dreams are made of! If you are planning on getting married in Portugal, there are several legal hoops to jump through. The key to success, as always, is good research and preparation.
Always check with your embassy well in advance for up-to-date requirements. Many embassies recommend that you arrange your Portuguese wedding through a professional agency, but here are some guidelines if you choose to do-it-yourself.
Documents
The following documents may be required:
- Passports
- Birth certificates - long form including names of parents
- Evidence of termination of all previous marriages – previous marriage certificates, final divorce decrees (including certificate of finality of divorce), annulment decrees or death certificates
- Baptismal certificates (for Roman Catholic religious ceremonies only)
- Certificates of no impediment (Certificado de Capacidade Matrimonial) or letter of explanation from consular officials in Portugal
Certificates of No Impediment - Generally available from consular offices in Portugal and registry offices in home countries. These certificates are not available in some countries including the U.S. In such cases, Portuguese authorities normally accept letters of explanation from the embassy and a consular certificate from these citizens.
All civil documents should be originals, endorsed with an Apostille Stamp, issued in the last six months (three months for the Azores).
All documents issued in a foreign language must be accompanied by official Portuguese translations authenticated by a Portuguese notary public.
Residency Requirement
At least one party must be in Portugal for a minimum of thirty days before notice of the marriage can be given. Marriage applications are generally processed in about four weeks. The marriage must occur within 90 days of the approval of the application.
Ceremonies
Civil and religious marriages are both legally recognized in Portugal.
Civil marriages in Lisbon are performed and registered at one of the eleven Civil Registries (Conservatorias do Registo Civil). You must use the Civil Registry with jurisdiction over your residence.
For further information, please contact the appropriate Portuguese Civil Registry Office.
