Wedding Abroad RulesNot legal advice. Marriage rules change and local offices interpret them differently. Confirm every requirement with the civil registry or embassy before you book or pay. Disclaimer
Legal for visitors?Restricted
Wait / residency1 month residence in the town
Government feeNot confirmed
Same-sexNot confirmed
3 of 10 facts read on an official page; 4 not confirmed. Badges show the source level of each fact.
Where couples get confused
You generally can't legally marry in Paris as a visiting couple - but you can in Tahiti or St Barth.
The rules
- Legal ceremony for visitorsOfficial ✓
- restrictedTwo foreigners living abroad with no parent in France can only marry in mainland France if one has lived continuously 1 month in the commune (at banns publication). Otherwise only in some overseas collectivities (French Polynesia, New Caledonia, St Barth, St Martin, St Pierre & Miquelon, Wallis & Futuna).
- Residency or waiting timeOfficial ✓
- 1 month continuous residence in the commune by one partner (or a parent living there); banns posted 10 days (snippet).
- Required documentsOfficial ✓
- Town hall sets list; birth certificate under 3 months old with 'mentions marginales' issues for US records (US Embassy FAQ).
- Apostille / translationSnippet / semi-official
- Apostille on US state documents + sworn translation (US Embassy FAQ)
- Blood or medical testNot confirmed
- Not confirmed, check with the registry or embassy
- WitnessesNot confirmed
- Not confirmed, check with the registry or embassy
- Who officiatesSnippet / semi-official
- Mayor / officier d'etat civil
- Same-sex couplesNot confirmed
- Not confirmed, check with the registry or embassyOur unconfirmed note: not confirmed on official page this pass
- Recognized in the US, Canada, UKSnippet / semi-official
- US: generally valid if valid where performed; confirm with your state Attorney General (State Dept). Canada: usually valid if legal where performed, no need to register (travel.gc.ca). UK: no general statement found on gov.uk - unverified.
- Government feeNot confirmed
- Not confirmed, check with the registry or embassyOur unconfirmed note: civil ceremony itself typically free -
⚠ Pitfalls and scams to watch
Most 'weddings in France' for foreign couples are symbolic with the legal part done at home; overseas option requires 1 month 10 days' notice and an interpreter.
Planning a destination wedding? Get free help from a travel agent with a wedding in France: venues, group room blocks and guest travel.
Get free help →Our sponsor: an independent Inteletravel travel agent. Not a legal or registry service.
Sources
Quotes copied from official pages on 2026-10-21. Items marked as a snippet were seen in search results because the page blocked our checker.
- legalhttps://sites.service-information-publique.fr/vias/guide-particuliers/F2558.html
Deux étrangers n'ayant ni domicile ni résidence en France et n'ayant aucun parent domicilié en France ne peuvent se marier que dans une commune appartenant à l'un des territoires suivants : Nouvelle-Calédonie, Polynésie française, Saint-Barthélémy, Saint-Martin, Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon, Wallis-et-Futuna.
- residencyhttps://sites.service-information-publique.fr/vias/guide-particuliers/F2558.html
deux étrangers vivant essentiellement à l'étranger mais dont l'un ou l'autre réside de façon continue depuis au moins 1 mois dans une même commune en France peuvent aussi s'y marier
All sources consulted
- https://sites.service-information-publique.fr/vias/guide-particuliers/F2558.html
- https://fr.usembassy.gov/services/marriage-and-civil-partnerships-pacs-in-france/
- https://travel.state.gov/en/international-travel/living-abroad/marriage.html
- https://travel.gc.ca/travelling/documents/marriage-overseas
Last checked 2026-10-21. Spot something out of date? Email [email protected].
Get rule changes by email
A short email when a destination changes its marriage rules or fees.