To get married in Canada, you need a valid marriage license.
The license does not mean that you are married, but that you may get married. You need to bring your license to your wedding ceremony.
TO APPLY for a Marriage License you may need:
- Both full names, addresses, and other full contact information
(of the two people getting married) - Your planned wedding date, location
- And sometimes who will perform it (name & qualifications)
- Each social insurance number (SIN)
- If any previous informative paperwork is in another language, usually these papers need to be translated and certified & a lawyer from the same province where you apply, might need to provide a letter that you are legally eligible to be married
- Immigration documents (if possible)
- Landed immigrant status
- Proof of both current marital status (single, divorced etc.)
- Copies of final court dissolution, Decree Absolute or Certificate of Divorce
- Death certificate (for widowers)
- Proof of identification (provincial or territorial driver's license or birth certificate)
- Proof of age (usually over the age of majority for the province)
- Both sets of parents information
- 4 full names, (including mothers maiden name)
- Dates of birth and cities
THINGS TO KNOW
- Most Marriage licenses are only good for a 3-month time period (90 days)
- After this period you will have to buy another license
(If the marriage has not yet taken place) - Get your marriage license from the province you are planning to get married in
- (From the local city you are planning your wedding in or the city you live in)
- This license gets signed by
- Yourselves (the 2 people getting married)
- Your officiant or religious ceremony leader (Minister, Priest, Imam, ,Rabbi etc.)
- Your 2-witnesses and is then sent to the government by your Minister/ Priest/ Rabbi or officiant (within 48 hours) to confirm the wedding took place
- Service fees may apply and may vary by office & province locations.
- If the prices here do not reflect what you were told or paid, please let us know so we can stay up to date!
- If you regularly travel or live between more than one province, don't worry about letting other provinces know of your marriage, the province you register with, will tell the others
- License fees are non-refundable
- No photocopies of documents is accepted
- Originals or certified copies only
- Waiting periods: some provinces will issue you a marriage license at the same time as your application while other provinces have a 4-5 day waiting period
- Likewise some provinces have a waiting period between the issuance of your license and the date/time of your wedding ceremony
PROVINCE-SPECIFIC Needs
Alberta $40
- Both must apply together in person
- proof of age Gov't ID: birth certificates or passports
- photo ID: drivers license (or age of majority card)
- if under 18, bring written parental consent
- Waiting Period: none
- Search License Issuer Locations Here:
British Columbia $100
- Either may apply in person but most provide the following documents for each of you
- Proof of age Gov't ID: birth certificates or passports
- Photo ID: drivers license or BC ID
- If under 19, bring written parental consent
- Waiting Period: none
- Search License Issuer Locations Here:
Manitoba $100
- Both must apply together in person
- Proof of age Gov't ID: birth certificates or passports
- Photo ID: drivers license (or age of majority card)
- If under 19, bring written parental consent
- Waiting Period: at least 24-hours between issuance of license and ceremony
- Search License Issuer Locations Here:
New Brunswick $100
- Complete form: Afadavit on Application for a Marriage License (get in person)
- Both must apply together in person for separate interviews
- If not available, use an approved & filed Personal Attendance Excused form
(In the presence of a Commissioner of Oaths, or Notary republic) - Proof of age Gov't ID: birth certificates or passports
- Photo ID: drivers license (or age of majority card)
- If under 18, bring written parental consent
- If under 16, need completed declaration from the Court of Queen's Bench
- Waiting Period: none
- Search License Issuer Locations Here
Newfoundland and Labrador $50
- Either may apply in person but must provide the following documents for each of you
- Proof of age Gov't ID: birth certificates or passports
- Photo ID: drivers license (or age of majority card)
- If under 19, bring a birth certificate & written parental consent & an affidavit by parents/guardians swearing to age
- Note: Unlike other provincial licenses, this license is only good for 30 days
- Each must complete an affidavit & have their signatures witnessed by the Commissioner of Oaths, a Justice of the Peace or a Notary Public
- If previously married, divorced or widowed outside of Canada, (but not out of the province) a Newfoundland lawyer needs to provide a certified letter that you are eligible to marry in Newfoundland.
- Marriage License pdf
- Waiting Period: 4-days between application and issuance of marriage license
- 4-more days between getting your license & the eligibility of having your ceremony
- Search License Issuer Locations Here
- Both must apply together in person
- Proof of age Gov't ID: birth certificates or passports
- Photo ID: drivers license (or age of majority card)
- If under 19, bring written parental consent
- Waiting Period: none
- Search License Issuer Locations by calling (867) 777-7422 or 1-800-661-0830 (toll-free)
- Either may apply in person but most provide the following documents for each of you
- Proof of age Gov't ID: birth certificates or passports
- Photo ID: drivers license (or age of majority card)
- If under 19, bring written parental consent
- Waiting Period: at least 5-days between application for your marriage license and issuance marriage license
- Search License Issuer Locations Here
Nunavut $25
- Both must apply together in person
- Proof of age Gov't ID: birth certificates or passports
- Photo ID: drivers license (or age of majority card)
- If under 19, bring written parental consent
- Waiting Period: none
- Search License Issuer Locations by calling (800) 661-0833 or (867) 645-8017
Ontario $100-$125
- Either may apply in person but most provide the following documents for each of you
- Proof of age Gov't ID: birth certificates or passports
- Photo ID: drivers license or BYID (age of majority card)
- If under 18, bring written parental consent
- You need to be at least 16 to get married in Ontario
- If you were divorced outside of Canada, written & certified authorization from the Minister of Consumer & Commercial Relations
- Fees will vary by municipality
- Waiting Period: none
- Fill out Marriage License Application Form pdf
- Search License Issuer Locations Here
Prince Edward Island $100
- Both must apply together in person and most provide the following documents for each of you
- Proof of age Gov't ID: birth certificates or passports
- Photo ID: drivers license (or age of majority card)
- If under 18, bring written parental consent
- If under 16, you cannot marry unless you are pregnant or a mother already
- If previously married, divorced or widowed outside of Canada, (but not outside the province) a PEI lawyer needs to provide a certified letter that you are eligible to marry in PEI.
- Waiting Period: none
- Search License Issuer Locations at the bottom of this page
Quebec $250-$375
- Both must apply together in person for an interview with the 'Service des Mariages Civils' at your local courthouse, along with one witness (Make an appointment)
- Proof of age Gov't ID: birth certificates or passports
- Photo ID: drivers license (or age of majority card)
- If under 18, bring written parental consent
- You need to be at least 16 to get married in Quebec
- If applicable, completed Dissolution of Civil Union form (after divorce or final dissolution)
- Documents written in a another language (other than French or English) must include a certified official translation prepared by a member of the Ordre des traducteurs, terminologues et interprètes agréés du Québec with a sworn statement from the translator that the translation is accurate
- A banns is required or the officiant must post a Notice of the couple's intended marriage by means of a notice posted for 20 days before the marriage at the place where the ceremony is to be held and at the nearest courthouse
- Pdf Notice form
- If already joined in a civil union, the officiant is not required to post a notice of marriage
- See here for more information on the publication & Banns
- Waiting period: 20-days between receiving your license and potential ceremony date/time (for the purpose of bann or notice
- Fill out Civil Marriage Application Form pdf: (in English)
- Fill out Civil Union Application Form pdf: (in English)
Saskatchewan $60
- Both must apply together in person and most provide the following documents for each of you
- Or if one person cannot appear, complete the form Non-Attendance Before Issuer Of Marriage Licenses ahead of time before the local issuer of marriage licenses
- Proof of age Gov't ID: birth certificates or passports
- Photo ID: drivers license or (or age of majority card)
- If under 18, bring written parental consent
- Waiting Period: at least 24-hours between issuance of license and ceremony
- Search License Issuer Locations Here
Yukon $20
- Both must apply together in person
- Proof of age Gov't ID: birth certificates or passports
- Photo ID: drivers license (or age of majority card)
- If under 19, bring written parental consent
- Waiting Period: at least 24-hours between issuance of license and ceremony
- Search License Issuer Locations by calling 867-667-5207
- Toll Free in Yukon only: 1-800-661-0408 ext. 5207
- Or Visit in Person to ask your questions
- Walk-in and Courier (Vital Statistics Yukon)
4th Floor-204 Lambert St.
Whitehorse, Yukon
Y1A 3T2
