How to Get Married in a Civil Ceremony in Spain (Guide and Deadlines for 2026)

Article revised and updated as of 2026 in accordance with Law 15/2015 on Voluntary Jurisdiction.

Getting married in a civil ceremony in Spain is the legal process that makes two people spouses in the eyes of the state, without the need for a religious ceremony. Although it sounds simple, the process involves gathering documents, opening a marriage file, and meeting deadlines that vary by autonomous community.

If you’re planning your civil wedding and don’t know where to start, this guide takes you step by step from the first form to saying “I do” at the courthouse, city hall, or the venue of your choice.

Table of Contents

• Key Points
• What Is a Civil Marriage and Who Can Get Married?
• Documents Required for a Civil Marriage
• The marriage application process, step by step
• Deadlines and actual timeframes you should anticipate
• Where can you hold a civil ceremony?
• Civil Registry, City Hall, or Notary: A Comparison
• Express Civil Wedding: Can You Get Married Quickly Without a Ceremony?
• How Much Does a Civil Wedding Cost?
• Tips to ensure the paperwork doesn’t delay your wedding
• Frequently Asked Questions

Key Points

• The marriage application is mandatory and is processed at the Civil Registry office in the place of residence of one of the parties (or before a notary).
• Basic documents: ID card, recent full birth certificate, proof of residence, and statements from two witnesses.
• The average processing time ranges from 2 to 6 months depending on the autonomous community; begin the paperwork at least 6 months in advance.
• The ceremony can be held at a courthouse, city hall, municipal gardens, or even on private property with authorization.
• The legal cost is practically zero at the Civil Registry; city hall or notary fees range from €50 to €300.

What is a civil marriage, and who can get married?

Civil marriage is a legal union recognized by the Spanish state and governed by the Civil Code. It does not require any religious component and has exactly the same legal effects as a canonical marriage: property regime, inheritance rights, and family obligations.

Any person of legal age (or over 16 with judicial emancipation) who is not currently bound by a previous marriage may enter into a civil marriage. Since 2005, civil marriage has been open to same-sex couples with identical rights.

Basic Requirements

• Legal age or judicial emancipation.
• Not previously married (or proof of divorce or widowhood).
• Legal capacity to give free consent.
• No direct lineal or collateral kinship up to the third degree.

Since Law 15/2015 on Voluntary Jurisdiction, civil marriage may be authorized not only by judges, but also by the court clerk (legal officer of the Administration of Justice), a notary public, the mayor or a council member to whom the mayor delegates authority, and a justice of the peace in municipalities where one is available.

Documents Required for a Civil Marriage

The list may vary slightly depending on your local Civil Registry, but these are the documents you will be asked to provide in the vast majority of cases:

1. Valid national ID card or passport for both parties (original and copy).
2. Full birth certificate issued within the last 6 months. You can request this for free through the Ministry of Justice’s online portal or at the Civil Registry office in your place of birth.
3. Certificate of residence for at least one of the parties, issued by the city hall (proving the address for the past few years).
4. Affidavit of marital status (certifying single status, divorce, or widowhood) and statements from two witnesses attesting that the parties are eligible to marry and that there are no legal impediments. The witnesses must present their national ID cards.
5. Application form for the marriage file, provided by the Civil Registry itself.

Special Cases

• Divorced individuals: final divorce decree registered with the Civil Registry.
• Widowed individuals: death certificate of the former spouse.
• Foreign nationals: legalization or apostille of the civil status certificate, a certified translation if applicable, and a certificate of legal capacity to marry issued by the consulate. If the documentation is in another language, an official translation is almost always required.

The paperwork may seem overwhelming, but if you add it as a task to your wedding checklist with a timeline, you won’t miss any deadlines or documents.

The Marriage Filing Process, Step by Step

The marriage application (also called a marriage certificate or preliminary application) is the administrative process that verifies that the couple meets all legal requirements. Without it, a civil wedding is not possible.

1. Application at the Civil Registry. Go to the Civil Registry office in the city where one of you lives. Submit all the required documents and fill out the official form. Check the procedures on the Ministry of Justice website to prepare the documentation.
2. Publication of banns or dispensation. Traditionally, banns were published for 15 days. Many registries have already replaced this with a private hearing, but some still require it.
3. Private hearing. A judge or civil registry official interviews each party to the marriage and the witnesses separately. It is brief (15–20 minutes) and aims to confirm that consent is given freely.
4. Approval. If everything is in order, you will receive the order authorizing the wedding. This document is valid for one year.

Since the reform of the Civil Registry Law, part of the process can be handled electronically, although implementation varies by autonomous community.

Deadlines and actual processing times you should anticipate

This is where most couples encounter surprises. Processing times are not uniform throughout Spain, and the heavy workload at civil registries can significantly lengthen the process.

• Madrid and Barcelona: between 3 and 6 months from application to decision.
• Medium-sized provincial capitals: between 2 and 4 months.
• Small towns and municipalities: the process may be faster (1–2 months), but they sometimes have limited office hours.

The general recommendation is to start the process at least 6 months in advance of the wedding date. If you’re planning your wedding with a month-by-month checklist, schedule the start of the application process between 8 and 6 months in advance.

Keep in mind that the birth certificate expires after 6 months (in some registries, after 3). If the process takes longer, you may have to request a new one.

Where can you hold the civil ceremony?

The civil ceremony does not have to be held in a courthouse. The law allows a judge, mayor, or designated council member to officiate the marriage in any venue deemed suitable for the ceremony.

Common Options

• Magistrate’s Court or Civil Registry Office: the default, free option. A functional and brief ceremony.
• City Council Chamber: many city councils provide special venues. Some charge a fee ranging from €50 to €200.
• Municipal outdoor venues: botanical gardens, palace courtyards, cultural centers. Each municipality publishes its available options.
• Private estates and hotels: this is possible provided the judge or council member agrees to travel to the location. This usually involves a travel fee.

If you’re looking for the perfect venue for your ceremony, explore our guide to the best wedding destinations in Spain or the wedding destinations in Barcelona to find inspiration by city. And if you’re unsure about what to wear, we’ll help you with dress ideas for a civil wedding.

Civil Registry, City Hall, or Notary: Comparison

Since 2015, you’ve had three main options for formalizing your civil marriage. Here’s a comparison to help you choose the option that best fits your date and budget:

Option	Approximate cost	Typical processing time	Ideal for
Civil Registry / Justice of the Peace	Free	2–6 months (depending on workload)	Those who prioritize zero cost and aren’t in a hurry
City Hall	0 € - 300 € (municipal fee)	Depending on the mayor’s/council member’s schedule	For those who want a charming municipal venue
Notary	90 € - 200 € (fee)	Faster and with flexible scheduling	For those who value speed and flexibility in scheduling

For all three options, you need the same preliminary marriage documentation; what changes is who processes it and who officiates the ceremony.

Express civil wedding: Can you get married quickly and without a ceremony?

Many people want to get married “quickly” or “without a ceremony,” especially when the marriage is for practical reasons (residency, taxes, healthcare) rather than a big celebration. It’s completely legal, with some caveats:

• The bottleneck is the paperwork, not the ceremony. No matter how much of a hurry you’re in, the preliminary marriage paperwork is mandatory and depends on the Civil Registry’s processing times. There’s no such thing as a “same-day” civil wedding that skips this step.
• You can, however, have a minimal ceremony. In court, the proceedings are limited to the reading of the articles of the Civil Code regarding marital rights and duties, the giving of consent before an official and two witnesses, and the signing of the documents. It lasts only a few minutes: it’s the closest thing to getting married “without a ceremony.”
• The notary route is usually the fastest once you’ve completed the paperwork, due to its flexible scheduling.

In short: an “express civil wedding” means a brief and discreet ceremony, not skipping the legal process. Plan your paperwork ahead of time, and the celebration can be as simple as you want.

How much does a civil marriage cost?

Getting married in a civil ceremony at the Civil Registry or a court is, in principle, free of charge. However, there are associated costs that you should consider:

• Birth certificate: free online or between €3 and €5 at the counter.
• Residency certificate: free at most city halls.
• City hall fee for using a special venue: from 50 € to 300 €, depending on the municipality.
• Notarial certificate (if you choose to get married before a notary): between 90 € and 200 €.
• Family Register: free; issued after the marriage is registered.

The legal cost of a civil wedding is minimal compared to the rest of the wedding budget. If you want to keep track of all expenses from day one, the wedding budget calculator from Weddings.help helps ensure you don’t leave anything out.

For a complete overview of the cost of having a wedding in Spain, we recommend the article on how much a wedding costs in Spain.

Tips to Ensure Paperwork Doesn’t Delay Your Wedding

The paperwork for a civil wedding is one of those “invisible enemies” that can cause unnecessary stress if you leave it until the last minute. These practical tips will save you headaches:

• Call the Civil Registry before you go. Ask exactly what documents are required and whether you need an appointment. Each registry office has its own specific requirements.
• Request your birth certificates online. It takes between 3 and 5 business days, and you’ll avoid unnecessary trips.
• Choose reliable and available witnesses. You’ll need two adults who know you well. They must attend the scheduled hearing with their valid ID.
• Don’t book the venue before your application is well underway. If the registry office is delayed, you could be stuck with a reserved date but no authorization to hold the wedding.
• Keep digital and paper copies of everything. Add each document as a subtask to your wedding checklist to ensure nothing is left undone.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does the civil marriage application process take in Spain?

The average processing time ranges from 2 to 6 months, depending on the workload at the Civil Registry. In large cities like Madrid or Barcelona, it can take up to half a year; in small towns, it’s usually completed in 1–3 months. Start the process at least 6 months before your wedding date.

Is it possible to get married in a civil ceremony quickly or on the same day?

Not on the same day: the preliminary marriage application is mandatory and depends on the Civil Registry’s processing times, which cannot be bypassed. What can be very quick, however, is the ceremony itself, which at the courthouse consists simply of giving consent before an official and two witnesses and lasts only a few minutes. If you’re looking for speed, the notary route usually offers more flexibility once the paperwork has been processed.

Can I have a civil wedding at a private estate?

Yes, provided that the justice of the peace, mayor, or designated council member agrees to travel to the ceremony location. You’ll need to coordinate availability with the official and, in many municipalities, pay a travel fee ranging from €100 to €200.

What’s the difference between getting married at the Civil Registry and before a notary?

Since 2015, notaries have been able to officiate civil weddings in Spain. The main difference is the cost: the Civil Registry is free, while a notarial certificate costs between €90 and €200. In exchange, the notary offers greater flexibility in terms of times and locations.

Can two foreign nationals get married in a civil ceremony in Spain?

Yes, provided that at least one of the parties is registered as a resident in Spain and the additional documentation is provided: a certificate of legal capacity to marry, a legalized or apostilled certificate of marital status, and, if applicable, a certified translation. It is advisable to confirm the exact requirements with the relevant Civil Registry, as they may vary depending on the country of origin.

Do I need a lawyer to get married in a civil ceremony?

No. The marriage application is a simple administrative procedure that the couple completes directly with the Civil Registry. You would only need legal advice in special cases, such as marriages involving foreign nationals or prior prenuptial agreements.