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In order to get married in Alberta, you must first obtain an Alberta marriage licence. This guide will walk you through the process of obtaining a marriage licence, the requirements and conditions, eligibility criteria, necessary documentation, and the cost involved.
A marriage licence serves as proof that you have met all legal requirements to be married in Alberta. These licences can be obtained from a registry agent office. The document issued is a 2-part document: the top part is the Registration of Marriage, and the bottom part is the marriage licence. You must give the full document (Registration of Marriage/Marriage Licence) to the person performing your marriage. It is a legal document and should be kept in good condition without folding, as it is permanently archived.
To get a marriage licence, you must:
You cannot obtain a marriage licence if you:
Check with a registry agent if:
Both individuals must be 18 years old or older. If you are younger than 18 years old, you can apply for a marriage licence if all your parents and legal guardians consent to the marriage licence being issued, unless other conditions apply. If you are younger than 16 years old, you cannot marry in Alberta.
You must provide acceptable ID. If one of the couple does not have acceptable ID, that person may be able to provide their birth certificate or immigration document as ID – the other person must have acceptable ID. Consult with the registry agent issuing your marriage licence for details.
You cannot be currently married (either to each other or someone else). Your legal marital status must be one of the following:
If either person getting married is not fluent in English, an interpreter is needed. It is your responsibility to provide one. The interpreter must be 18 years old or older and fluent in both English and the language requiring translation. If the registry agent employee issuing the marriage licence is fluent in the other language, they may serve as the interpreter and issue the marriage license. The couple applying for a marriage license cannot interpret or translate for each other.
There is a $40 government fee for the marriage license. Registry agents will also charge a service fee, which varies among registry agents.
Follow these steps to apply for a marriage license:
The marriage must be taking place in Alberta within the next 3 months. Before applying, ensure you and your intended spouse are eligible.
Take your acceptable ID with you to get the marriage license. Other documents may be needed, such as divorce documents. Contact a registry agent to confirm what documents you will need.
Go to a registry agent with your intended spouse, acceptable ID, and documents, and apply for a marriage license. A marriage license is issued while you wait. If you do not have all the information and documents needed, the process will be delayed.
Bring your marriage license to the ceremony and give it to the person performing the marriage ceremony. Review the Registration of Marriage/Marriage License document very closely for errors when you get it and before you leave the registry agent office. Always have errors corrected immediately.
The person performing the marriage ceremony cannot correct any information that was provided when the marriage license was issued.
Connect with the Service Alberta and Red Tape Reduction Contact Centre:
There are no residency or citizenship requirements for obtaining a marriage licence in Alberta. There is no time period that must pass between the date a couple arrives in Alberta and the date a marriage licence is issued. Blood tests are not required. An Alberta marriage licence is only valid for an Alberta marriage. The marriage ceremony must take place in Alberta.
By following this straightforward process, you can obtain a marriage licence and ensure that your marriage in Alberta proceeds smoothly and legally. Make sure to keep the marriage licence in good condition, as it is a legal document that will be permanently archived.
