Brazil Marriage License Requirements: Getting Hitched Out of Country

Weddings in Brazil reflect a mix of ancient traditions and current legal requirements. Brazil’s national history is a blend of mingling nations, including the influences of the indigenous peoples, the different African cultures, and the European colonists. As a result, Brazilian weddings are rich in customs and rituals. At the same time, the weddings must follow certain rules in order to be considered legal and official. These rules are not difficult, however, and preparing all of the right documents within the required time frame can ensure a pleasant wedding in Brazil.

Documents

Non-residents of Brazil who plan to get married in Brazil need to be sure to bring with them some important documents: birth certificate (original with the raised seal, or a notarized copy), proof of being single (evidence of legal search among marriage records or proof of divorce finalization), passport and visa and copies of each, records search to find out if bride or groom has been convicted of crimes, and application to marry. All of these documents must be filed before the marriage license approval process can begin.

Time

Acquiring a marriage license in Brazil does require a certain time commitment. Unlike in some countries, where a marriage license only has to be approved a couple of days before the ceremony, marriage licenses in Brazil can take up to thirty days for full approval. Once the license is approved, however, couples in Brazil have as long as three months to be officially married in a wedding ceremony. (If the couple is not married within those three months, they will need to apply for a new license.)

Registration

Registering a marriage in Brazil can also take some time, but once the license has been approved the registration process can be the most enjoyable. In Brazil, couples must be married within the state of their residency (which would be filed on the application documents). An official at the Civil Registry Office performs the ceremony and completes all of the required paperwork. Bear in mind that religious ceremonies in Brazil are optional and have no legal authority. (Couples may have a religious ceremony in addition to the civil ceremony, but they cannot substitute a religious ceremony for a civil ceremony.) Couples getting married in Brazil should be sure to find out if the Civil Registry Office limits marriages to certain days; in Minas Gerias, for instance, civil ceremonies are typically performed on Fridays but not on any other day.