Official registration of marriage abroad: all the subtleties and nuances

On the territory of the Russian Federation, marriage is regulated by the Family Code of the Russian Federation, as well as legislative acts acting on its basis. These documents allow marriage if one of the spouses is a citizen of another country or has no citizenship at all, but such a process requires compliance with certain rules:

Marriages on the territory of the Russian Federation are concluded only according to Russian laws - spouses must apply to the registry office with an application and go through the usual procedure for registering a marriage.
When marrying a foreigner, even on the territory of Russia, the requirements of the legislation of another country must also be met, for example, the foreign spouse reaching a higher marriageable age than in the Russian Federation, prior engagement, obtaining the consent of local authorities or parents, and more. In this case, the foreigner must confirm at the registry office that, from the point of view of his country, he has met all the necessary conditions. However, this rule does not apply to those foreigners who also have Russian citizenship, in which case they are considered as Russian citizens. If a foreigner has citizenship of several countries, with the exception of Russian, he has the right to choose for himself whether to follow the rules of which country when getting married in Russia.
In Russia, only monogamous marriages are recognized, that is, marriages of only one man with one woman. What does this mean - if a foreign groom is allowed to have polygamy in his homeland, and he is already married, in Russia he will not be able to marry a citizen of our country. Even if the marriage is concluded on the territory of his state, this marriage will not be recognized in Russia.

Registration of marriage abroad from the point of view of Russian legislation

The first question that arises for future spouses who want to hold a wedding outside their homeland is whether such an event is legal and whether its result is legal. If you adhere to the necessary requirements dictated by law, a wedding on tropical sunny islands or within the walls of a medieval European castle is possible.

If you wish and have a sufficient wedding budget, such a ceremony will not be difficult or problematic. All you need to do is make sure you comply with the legal regulations of the country in which the wedding is planned - and you can pack your bags.

The procedure for concluding a marriage in another country is regulated by the legislation of the Russian Federation - https://stskrf.ru/158.

According to the Family Code, Russian citizens can hold an official wedding ceremony outside the territory of their own country, and such an event will be legal if:

There were no violations of the legislation of the country where the wedding will take place. Subject to compliance with all legal norms of the state, by which we mean the requirements for the form, place, and conditions of marriage, a wedding celebration abroad will receive its legal force.
There is no reason why marriage will not be possible.

Obstacles include:

Those wishing to get married are considered close blood relatives, full-blooded, half-blooded (those who have one common parent) brother and sister.
One of the future spouses who is already married.
Marriage is concluded between people who are declared incompetent by a court decision and both or one of them have mental disabilities.
If the newlyweds are an adoptive parent and an adopted child.

Places where you can hold a wedding ceremony abroad are:

City Hall.
Diplomatic representation.
Consular office of the Russian Federation in the country.
Another government or local government body where a wedding can take place.

Application procedure (where to apply)

There are two basic options:

At a consulate or representative office of Russia on the territory of another state.
Where marriages take place according to the laws of another country.

In the first option, the marriage will be valid in Russia without additional formalities. But a beautiful exotic ceremony is possible only in the second. But many couples go for her.

In most countries, registration with government authorities is required. In some, on the contrary, only church marriage is recognized. These are Israel, Iran and Iraq. In some, both forms of registration are possible.

Legalization of marriage in the Russian Federation

Among the member countries of the 1961 Hague Conference on Private International Law, the need for a complex procedure for legalizing documents is abolished. To legalize official documents, these countries need to carry out a simplified procedure - apostille.

In order for a marriage to be recognized as valid in the homeland, after receiving a marriage certificate , it must be affixed with a special stamp - an apostille. This is a stamp that confirms the competence of signatures and seals on official documents. Apostille can only take place in the country where the wedding ceremony took place. Thanks to him, the document has legal authority in the territory of all countries participating in the Hague Conference.

Apostille is considered a simplified option for legalizing official documents, which does not require prior consular legalization. In addition, it is carried out quite quickly, since one authorized body is enough for this.

Consular legalization is a procedure for recognizing the legal force of documents for countries that have not signed the Hague Convention. It represents confirmation of the validity of official papers, stamps certifying documents, seals, and signatures of officials who have the right to put them.

This option of recognizing the legal force of documents occurs if it occurs in a country
that has not signed the Hague Convention .
It is more labor-intensive, troublesome and time-consuming than apostille. To achieve consular legalization, you need to have the document certified by the Ministry of Justice of the state where the wedding took place, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the consulate. Unlike an apostille, with consular legalization this paper is valid only in the country whose consulate has put its mark. Upon arrival at home, newlyweds must have their certificate, previously legalized, translated into Russian by a notary.

If there is a divorce coming up

If the newlyweds’ life together does not work out, the marriage concluded abroad can be dissolved at home. This procedure will not cause any problems if there are no violations of the law during the marriage itself.

In order to get a divorce, the first thing you need to pay attention to is the presence of common children born in the marriage. Depending on this, divorce occurs through the registry office or court .

To terminate a marriage concluded abroad, it is necessary to provide a marriage certificate with a translation, an apostille or a consul's mark upon legalization and pay a state fee. The algorithm for dissolving a marriage follows the same pattern as for a marriage concluded on the territory of the Russian Federation.

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List of required documents

To get married you will need:

statement;
birth certificate;
internal passport (and copy);
foreign passport (also with a copy);
a certificate from the registry office stating that there are no obstacles to marriage;
certificate of divorce or death of a spouse in case of remarriage.

Others may be required according to local regulations. It is also better to clarify this point in advance.

All documents must be translated and certified translation. To do this, you need to contact a notary and pay the state fee.

List of the most popular countries for a wedding ceremony

Having decided to hold a wedding ceremony abroad, you need to decide on the country where the registration will take place.

Foreign countries in which
official registration is valid for Russians: Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Barbados, Brazil, Hungary, Grenadines, Greece, Dominican Republic, Iceland, Spain, Italy, Cyprus, Cuba, Mauritius, Mexico, New Zealand, Poland, Romania, Seychelles, Slovenia USA, Fiji, Montenegro, Czech Republic, Sri Lanka, Jamaica.
You need to choose very carefully, because in each country marriage legislation dictates its own rules and can have very significant differences. Some of the most popular countries for holding an official wedding ceremony are:

Jamaica. This country has a hot temperament and beautiful, fascinating nature. Its residents are simple and hospitable, they know how to work, but also love to relax with all their hearts. If the newlyweds know how to have fun, then a Jamaican wedding is a great option to create a bright and noisy celebration for yourself and your guests.

The Czech Republic is an ancient country steeped in history, which is associated with knights and princesses. If the bride dreamed of a fairytale wedding, then getting married in Prague to the sounds of an organ against the backdrop of medieval fortresses and castles will make her dreams come true.

Italy. It is not for nothing that it is called the birthplace of spring and the place where eternal love reigns. To the attention of future spouses there are cozy bays, snow-white villas, rocky caves, shady emerald groves, kilometers of beaches. This is a country that is considered a Mecca for lovers' pilgrimages. And not without reason: Rome, Florence, Venice are some of the most romantic cities in the world. And the world famous tragic and beautiful love story of Romeo and Juliet took place in Verona. This is the ideal place for a long-awaited event.

Australia. In Australia, you can enjoy stunning nature far from civilization, but also admire the unique architecture and the results of technological progress. Having had a wedding in the center of Sydney or in a hidden bay near the ocean, the newlyweds will remember the unique atmosphere of Australia for a long time.

New Zealand is a country of extraordinary beauty. Getting there, the tourist feels a complete separation from civilization, immersion in nature, unity with it. Like nowhere else, here you get the impression of the edge of the earth, a place where time has stood still. Weddings in New Zealand are original and unforgettable, because against the backdrop of emerald nature, a wedding dress will look like something from a fairy tale.

Greece is a place famous for its hospitality. A couple in love will feel comfortable in this country, and a wedding against the backdrop of alluring landscapes and amazing architecture will become one of the most memorable days in the life of a young family.

O. Crete is the largest island of Greece, the landscapes of which are amazing: mountains, forests, clean beaches of the Aegean and Libyan Sea. Along with ancient monuments, monasteries, fortresses, chapels, more and more buildings of modern architecture are appearing on the island. A wedding in Crete is for those lovers who are attracted by a land full of romance of centuries-old history.

Iceland. A small island that is famous not only for its untouched nature, unique landscapes, but also for many amazing legends about elves and wizards. Therefore, for lovers of everything mysterious and unique, a wedding in Iceland will certainly be a suitable option.

USA. Rarely does a state present such a variety of landscapes and a wealth of natural monuments. Each of the 50 states is ready to offer something different for a couple in love planning to register the birth of a new family in this country. An unforgettable wedding celebration can be organized against the backdrop of a waterfall, desert, blue ocean or emerald green forest, climb onto the roof of a New York skyscraper, or arrange a rock-and-roll-style party in Vegas. There are no clichés or restrictions in America!

Here's what a wonderful wedding you can have in Mauritius:

So is it still possible to fly abroad with the same last name or not?

Officially, after changing your last name, you must change your passport. When exactly is not established by law, so theoretically, border guards have grounds to refuse exit at any time.

In reality, people do as they please: they calmly fly with their old passport with their maiden name on their honeymoon, and if they need a visa, they apply for it in advance. Even after changing their internal passport, many continue to use a foreign one with their old last name.

We do not recommend taking risks, especially if you have already received a general passport with a new surname: if the officer at the border nevertheless draws attention to the different surnames, all the trump cards according to the law will be in his hands, and you will have no legal arguments left in your favor.

Where difficulties may arise with a wedding

In which countries may difficulties arise in the process of registering a marriage, and what obstacles may a couple in love encounter?

By choosing some countries, for example, China, Thailand, Egypt, the UAE, it will be possible to organize only a symbolic ceremony. Marriage will not be legal there.

A marriage license obtained in Hawaii requires certification from the Department of Health. When deciding to get married in Bali, young people must be of the same religion. To get married in the Seychelles, you must live there for at least 11 days, in Sri Lanka - 4 days before the wedding ceremony, and in France you will have to stay 40 days before the wedding.

For a ceremony in some European countries (Austria, Germany, Switzerland), you need to wait for permission from the authorities, which can take from two to six months. Therefore, if future newlyweds decide to arrange official registration outside the Russian Federation, they should pay very close attention to the peculiarities of marriage legislation in other countries.

Cost of an official ceremony in other countries

Registering a marriage abroad is not the cheapest pleasure.
But if you want an unforgettable holiday, it’s easy to find an alternative option. You can reduce expenses by saving on the list of invitees. You should not invite casual acquaintances, colleagues or distant relatives. Or cut the budget planned for the holiday menu. You can do without an organizer, a wedding decorator, or the services of a toastmaster. All these expenses are unimportant when you want an original and unconventional wedding in an ancient Prague castle or at the foot of an active volcano in Iceland.

But first you need to familiarize yourself with the pricing policy for wedding registration abroad. So, what is the approximate cost of a formal wedding ceremony in other countries? Price for registration and 7 days for two / for 3 days + 8 guests:

1. From 15,000 rub./45,000 rub.