Is my marriage abroad recognized at home?

United States

The U.S. State Department says a marriage performed abroad is valid where it took place if it followed local law, and that legally valid foreign marriages are generally valid in the U.S. Recognition is a matter of state law, so contact the Attorney General's office in your state of residence if you need confirmation. U.S. embassies cannot perform or register marriages.

Source: travel.state.gov: Marriage (summary of official guidance seen via search; checked 2026-10-21).

Canada

The Government of Canada says a marriage legally performed in another country is usually valid in Canada, and you generally don't need to register it in Canada. Keep your foreign certificate (and a translation) as proof.

Source: travel.gc.ca: Marriage overseas (summary seen via search; checked 2026-10-21).

United Kingdom

Not confirmed. GOV.UK no longer publishes country-by-country marriage-abroad guidance, and we did not find an official general statement on recognition. GOV.UK advises checking the laws of the country where you marry. If you need certainty, ask the General Register Office or a family lawyer.

Source: GOV.UK: Getting married or registering a civil partnership abroad (checked 2026-10-21).

Make your certificate usable at home

• Make sure it was a legal marriage, not a symbolic ceremony. See legal vs symbolic.
• Get certified copies. Indonesia has no central marriage registry, so the US Embassy recommends getting extra official copies at the time.
• Get the apostille before you leave where possible: Seychelles (Supreme Court apostille + MFA letter), Fiji (Ministry of Foreign Affairs), Gibraltar (GBP 37 per certificate), Mexico (state government).
• Get a certified translation if the certificate is not in English (or French for Canada).
• Same-sex couples: check both the destination's law and your home rules; some places offer only civil unions or partnerships (Italy, Cyprus).