Civil marriage between foreigners in Portugal
A wedding in Portugal is not accomplished quickly. The Portuguese Civil Registry Code has specific requirements you must meet in order to be married in Portugal.
I will try to outline the basic requirements.
A Certificate of "No Impediment" is required. This is a certificate issued by your country's competent bodies confirming there is no legal impediment to the marriage according to the law of you country of origin.
Other documents required are birth certificates issued within the last six months and passports.
If any of the future spouses has been married before, a divorce decree or death certificate to prove that the previous marriages have been legally terminated is also required.
One of the future spouses must declare that he/she has been living in the area of the Civil Registry Office where the marriage is to take place for a minimum of thirty (30) days before the process is initiated.
All documents (except passports) must be officially translated into Portuguese.
There is a preliminary phase of verification of documents and publications both at the Civil Registry Office where the marriage is to take place and at the Portuguese consulate in your country of origin.
After you have received approval to get married, your wedding must take place within three months.
Civil marriages are performed and registered at Civil Registry.
The minimum age to get married in Portugal without parental consent is 18. Persons under the age of 16 may not be married.
This is just a brief outline and should not be construed as legal advice.
©José Pedro Magalhães, June 2006
