Marriage in Austria

Foreigners may get married in Austria. However, the procedure requires time and thorough preparation. Therefore, anyone contemplating marriage in Austria should be familiar with the following requirements:

The legal age for either sex is 18. Persons at least 16 years of age may also marry upon presentation of written, notarized consent from both parents and if the other spouse is at least 18 years old.

The following documents have to be submitted to the locally competent Registrar's Office by the two parties wishing to get married in Austria:

• Proof of Citizenship (Passport)
• Birth Certificate (Original or Certified Copy)
• Proof of Residence (Drivers Licence or other document that shows address of residence)
• Certificate of single status or, if previously married, Marriage Certificate of previous marriages and proof of their dissolution or death certificate(s) of previous spouse(s)
• Notarized parental consent, if required (see above)

All documents (other than passports and driver's licences) have to be submitted in German, or be accompanied by a certified German translation.

Religious marriages are not legally recognized. Only civil marriages are legal in Austria. They may, however, be followed by religious ceremonies if desired. Civil marriages are performed by officials of the Registry Office (Standesamt) in the appropriate jurisdiction. The ceremony takes place at the Standesamt. If either party to the marriage is an Austrian citizen or resides in Austria (regardless of citizenship), the application for marriage must be filed at the Standesamt in the locality of that residence. If both parties to the marriage are neither Austrians nor residents, the application must be filed at the Standesamt for the First District of Vienna

Standesamt Wien-Innere Stadt
Schlesingerplatz 4
A-1080 Vienna
Austria
Phone: +43 1 4000 08591; Fax: +43 1 4000 99 08580;
E-mail: post-a08(at)m35.magwien.gv.at

The earliest possible time to reserve the date for your marriage at the Standesamt is six months before the planned wedding. Although Austrian law does not require a period of residence in Austria prior to the marriage the administrative procedures involved usually require two to four weeks to complete. There is no legal waiting period between marriage registration and the marriage ceremony itself. Waiting periods can result through already assigned wedding dates.

The starting point is always the registry of births, deaths and marriage [Standesamt] responsible for the area of the primary residence [Hauptwohnsitz] of one of the engaged. However, you may also be married at another registry of births, deaths and marriage [Standesamt].

• In areas without federal police: the registry of births, deaths and marriage of the Municipal Office [Gemeindeamt]
• In cities with federal police: the registry of births, deaths and marriage of the Municipal Authority [Magistrat].

The Standesamt will forward the documents for approval of the marriage to the appropriate Superior Court (Oberlandesgericht). After payment of the court fees, the file is returned to the Standesamt, which then schedules the date of the wedding (there may be some difficulty obtaining appointments during major holidays). The ceremony itself lasts approximately 15 minutes. In case one or both marriage partners do not speak German, they must engage the services of an official Austrian interpreter at their own expenses.

Please note:

• A minimum of two witnesses are legally required for the wedding ceremony.
• For wedding ceremonies outside the official office hours and outside the official offices, a higher fee will have to be paid which will differ in the individual provinces.

General information can be found online at the Magistrate in Vienna and Help-Amtshelfer - Marriage. The competent Registrar’s Office will give information on requirements in specific cases.

Magistrat Salzburg
Standesamt
Mirabellplatz 4 
5024 Salzburg
Tel: (+43/662) 8072 2406 Fax: (+43/662) 8072 2060
E-mail: standesamt(at)stadt-salzburg.at

Standesamt Wien-Innere Stadt
Schlesingerplatz 4
1082 Vienna
Tel: (+43/1) 401 34-08 591 Fax: (+43/1) 40134 99 08580
E-Mail: post-a08(at)m35.magwien.gv.at

Magistrat der Landeshauptstadt Linz
Einwohner- und Standesamt
Hauptstrasse 1-5
4041 Linz
Tel: (+43/732) 7070-2525, Fax: (+43/732) 7070-2533
E-Mail: standesamt(at)mag.linz.at

Standesamt Bregenz
Belruptstrasse 1
6900 Bregenz
Tel: (+43 5574) 410-1260, Fax: (+43 5574) 410-522 
E-Mail: standesamt(at)bregenz.at

Magistrat der Landeshauptstadt Klagenfurt
Standesamt Amtshaus
Kumpfgasse 20
9020 Klagenfurt
Tel: (+43/463) 537 4610 Fax: (+43/463) 537 6291
Email: standesamt(at)klagenfurt.at

Magistrat Graz
Standesamt
Joanneumring 6
8011 Graz
Tel: (+43/316) 872 5143 Fax: (+43/316) 872 5149
Email: standesamt(at)stadt.graz.at

Stadtmagistrat Innsbruck
Standesamt
Maria-Theresien-Straße 18
6020 Innsbruck
Tel: (+43/512) 5360-1203, Fax: (+43/512) 5360-1730 
Email: standesamt(at)magibk.at

Magistrat Eisenstadt
MA 6 - Standesamt
Hauptstraße 35
7000 Eisenstadt
Tel: (+43/2682) 705-600, 705-602, Fax: (+43/2682) 705-145
Email: standesamt(at)eisenstadt.at

Standesamt St. Pölten
Rathaus
Linzerstraße 6
3101 St. Pölten
Tel.: (+43/2742) 333-2020, Fax: (+43/2742) 333-2029
Email: standesamt(at)st-poelten.gv.at