Marriage in Spain

[AuroraMalora 0]

Has anyone gotten married in Spain?

I'm interested in how easy it would be for me (a US citizen) to marry a resident of Spain (not a citizen of Spain).

What kind of documentation and requirements are there?

I'm really interested in any time requirements. I know some countries require that you be present and living in a country for a certain number of days before you can marry there.

[Ryan H 3,830]

Moved from K3 Process & Procedures to Europe & Eurasia regional forum.

[RainInSpain 0]

Has anyone gotten married in Spain?

I'm interested in how easy it would be for me (a US citizen) to marry a resident of Spain (not a citizen of Spain).

What kind of documentation and requirements are there?

I'm really interested in any time requirements. I know some countries require that you be present and living in a country for a certain number of days before you can marry there.

We forgo that route because I couldn't obtained my birth certificate from Vietnam (I'm a US citizen). Friends of ours married in Madrid and it took a long time to gather all the documents, approval for the marriage (30-45 days), and get an appointment for the ceremony (around 6 months, depending on where you live). Where do you live in Spain? Madrid and Barcelona have such a long waiting list that it could take you half a year to get married. Here is the list of documents:

1. Application form. Available from the Civil Registry or the District Court.

2. Birth certificate. This must be an original document bearing the Apostille of the Hague (see Mutual Recognition of Documents). In addition, a translation authenticated by a Spanish consulate in the U.S must be provided.

3. Proof of freedom to marry. For Spaniards, the Civil Registry has a document for this purpose. Since there is no equivalent document in the U.S., a sworn statement to the effect that the parties are single and free to marry, signed before an American Consul can be used.

4. Certificate of residence. This document may be obtained at the Junta Municipal of the Tenencia de Alcaldia in the district of residence. If an American is not a permanent resident in Spain, he/she can sign an affidavit before an American Consul indicating his/her place of residence for the last six years.

5. Posting of Banns. The Posting of Banns is a public declaration of intent to marry. The Embassy or Consulate may issue a letter explaining it is not required in the U.S.

6. Certificate of Consular Inscription. The Embassy or Consulate can produce this letter once you have registered as a U.S. Citizen in Spain.

7. If one party was previously married , he/she must present the previous marriage certificate and proof the marriage no longer exists (a divorce decree, an annulment certificate or a death certificate). The documents must be original, bear the Apostille of the Hague, translated into Spanish and the translation authenticated.

We are going through the K1 visa route due to the bureaucratic complications.

Good-luck on your journey!