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 piece of paperwork 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?
• Legal Framework: Articles of the Civil Code
• Documents Required for a Civil Marriage
• The marriage application process, step by step
• Deadlines and actual timeframes you should anticipate
• Where can you hold the 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 city of residence of one of the parties (or before a notary public).
• Basic documents: ID card, recent full birth certificate, proof of residency, 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?

In everyday language, civil wedding and civil marriage are the same thing: the ceremony and the legal process of getting married before the state, without a religious rite. When we talk about civil weddings, we are referring both to the ceremony itself and to the entire procedure leading up to it, which is regulated in Spain by the Civil Code.

Civil marriage is the legal union recognized by the Spanish state, 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 kinship in the direct line or collateral line up to the third degree.

Since the 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.

Legal Framework: Which Articles of the Civil Code Govern Civil Marriages

Civil marriage in Spain is governed by the Civil Code (Articles 42 through 107) and, since 2015, by Law 15/2015 on Voluntary Jurisdiction, which updated the list of those authorized to officiate marriages. If you’re looking for the specific articles that cover each part of the process, these are the most relevant:

Understanding these articles helps, above all, to resolve questions about who can get married and who can officiate a civil wedding; the rest of the procedure (application, deadlines, and documents) is detailed in the following sections.

Documents Required for a Civil Marriage

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

1. A valid ID card or passport for both parties (original and copy).
2. Full birth certificate issued within the last 6 months. You can request it for free on 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 face 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 persons: final divorce decree registered with the Civil Registry.
• Widowed persons: death certificate of the former spouse.
• Foreign nationals: legalized or apostilled certificate of marital status, 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 calendar, you won’t miss any deadlines or documents.

The Marriage File, 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 to prepare the documentation.
2. Publication of banns or waiver. 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 registrar interviews each party to the marriage and the witnesses separately. The interview 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 marriage. 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.

If you want full details on each step, deadlines by autonomous community, and what to do if a document expires midway through the process, check out our guide on how to file for marriage in Spain.

Deadlines and actual processing times you should expect

This is where most couples encounter surprises. Deadlines are not uniform throughout Spain, and the backlog 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: processing may be faster (1–2 months), but office hours are sometimes limited.

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

Common Options

• Magistrate’s Court or Civil Registry Office: the default free option. A functional venue for a brief ceremony.
• City Hall’s plenary hall: many city halls 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: 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 ideas for dresses for a civil wedding.

Civil weddings in major cities: Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia, and Seville

Although the procedure is standardized nationwide, practices vary greatly from one city to another, especially regarding timelines and available venues:

• Civil weddings in Madrid: the Civil Registry handles a large volume of applications, so it’s best to start the process 6–8 months in advance. Many districts and municipalities in the metropolitan area offer their own wedding venues, and the Madrid City Council provides unique spaces for ceremonies.
• Civil wedding in Barcelona: in addition to the Civil Registry, the City of Barcelona officiates weddings in iconic buildings. Wait times are also around half a year during peak season.
• Civil weddings in Valencia and Seville: wait times are generally somewhat shorter than in Madrid or Barcelona, with municipal venues available and, in many cases, the option of justice of the peace courts in nearby municipalities with lower demand.

Tip: If you live in a big city and are in a hurry, compare the wait times with those of a nearby small town where you’re registered as a resident; sometimes getting married at a justice of the peace court in a nearby town can cut the wait by weeks.

Civil Registry, City Hall, or Notary: A Comparison

Since 2015, you’ve had three main options for formalizing your civil marriage. Here’s a comparison to help you choose the one 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)	For those who prioritize zero cost and aren’t in a hurry
City Hall	€0 – €300 (municipal fee)	Depending on the mayor’s/councilmember’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 pre-marriage paperwork; 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 driven by practical reasons (residency, taxes, healthcare) rather than a grand 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 that 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 the 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—it doesn’t mean 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, Weddings’ wedding budget calculatorhelp ensures you don’t leave anything out.

For a complete overview of what it costs to have 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 they require 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 paperwork is well underway. If the registry process 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 of 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 in court consists simply of giving your 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 on private property?

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 is 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 handles directly with the Civil Registry. You would only need legal advice in special cases, such as marriages to foreign nationals or when a prenuptial agreement is in place.

Which articles of the Civil Code govern civil marriages?

Civil marriage is governed by Articles 42 through 107 of the Civil Code. The most frequently cited are Article 44 (right to marry), Article 45 (consent), Articles 46 and 47 (who cannot marry), and Article 49 (forms of celebration). Since Law 15/2015, notaries and court clerks, in addition to justices of the peace, mayors, and city council members, may also officiate the ceremony.

What is a civil wedding like in Madrid or another major city?

The process is the same throughout Spain, but in large cities like Madrid or Barcelona, the marriage application usually takes longer (up to six months) due to the heavy workload at the Civil Registry. On the other hand, you’ll have more options for municipal venues for the ceremony. If you’re in a hurry, consider getting married at a magistrate’s court in a nearby municipality with a lower caseload.