Getting Married in Australia

It is possible for visitors to marry in Australia provided the necessary arrangements have been made beforehand. There is no residential qualification required nor does one need to be an Australian citizen.

Unmarried men and women may marry freely at 18 years, but younger than that the law differs. For further information, please contact the Registry Office in the State or Territory in which you wish to marry (for contact details see the Australian Government Website). 

Marriages do not have to be conducted in a Church or Registry Office - this matter should be discussed directly with a Marriage Celebrant (i.e. the person who will perform the marriage ceremony). A list of possible marriage celebrants is also available on the Internet.

A "one months advance public notice" of intention to marry is required in Australia. Therefore documents have to be presented to the marriage celebrant one month and one day at the latest and no more than six months before the desired marriage date.

The following is a guide only of what documents you may be required to produce. Please confirm directly with the marriage celebrant which ones you need:

• Notice of Intended Marriage
• Birth Certificate
• Passport
• If previously married and divorced, a decree absolute of the divorce
• If previously married and widowed, a death certificate

Documents in a foreign language must be accompanied by a certified translation into English.

After the wedding you will receive a Marriage Certificate from your marriage celebrant which contains your signatures and the signatures of the witnesses.

For Austrian authorities to recognise a marriage conducted in Australia a "Full Marriage Certificate" issued by the Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages of your state or territory is required.

Furthermore the Australian Marriage Certificate has to be authenticated by an "Apostille" which can be obtained throught the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade or a passport office. For details see "Smarttraveller".

Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
R. G. Casey Building
John McEwen Crescent
Barton ACT 0221
Tel: +61 2 6261 1111
Fax: +61 2 6261 3111

Other Australian Department of Foreign Affairs Offices you can find at