Step · Family
Get married in Spain (civil marriage)
A civil marriage in Spain starts with a prior file (expediente matrimonial) or a notarial act that checks there is no legal impediment; the marriage is then celebrated and entered in the Registro Civil, which is what makes it fully recognized.
- Why it matters
- Foreign nationals can marry in Spain: the official guide says that if both partners are foreigners they can marry under the same provisions as Spaniards. The paperwork starts with the office or notary where one of you lives.
- When
- Planning to marry in Spain, or needing a marriage held abroad recorded in Spain.
- Official page
- Inscripción de Matrimonio - Trámites y gestiones personales
- Last checked
- 20 Oct 2026
In the guide: the 4 steps, what to bring (3 items), the 2 offices with addresses and hours, and tips and what to watch for, with every official source.