Falling for someone from another country is the easy part. Figuring out how to legally marry a foreigner in Canada is where most couples hit a snag.
Between marriage license appointments, foreign birth certificates, and the occasional certified translation, the legal side of your wedding can start to feel like a second job on top of choosing a venue and picking your dress.
Here is the good news: getting married to a foreign national in Canada is genuinely simple once you understand the order of operations. This guide walks you through every step, plus a full document checklist so nothing catches you off guard.
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Quick Answer: Can you marry a foreigner in Canada?
Yes. Canada has no citizenship, residency, or immigration status requirement for marriage. Ontario’s marriage rules apply equally to citizens, permanent residents, and visitors, including someone on a tourist visa or eTA.
You simply need a valid marriage license, proper identification, and (if either partner has been married before) proof that the previous marriage legally ended.
Step-by-step guide to marrying a foreigner in Canada
Here are the steps to marry a foreigner in Canada.
Step 1: Confirm you can legally marry in Canada
Before you book a venue, make sure you and your partner meet the basic legal requirements.
Age and consent
You must be at least 18 to marry in Ontario without consent. Applicants who are 16 or 17 need written consent from a parent or legal guardian, or a court order.
Immigration status
There is no residency or citizenship requirement to marry in Ontario. Your partner does not need permanent resident status, a work permit, or any specific visa category to get married here. They do, however, need valid entry documentation, such as a visitor visa or eTA, to enter Canada for the wedding itself. Immigration officers may ask about the purpose of the visit at the border, so it helps to carry your venue booking confirmation, invitation, or officiant letter.
Previous marriages
If either partner was previously married, Ontario requires proof that the marriage ended. This can be:
- A Canadian divorce certificate
- A death certificate for a deceased former spouse
- For divorces finalized outside Canada, a Foreign Divorce Authorization issued by Ontario’s Office of the Registrar General
Without one of these, your marriage license application will be refused. If you already held an informal or symbolic ceremony, such as a religious blessing or a destination wedding without a licensed officiant, Ontario law will not issue a marriage license for a ceremony that has technically already taken place. Talk to your municipal marriage office if this applies to you.
Step 2: Apply for your Ontario marriage license
You need a marriage license before any legal wedding ceremony in Ontario. It is different from a marriage certificate, which you receive after the wedding as proof the marriage happened.
What you will need
Both applicants typically need to provide:
- One piece of government-issued photo ID each (Canadian or foreign passport, driver’s license, permanent resident card, or similar)
- Proof of age for any minor applicant
- Proof that a previous marriage has ended, if applicable
Most municipalities accept a wide range of foreign identification, including foreign passports, foreign driver’s licenses, and temporary resident documents like study or work permits.
Fees and validity
Marriage license fees are set by each municipality, so the cost varies depending on where you apply. As of 2026, fees across major Ontario cities generally fall between roughly $165 and $195, payable by debit or credit card in most offices. Once issued, an Ontario marriage license is valid for 90 days and can be used anywhere in the province.
Where to apply
You apply through your local municipal clerk’s office or online through ServiceOntario, depending on where you live. Some municipalities allow one partner to attend if both signatures are already on the application form; others require both applicants in person. Confirm the process with your specific municipal office before booking an appointment.
Step 3: Handle foreign documents and certified translations
If any of your partner’s legal documents were issued outside Canada and are not in English or French, they will not be accepted by marriage offices in Ontario.
This applies to common documents such as divorce decrees or annulment documents, birth certificates, and, in some municipalities, legal name-change documents.
Canada requires documents in a foreign language to be translated by a professional certified translator, and to include a certification statement confirming that the translation is accurate and complete.
This is a common bottleneck for couples where one partner’s documents are still in their home country. This is especially true when that country’s civil registry moves slowly or requires documents to be couriered internationally. Many couples now handle this remotely through online certified translation services, which lets you get a properly certified translation and sworn affidavit without needing to find a local certified translator in person.
Step 4: Choose your officiant and hold the ceremony
Once your license is approved, you can book your ceremony with any officiant registered to perform marriages in Ontario. This includes:
- A religious officiant registered under the Marriage Act
- A municipal clerk or delegate performing a civil ceremony
- A judge, associate judge, or justice of the peace
- An officiant registered through a recognized Indigenous community or organization
Your officiant needs your valid marriage license in hand before the ceremony. Immediately after the ceremony, you, your spouse, your witnesses, and your officiant all sign the license.
Step 5: Register your marriage and get your certificate
After the ceremony, your officiant submits the signed license to ServiceOntario to register the marriage. Afterward, you can apply for an official marriage certificate. In this stage, you can order a few extra certified copies that you can use for immigration or legal processes down the line.
What happens after the wedding?
Getting married in Canada does not automatically grant your spouse residency status. If your partner is not already a Canadian citizen or permanent resident, staying in Canada long-term typically means applying for spousal sponsorship through IRCC. This is a separate process from your marriage license entirely.
Spousal sponsorship has its own document checklist. It frequently requires certified translations of the same kinds of foreign civil documents, birth certificates, prior divorce records, and identity documents that came up during the marriage license process.
Processing times change regularly based on application volume, so check IRCC’s official processing times tool for current estimates before you plan around a specific timeline.
Document checklist: marrying a foreigner in Canada
| Document | When you need it | Translation required? |
| Government-issued photo ID (both partners) | Marriage license application | Only if not in English or French |
| Proof of age | If either applicant is a minor | No |
| Divorce certificate or death certificate | If either partner was previously married | Yes, if issued outside Canada in another language |
| Foreign Divorce Authorization | If divorced outside Canada | N/A (application itself requires a certified translation of the decree) |
| Birth certificate | Some municipalities, and later for sponsorship | Yes, if in another language |
| Marriage certificate | After the ceremony, for name changes and sponsorship | No, but order certified copies |
Common mistakes that delay a marriage license
- Waiting too long to request foreign documents. Civil registries abroad can take weeks. Start early.
- Submitting an informal translation. Ontario requires a sworn affidavit from a certified translator, not a casual translation.
- Assuming a symbolic ceremony counts. If you already held a religious or destination ceremony without a licensed officiant, you may not be able to get a standard marriage license afterward.
- Forgetting the Foreign Divorce Authorization. Without it, your license application will not be approved if either partner divorced outside Canada.
- Booking a ceremony date too close to your license expiry. Licenses are valid for 90 days, so timing matters if document delays push your application back.
Final thoughts
Marrying a foreign partner in Canada is very achievable. You just need to get the paperwork right, and the legal side of your wedding will be one less thing standing between you and your dress fitting.
Ready to start planning the parts you actually get excited about? Book a free bridal appointment and let’s find your dress while the paperwork sorts itself out.
FAQs
Do you need to be a Canadian citizen to get married in Canada?
No. Ontario has no citizenship, residency, or immigration status requirement to obtain a marriage license or get married.
Can a foreigner on a tourist visa get married in Canada?
Yes. A visitor on a valid visa or eTA can legally marry in Canada, provided they meet the standard age and documentation requirements.
How long is an Ontario marriage license valid?
90 days from the date it is issued, and it can be used anywhere in the province.
Do foreign documents need a certified translation to get married in Canada?
Yes, if the document is not in English or French. Ontario specifically requires a translated copy along with an affidavit sworn by a certified translator for documents like foreign divorce decrees.
Does getting married in Canada grant immigration status?
No. Marriage alone does not give a foreign spouse residency status. Staying long-term typically requires a separate spousal sponsorship application through IRCC.
How much does an Ontario marriage license cost?
Fees are set by each municipality and generally range from about $165 to $195 as of 2026.
