Getting Married In Portugal

Dating in Spain

It’s easy to see why Portugal is an attractive option for couples looking to get married abroad. Popular for its long sandy beaches, delicious food, and welcoming and sunny weather, Portugal has so many wonderful wedding locations and venues that you will be spoiled for choice when it comes to getting married. If so, it is important to read the various legalities and requirements for marriage. This is where an old friend from One Fab Day comes into play. We’ve researched for you so you can plan your epic wedding day. Without further ado, here’s what you need to know about getting married in Portugal

What You Need To Know Before You Decide To Get Married In Portugal

  • Marriage is only allowed in Portugal under Portuguese law. You cannot marry a consul from your own country at a Portuguese embassy or Consulate.
  • Both civil and Catholic weddings are legally recognized. Religious ceremonies of all other churches and faiths must be preceded by a civil marriage. For example, the Church of England in Lisbon, Estoril, Porto, the Algarve, and the Church of Scotland in Lisbon do not legally marry.
  • Same-sex civil marriages are permitted under the same conditions.
  • There is currently no legal residency requirement for weddings in Portugal.
  • Foreigners cannot acquire Portuguese citizenship by marrying a Portuguese citizen. However, she can apply for Portuguese citizenship after three years of marriage.
  • The minimum age to marry in Portugal is she is 16 years old. However, those under the age of 18 must have the written consent of their parents.
  • Civil or Catholic weddings are held in Portuguese.
  • An interpreter is not a legal obligation, but if neither of you speaks Portuguese, an interpreter can be arranged for you throughout the ceremony.
  • Portugal requires Catholic marriage by law, but like Ireland, a marriage certificate is required. See here for details.

Marriage In Portugal: Civil Marriages

Civil marriages are legally binding in Portugal. Civil marriages can take place at the registry office (camera) or at a location of your choice. It does not have to be a licensed venue for weddings, as there is no such license in Portugal. Hotels, restaurants, quintas, and vacation apartments are also possible. Beach weddings are also possible but require an additional license from the Maritime Police.

To be legally binding, the ceremony must be officiated by a Kamala officiant. This should be arranged in a timely manner.

You can also legally marry in a registry office (Portugal or your home country) and have a symbolic ceremony of your choice at the location of your choice.

Ceremonies are conducted in Portuguese. An interpreter is not a legal obligation, but if neither of you speaks Portuguese, an interpreter can be arranged for you throughout the ceremony.

In order to get married legally in Portugal, you will need to submit some documents listed below.

Portuguese Marriage: The Catholic Church

Catholic Church weddings are legally binding in Portugal

  • If you are divorced at a Catholic wedding, and the marriage has not been officially annulled, you cannot marry in a Catholic Church in Portugal.
  • Catholic ceremonies are conducted in Portuguese. An interpreter is not a legal obligation, but if neither of you speaks Portuguese, an interpreter can be arranged for you throughout the ceremony.
  • Prior to the wedding, the necessary arrangements should be made by contacting the local priest of the region of Portugal where one wishes to marry.
  • Must be married within three months after approval.

In order to get married legally in the Catholic faith in Portugal, you will need to submit some documents listed below.

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Marriage In Portugal: Documents

All documents submitted for the wedding must be original and apostille stamped. Apostille Her stamp authenticates documents such as birth certificates issued outside Portugal, allowing them to be recognized as genuine.

All non-Portuguese documents must be accompanied by an official translation translated by an agency confirmed by the Portuguese Consulate in your area.

What You And Your artner Need

Required Documents and Documents

In order to legalize a wedding in Portugal, several documents must be submitted. The following documents must be submitted by both parties:

  • Citizen Card, Passport, or Residence Permit. The expiration date must be at least six months after marriage. If either of you lives in Portugal, a resident card will suffice.
  • Copy of Birth Certificate issued within the last six months. If written in a foreign language, a Portuguese translation must be included. Please reissue a complete birth certificate that includes the names of the parents and is no older than six months after marriage.
  • Affidavit of Marriage if home country issues such certificate. This also needs to be translated into Portuguese.
  • Baptism certificate for marriage in the Roman Catholic Church.
  • Notarized Marriage Deed if customary marriage law is not desired.
  • If you were married before, you must present a marriage certificate from this marriage. You will also need a divorce decree or death certificate to prove the dissolution. These documents must have been issued within the last six months.
  • If either party is over the age of 16, but under the age of 18, the written consent of her legal guardian is required.

Note: Please allow enough time to translate the required documents into Portuguese. This is where translation services really help. Thankfully, there are many online platforms where you can find suitable translators.

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Additional documents are required if there is a Catholic ceremony. I have provided a list below.

The above shows the general documents required to get married in Portugal, but you may need additional documents depending on your nationality and country of origin.

Additional Documents Required For Catholic Weddings

  • A formal letter from the parish priest authorizing the wedding to take place in the Portuguese church of your choice.
  • A letter from the Bishop of Ward. It says the same as above and should help your priest get it.
  • The priest’s letter must state that you have completed all PRE CANA procedures and include a certificate (if issued) showing that you have attended premarital courses.
  • The original marriage application must be issued by your parish and must be on official parish letterhead. 
  • A marriage questionnaire is not just a testimony, and it is a kind of signed questionnaire with the seal and signature of the church. This document must be stamped by your local bishop as well as your priest.

These must also be stamped by the local bishop’s office.

If you are not both Catholic, you will need to obtain another document. B. “Mixed Religious Permit” to certify that the wedding is officiated by the Church of Portugal. You can get this from your local pastor.

All documents listed must be sealed or stamped by the Reverend Bishop.

All documents should be translated into Portuguese.

Can Foreigners Get Married In Portugal

US law does not allow US diplomats and consular personnel to perform weddings. We also do not hold wedding ceremonies on the grounds of the US Embassy or Consulate. Generally, a legal and valid marriage that took place abroad is also valid in the United States. If you have any questions about the validity of your marriage abroad, please contact the Office of the Attorney General.

S. State of residence (either the state in which you were last resident or the state in which you voted and considered a residence in which you hold a driver’s license).

Legal Requirements For Marriage In Portugal

Getting married legally in Portugal requires a little paperwork and time. Below is an overview of the legal formalities required for an official wedding in Portugal.

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Obtaining A Marriage Certificate

Couples who decide to marry in Portugal must obtain a marriage certificate from the Civil Registry (Conservatória do Registo Civil). This application must be made regardless of whether you are applying for a civil or Catholic marriage. Once licensed, you can book or schedule a public ceremony date at the church of your choice.

Portuguese authorities usually take about a month to process this application. Processing each application normally takes at least four weeks, and once approved, the marriage must take place within six months. Hmm.

Whether it is a civil marriage or a religious marriage, a permit must be applied for. Permits can be obtained at the Portuguese Civil Registration Offices all over the country.

A spouse with unrestricted authority to marry of another religious belief, his authorized representative, or a clergyman of a religious organization may initiate proceedings. You can submit the application in person or appoint an agent with a power of attorney. For Catholic marriages, a pastor can also initiate the proceedings.

Proceedings must be commenced at least six weeks before her proposed date of marriage, and the marriage must take place within six months of his approval date.

When applying for a marriage license in Portugal, you must specify the type of marriage desired (civil, religious), the institution of marriage chosen, and the date, time, and place of the marriage.

Marriage Regulations In Portugal

There are four types of marriage regulations in Portugal. The standard regime is a marriage in a property community with a cost of 100 euros. The marriage contract can also be changed in all respects and costs €160 if you choose to have it drawn up at the registry office. For the notarization of the marriage contract, the cost is €30 if it is not drawn up at a registry office, for example, at a notary public’s office.

The application fee for marriage at the registry office is €120. This amount includes the application for a license and the registration that takes place after the marriage.

Marriage on Saturdays, Sundays, public holidays, after hours, or outside the registry office costs EUR 200. If the marriage does not take place at the registry office, you must provide transportation or pay the registrar’s travel expenses.

International Marriage Certificate will be issued after marriage. You can use it to register your marriage in your country of residence. Some countries require a national certificate with an apostille, which must be translated into your country. The standard arrangement is “Marriage in Property Community”. A prenuptial agreement can change that.

Planning A Wedding In Portugal

Even if you are planning a small wedding in Portugal, you will need to gather some documents beforehand. Having a maid of honor and best man is common, but having a witness is not mandatory.

Here are some things to consider before hosting a Portuguese wedding:

Getting Married in Portugal: Step by Step

To get married in Portugal, you must first apply for a marriage license. You should do this at least six weeks before your chosen wedding date. Once you get it, you should be married within the next six months. Legal requirements aside, Portugal’s wedding planning is similar to other western countries.

Here’s a step-by-step guide:

  • Year 1: Create a budget and guest list and find a location for the ceremony. If you are getting married in a church, ask to see the priest and make sure the church is open that day.
  • Ten months in advance: Book venues and find suppliers to hire, such as caterers, florists, entertainment, and photographers.
  • Eight months: Create a wedding website, save the date and go dress her hunting.
  • Six months of travel: Collect all your marriage license application documents and start your honeymoon search.
  • Four months later: Buy wedding rings, small jewelry, and gifts for guests.
  • Three months in advance: Send out invitations, pre-order hair and makeup trials, and arrange transportation for the big day.
  • Two months: full catering, music, and entertainment.
  • One month later: Compile the final guest list and create a floor plan or seating chart.
  • Two weeks ago: Send a pre-selection to photographers and review the daily updated running list.
  • 1-week trip: Collect your wedding outfits and start packing for your honeymoon (if leaving soon)

Cost Of A Wedding In Portugal

Of course, the cost of a wedding in Portugal will depend on the type of ceremony desired. However, there are some standard administrative fees to expect.

For example, if you are getting married at the registry office on a working day, the marriage license and registration fee is €120. Weekends, after hours, or celebrations elsewhere will cost €200. In this last case, you will also have to pay for the travel expenses of the various registrars.

Additional charges also apply when determining a marital status different from the received communion. One of her approved arrangements costs him €100 and €160 if he wants to sign another marriage contract.

Weddings in Portugal typically cost between €5,000 and €15,000. Of course, the final cost will depend on the size of your wedding and the services you use.

Below is a list of average prices for medium-sized weddings in Portugal.

Venue rental: €3,000

  • Food and beverage: €100 per person
  • Photos and videos: €1,000 for photographers and/or professional wedding videographers
  • Music: €1,000 (note: DJs are cheaper than bands)
  • Flowers: Up to €1,000
  • Wedding cake: €300
  • Transport: €300
  • Hair and makeup: €200

In Portugal, it is customary to add VAT (23 %) separately from the service price, so when booking a supplier, Please be careful.

Marriage In Portugal: Disclaimer

The above requirements are subject to change at any time. Therefore, if you are getting married in Portugal, please double-check this information with your planner or your local embassy and parish related to Catholic weddings before your wedding.