Civil Marriage in Portugal for Foreign and Non-Resident Couples
Get officially married in Portugal without navigating the civil registry alone. We prepare the file before you travel, coordinate the Portuguese marriage process and support you through registration and the Portuguese marriage certificate.
This service is for couples who want the official legal marriage in Portugal. We do not sell venues, flowers or event production. We manage the legal and civil-registry route: the document plan, the preliminary marriage process, registry coordination, appointment preparation and the Portuguese marriage certificate after registration.
For international couples, that preparation is where most of the work sits. The appointment is usually not the difficult part. The difficult part is making documents from one or two foreign legal systems work inside a Portuguese civil-registry file.
Why non-resident cases need preparation
A missing apostille, the wrong civil-capacity document, an unresolved foreign divorce, an expired certificate or a name mismatch can delay the process. We deal with those issues before the planned appointment whenever possible.
When this is the right step
We work with: - two foreign citizens - Portuguese and foreign couples - EU and non-EU combinations - couples living in different countries - expats already living in Portugal - couples with previous marriages - couples with documents issued in more than one country
Built for couples who live outside Portugal
You do not need to move to Portugal before starting the route. The route is prepared around your citizenships, residence, marital status and document geography.
EUR 1,500 fixed legal fee, VAT included
External costs
Step by step
- 1
Send us the couple's facts — We start with both citizenships, residence countries, marital status, previous marriages, available documents and preferred timing.
- 2
We map the document route — We identify what each person must obtain and whether legalisation, translation, divorce recognition or another preparatory step is needed.
- 3
We prepare the Portuguese marriage file — We review the documents before filing, prepare the preliminary process and coordinate the correct civil registry route.
- 4
We manage the registry stage — We handle correspondence, clarification requests and appointment coordination.
- 5
You come to Portugal for the planned official appointment — For non-resident couples, the managed route is designed so the trip is for the official stage of a prepared file, not for discovering requirements at the counter.
- 6
The marriage is registered — After the official registration, we coordinate the Portuguese marriage certificate and any agreed next document step.
This is a general overview. In practice, steps often depend on your specific situation.
Quick summary
You do not need to move to Portugal before starting the route.
Frequently asked questions
Can two foreign citizens marry in Portugal?
Yes. The couple must complete the Portuguese preliminary marriage process and provide the civil-status evidence required for both people. Living outside Portugal does not by itself prevent the route.
Can we prepare the process remotely?
Yes, substantial preparation can be handled before travel. Portuguese law allows representation with special powers for relevant procedural acts. The exact use of a power of attorney depends on the stage and the file. At the marriage celebration itself, only one future spouse may be represented by proxy. Both cannot be absent. Our standard non-resident service is normally organised around the couple attending the planned official appointment together.
Do we need an interpreter?
If a future spouse does not understand Portuguese and the registry official does not know the relevant language, an interpreter is required. We arrange the interpreter route when it is needed.
What happens after authorisation?
Once the Portuguese registry authorises the marriage, the couple has up to six months to celebrate it. The official marriage is then entered in the Portuguese civil registry.
What do we receive after registration?
The Portuguese marriage record and marriage certificate are the legal result of the process. If the certificate needs to be used abroad, apostille, certified translation or delivery can be coordinated as a next step where required.
Is this the same as transcribing a foreign marriage?
No. If you are not yet married and want Portugal to be the country of marriage, this is the correct service. If you already married in another country and now need that marriage registered or transcribed in Portugal, use our separate Marriage Registration in Portugal service.
Related guides
Ready to start?
Send us: - citizenship of partner 1 - citizenship of partner 2 - country where you each live - current marital status - previous marriages, if any - preferred timing We will map the Portuguese marriage route and tell you what needs to happen first.