Marriage In Austria: Options For Foreigners

Getting married in Austria is possible for foreigners, but there are some legal requirements and paperwork to consider. Here's an overview:

Legal Requirements:

- Both parties must be at least 18 years old.

- If either party is 16 or 17, written and notarized parental consent is needed, and their future spouse must be at least 18.

- Both parties must be marrying of their own free will and must understand the nature of marriage.

- Both parties must be single, widowed, or divorced with proof.

- The marriage must not be between close relatives as defined by Austrian law.

- At least two witnesses over the age of 18 are required.

Documentation:

- International passport.

- Photocopies of passport data pages for the couple and witnesses.

- Birth certificate (original or certified copy).

- Driver's license or similar document showing address.

- Residence registration form (Meldezettel) issued by Austrian authorities, unless staying in a hotel or hostel.

- Proof of dissolution of previous marriages, if applicable.

- Certificate of No Impediment to Marriage (Ehefähigkeitszeugnis).

Visa Requirements:

Foreigners will need to obtain either a Type C Schengen Visa for stays up to 90 days or a Type D National Visa for longer stays.

Marriage Application:

The marriage application must be filed at the local Vital Statistics Office (Standesamt) or the First District of Vienna if neither party is an Austrian citizen or resident.

Ceremony:

Only civil marriages are legally recognized in Austria and the ceremony is conducted in German. Couples may choose to have a separate religious ceremony after the civil ceremony.

So, while there are some requirements to meet, it is possible for foreigners to get married in Austria by following the necessary legal and administrative steps.

Civil marriages are the only legal weddings in Austria

Civil marriages are the only legally recognised weddings in Austria. This means that if you wish to get legally married in Austria, you must have a civil marriage ceremony.

The civil marriage ceremony is conducted by officials of the Vital Statistics Office ("Standesamt") in the appropriate jurisdiction. The ceremony takes place at the "Standesamt". If either party to the marriage is an Austrian citizen or resides in Austria, the application for marriage must be filed at the "Standesamt" in the locality of that residence. If both parties to the marriage are neither Austrian nor residents, the application must be filed at the "Standesamt" for the First District of Vienna.

Both marriage partners should apply in person at the appropriate Vital Statistics Office ("Standesamt"), bringing with them the required documents. These documents include:

• Birth Certificate (original or certified copy)
• Driver's License or similar document that shows address of residence
• Residence registration form ("Meldezettel") issued by the Austrian authorities after arrival, unless the applicants are staying in a hotel, youth hostel, etc.
• Documentary proof of dissolution of previous marriages, if any (e.g. final divorce or annulment decrees, marriage certificate from former marriages, or death certificate)
• Notarised parental consent, if required

Documents that are not in German must be accompanied by certified translations completed by an official translator.

The civil marriage ceremony will last approximately 15 minutes. If one or both marriage partners do not speak German, they must engage the services of an official Austrian interpreter at their own expense.

It is important to note that while civil marriages are the only legally recognised weddings in Austria, religious ceremonies can follow the civil marriage if desired.

Foreigners can marry in Austria if they meet visa and marriage requirements

Foreigners can get married in Austria, but they must meet the visa and marriage requirements. While the country doesn't place too many requirements on getting married, it is essential to understand and comply with the necessary criteria to ensure a smooth process. Here is a detailed guide to help you navigate the process:

Visa Requirements:

To enter Austria and get married, non-EU/EEA citizens need to obtain either a Type C Schengen Visa for short stays or a Type D National Visa for longer ones. The Type C Visa is suitable for stays of up to 90 days within 180 days, while the Type D Visa is for longer stays exceeding 90 days but not more than six months. The choice depends on the length of your stay and your specific circumstances. Applications are typically submitted through the Austrian embassy or consulate in your home country, along with proof of your intention to marry and other supporting documents.

Marriage Requirements:

Austria has straightforward legal requirements for marriage, and anyone can get married in the country with some time and preparation. Here are the key marriage requirements:

• Age: Both parties must be at least 18 years old. If one spouse is 16 or 17 years old, written and notarized parental consent is needed, and their future spouse must be at least 18.
• Marital Status: Both parties must be single, widowed, or divorced. Relevant documents, such as a civil status certificate, death certificate, or divorce certificate, are required as proof.
• No Blood Relation: Marriage is prohibited between certain blood relatives, including parents, children, siblings, grandparents, grandchildren, and specific types of in-laws.
• Consent and Understanding: Both parties must be marrying of their own free will and must understand the nature and implications of marriage.
• Witnesses: At least two witnesses aged 18 or above are required for the wedding.
• Documentation: Various documents are required, including passports, birth certificates, driver's licenses or residence documents, and proof of previous marriages or civil partnerships. All non-German documents must be translated by a certified translator and may require an Apostille.
• Registration and Interview: Couples must register for a civil marriage at the local Vital Statistics Office (Standesamt) or the registrar's office. An oral interview is conducted to determine the couple's marriageability, and a certification of marriageability is prepared.
• Waiting Period: There is no minimum waiting period between registration and the marriage ceremony. However, larger cities may have an average waiting time of two to six weeks.
• Ceremony: Only civil marriages are legally recognized in Austria. The ceremony is conducted in German, and an interpreter may be required for couples who don't speak the language.
• Same-Sex Marriage: Same-sex marriage is legal in Austria as of January 1, 2019. However, it may not be automatically recognized in the couple's country of origin.

In summary, foreigners can marry in Austria by obtaining the appropriate visa and fulfilling the marriage requirements. The process involves gathering the necessary documents, registering with the local authorities, undergoing an interview, and participating in a civil marriage ceremony. It is important to start the process early and carefully review all the requirements to ensure a smooth and memorable wedding experience in Austria.

Couples must register with a registry office to certify marriageability

To get married in Austria, couples must register with a registry office to certify their marriageability. This process involves submitting the necessary documents and undergoing an interview to ensure they meet the legal requirements for marriage. Here are the key points to remember regarding the registration process:

Documents Required:

When registering for marriage in Austria, couples will need to provide various documents to the registry office. These documents include:

• Passports: As the marriage is taking place in a foreign country, passports are essential.
• Birth Certificates (original or certified copies) are usually required. In some cases, a translation and an Apostille may be needed. However, if the birth certificate is in English, legal officiants often accept it without translation.
• Driver's License or Similar Residence Document: This can include a driver's license or a recent bill with the applicant's name and address.
• Residence Registration Form ("Meldezettel"): This is issued by the Austrian authorities if the applicants are not staying in a hotel or hostel. If staying with friends or family, their signature is required on the form before filing it with the local registration office ("Meldeamt") or local community ("Gemeinde").
• Previous Marriage Documentation: If either party has been married before, they must provide proof of dissolution, such as final divorce or annulment decrees, along with the previous marriage certificate(s).
• Certificate of No Impediment to Marriage (Ehefähigkeitszeugnis): This document states that there are no legal impediments to the marriage. It can be obtained from the local authorities or embassy.
• Translations: Documents that are not in German must be accompanied by certified translations from an official translator. This requirement may sometimes be waived for English documents.

The Registration Process:

Once the necessary documents are gathered, the couple can proceed with the registration process:

• Application Submission: Both partners should apply in person at the appropriate Vital Statistics Office (Standesamt) with the required documents. It is possible to authorise another person to file the documents on their behalf by providing an "Ermächtigung" form.
• Approval Process: The Standesamt will forward the documents to the Superior Court (Oberlandesgericht) for approval. After court fees are paid, the documents are returned to the Standesamt.
• Scheduling the Wedding: The Standesamt then schedules the wedding date. There may be difficulty obtaining appointments during major holidays.
• Fees: The overall fees for the various procedures can reach up to approximately 300 euros.
• Interpreter: If one or both partners do not speak German, they must engage an official Austrian interpreter at their own expense.
• Apostille: An Apostille is required on the Austrian marriage certificate for it to be recognised by authorities in the US or other non-European countries. This can be obtained from the Standesamt where the marriage takes place.

Timing:

The registration process and administrative procedures typically take around two to four weeks to complete. It is recommended to start gathering the necessary documents from the couple's home countries at least six months before the desired wedding date. The marriageability certification is only valid for a maximum of six months, so early preparation is essential.

In summary, couples planning to get married in Austria must register with a registry office and provide the necessary documents to certify their marriageability. This process ensures that the couple meets the legal requirements for marriage and allows them to proceed with their wedding plans.

The legal age to marry in Austria is 18, or 16 with parental consent

In Austria, only civil marriages are legally recognised. These are performed by officials of the Vital Statistics Office (Standesamt) in the appropriate jurisdiction. The ceremony takes place at the Standesamt. If either party to the marriage is an Austrian citizen or resides in Austria (regardless of citizenship), the application for marriage must be filed at the Standesamt in the locality of that residence. If both parties to the marriage are neither Austrian nor residents, the application must be filed at the Standesamt for the First District of Vienna.

Both marriage partners should apply in person at the appropriate Vital Statistics Office (Standesamt), bringing the required documents with them. These include:

• Passports
• Birth certificates (original or certified copy)
• Driver's license or similar document that shows address of residence
• A residence registration form ("Meldezettel") issued by the Austrian authorities after arrival, unless the applicants are staying in a hotel, youth hostel, etc.
• If you’ve been married previously, documentary proof of dissolution of your previous marriage(s), for example, a final divorce or annulment decree. The marriage certificate(s) of such previous marriage(s) is/are also usually required.
• A certificate of no impediment to marriage (Ehefähigkeitszeugnis)

Documents (other than passports and driver's licenses) not in German must be accompanied by certified translations done by an official translator. An Apostille may also be required for recognition of the documents.

Only official registrars can officiate civil ceremonies

Civil marriages in Austria are the only weddings that are legally recognised in the country. They are performed by officials of the Vital Statistics Office, known as the Standesamt. The process of a civil wedding starts with an application and an interview at the Standesamt. You must make your application no more than six months before your proposed wedding date.

The civil marriage ceremony is a simple process. The couple must be present at the same time and personally state their wish to get married in front of a registrar. The registrar will ask each person, one after the other, in the presence of either two, one, or no witnesses, if they want to get married. After the affirmation, the registrar will pronounce the couple legally married.

The ceremony is conducted in German, so if you cannot speak the language, you must arrange for a translator to accompany you. An official Austrian interpreter must be hired at the couple's own expense.

The Standesamt will forward the documents for approval of the marriage to the appropriate Superior Court (Oberlandesgericht). After the court fees have been paid, the documents will be returned to the Standesamt, which then schedules the date for the wedding.

The civil marriage ceremony is a short affair, lasting approximately 15 minutes. The marriage is then officially recorded, and the couple is entitled to receive a marriage certificate (Heiratsurkunde) as proof of their union. If it is not automatically provided, you can request your marriage certificate directly from the registrar conducting your wedding immediately after the ceremony.

If you are not an Austrian citizen or resident, your marriage application must be filed at the Standesamt for the First District of Vienna.

Frequently asked questions