Civil marriage

Information on procedures, deadlines and documentation

Processing of the Marriage File in the Civil Registry

Procedures for civil marriage can be initiated at the Civil Registry of the municipality in which one or both future spouses are domiciled or have their habitual residence. If they are domiciled in different towns, they can choose the one that suits them best. The place of celebration, however, can be any other Civil Registry, Town Hall or Notary, at the option of the contracting parties.
The statement of two witnesses is required to start the file prior to the wedding, said witnesses must appear duly identified.
At the time of requesting an appointment, it is not necessary to have the documentation that must be presented on the day on which the appointment has been obtained and the processing of the file formally begins.

It is necessary to request an appointment in the Civil Registry of your choice

The day of the appointment must be presented THE TWO CONTRACTORS Accompanied by TWO WITNESSES of legal age, relatives or friends who know them, duly documented.
This day DO NOT is that of the WEDDING, but the start of the file to obtain authorization to marry.

Request duly completed.
DNI o PASSPORT o NIE (ORIGINAL AND PHOTOCOPY) in force.
LITERAL BIRTH CERTIFICATE issued ago LESS THAN A YEAR. Request in the civil registry where you are registered. The digitized ones are obtained with a digital certificate or PIN code in https://sede.mjusticia.gob.es/es.
PROVE BOTH CONTRACTORS THEIR ADDRESS. It is accredited by means of the historical Spanish Municipal Register (expiry of THREE months since it is issued) or, where appropriate, an equivalent certificate for those domiciled abroad.
FOREIGN SINGLES. Certificate of marital capacity or, if applicable, Certificate of singleness, as established by the law of your country.
The DIVORCE o CANCELED. Literal certificate of previous marriage with the marginal annotation of the divorce or nullity. It is requested in the civil registry where it is registered. The digitized ones are obtained with a digital certificate or PIN code in https://sede.mjusticia.gob.es/es.
The WIDOWS: Literal certificate of previous marriage and literal death certificate of the deceased spouse. It is requested in the civil registry where it is registered. The digitized ones are obtained with a digital certificate or PIN code in https://sede.mjusticia.gob.es/es.

In case of submitting documentation in a foreign language, it must be accompanied by a translation made by a sworn translator and the original documentation duly legalized.
Contracting parties who do not speak Spanish must be accompanied by a sworn translator.
In the case of minors, provided they are over 16 years of age, the marginal registration of emancipation must be included in the literal birth certificate.

In the case of starting the file in the Single Civil Registry of Madrid:

Information 914 936 783

Request information PREFERABLY by email.

What do I have to do to process the Marriage File with a notary?