Marriage in Spain

In Madrid, applications for civil marriage are made at the Civil Registry at Calle Pradillo, 66, 28002 Madrid, Tel. 91-397-3700, Fax: 91-397-3779. Outside of Madrid, one applies to the District Court of the bride's or groom's residence. One normally needs the following documents:

• Application form. Available from the Civil Registry or the District Court.
• Birth certificate. This must be an original document bearing the Apostille of the Hague (see Mutual Recognition of Documents). In addition, a translation authenticated by a Spanish consulate in the U.S must be provided.
• Proof of freedom to marry. For Spaniards, the Civil Registry has a document for this purpose. Since there is no equivalent document in the U.S., a sworn statement to the effect that the parties are single and free to marry, signed before an American Consul can be used.
• Certificate of residence. This document may be obtained at the Junta Municipal of the Tenencia de Alcaldia in the district of residence. If an American is not a permanent resident in Spain, he/she can sign an affidavit before an American Consul indicating his/her place of residence for the last six years.
• Posting of Banns. The Posting of Banns is a public declaration of intent to marry. The Embassy or Consulate may issue a letter explaining it is not required in the U.S.
• Certificate of Consular Inscription. The Embassy or Consulate can produce this letter once you have registered as a U.S. Citizen in Spain.
• If one party was previously married, he/she must present the previous marriage certificate and proof the marriage no longer exists (a divorce decree, an annulment certificate or a death certificate). The documents must be original, bear the Apostille of the Hague, translated into Spanish and the translation authenticated.

Spanish law recognizes religious marriages without a second, civil ceremony. For a religious ceremony, couples first need authorization from the civil authorities, obtained by presenting the requirements described above. Each religious denomination may have separate documentary requirements. As most religious marriages in Spain involve Catholics, the requirements for the Catholic church are outlined below.

A Catholic ceremony involving a foreigner requires the Bishopric's permission (in Madrid: Calle Bailen, 8; Tel. 91-454-6400). Obtaining permission for a Catholic marriage takes from one to three weeks. The following documents are required:

• Birth Certificate. It must be translated and the translation authenticated.
• Baptismal Certificate. It must have been issued no more than six months prior to the wedding and authenticated by the Bishopric of issuance. It must be translated and the translation authenticated.
• Proof that Both Parties are Free to Marry. For Americans this consists of a sworn statement by the parents of the party stating he/she has never been married, witnessed by the parish priest. One should note that a statement made by the party him/herself, while acceptable to the Civil authorities, is not acceptable to the Bishopric in Madrid. The Church insists on a statement by the parents. The Bishopric of the parents' place of residence must authorize and seal the statement.