Ruqayyah Snyder
Getting married in Austria is a relatively straightforward process, with no minimum residency period required. However, there are some basic criteria that must be met, including age requirements and the need to file the correct paperwork. Both marriage partners must apply in person at the Vital Statistics Office (Standesamt) or registrar's office, bringing the necessary documents. Same-sex marriage is also legal in Austria.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Age | Both men and women must be at least 18 years old. If an individual is at least 16 years old, they may marry with consent from both parents. Their future spouse must be at least 18 years old. |
| Residency | Legally, there is no required minimum residency period for people who want to get married in Austria. Non-Austrians not residing in Austria can marry in any Austrian community. |
| Citizenship | People can get married in Austria without Austrian citizenship. |
| Same-sex marriage | Same-sex couples can get married in Austria. |
| Ceremony | Civil marriage ceremonies are the only legal marriages in the country. A religious ceremony can follow a civil ceremony. |
| Application | Both marriage partners should apply in person at the Vital Statistics Office (Standesamt) or the main registrar's office in Vienna. |
What You'll Learn
Age requirements
To get married in Austria, both men and women must be at least 18 years old. If an individual is at least 16 years old, they may marry with the consent of both parents, but their future spouse must be at least 18 years old.
Austrian law requires a civil marriage ceremony for a marriage to be legally valid. Same-sex couples can also get married in Austria.
If either partner is an Austrian citizen or resides in Austria, the marriage application must be filed at the Standesamt (Vital Statistics Office) that pertains to their residence. If neither partner is Austrian or resides in Austria, the marriage application must be filed at the main registrar's office in Vienna. Both partners must be present in person when filing for a marriage licence.
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Residency requirements
Residency is not a requirement for getting married in Austria. However, there are different procedures depending on whether you are an Austrian citizen or resident.
If either partner is an Austrian citizen or resident, the marriage application must be filed at the Standesamt (Vital Statistics Office) which pertains to your residence. If neither partner is Austrian or a resident, the marriage application must be filed at the main registrar's office in Vienna.
If you are not present in Austria when registering to get married, you will need the form 'Erklärung zur Ermittlung der Ehefähigkeit' (Statement of marriageability). It is also advisable to contact the Standesamt for exact details.
The ceremony itself takes approximately 15 minutes. If one or both partners do not speak German, an official Austrian interpreter must be engaged at the couple's own expense.
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Paperwork and procedures
To get married in Austria, you must be at least 18 years old. If you are 16 or 17, you can get married with the consent of both parents, but your future spouse must be at least 18.
If either you or your partner is an Austrian citizen or resident, you must file your marriage application at the Standesamt (Vital Statistics Office) that pertains to your residence. If neither of you is Austrian or a resident, your application must be filed at the main registrar's office in Vienna. You must both be present in person when filing for your marriage licence, although in some circumstances the Registrar may waive this requirement.
If you do not speak German, you must engage the services of an official Austrian interpreter at your own expense.
Since civil weddings are the only legal marriages in the country, you must complete the civil ceremony before any religious ceremony.
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Same-sex marriage
Both marriage partners should apply in person at the local Vital Statistics Office (Standesamt) or registrar's office, bringing with them the required documents. If you are not present when registering to get married, you will also need the form 'Erklärung zur Ermittlung der Ehefähigkeit' (Statement of marriageability). The ceremony itself takes approximately 15 minutes. If neither partner speaks German, you must engage the services of an official Austrian interpreter at your own expense.
If one of you is an Austrian citizen or resides in Austria, your marriage application must be filed at the Standesamt that pertains to your residence. If neither of you are Austrian or do not reside in Austria, your marriage application must be filed at the main registrar's office in Vienna.
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Civil vs religious ceremonies
Civil marriage ceremonies are the only legal marriages in Austria. This means that if you want to have a religious ceremony, you must first complete the civil ceremony. Civil ceremonies take place at the local Vital Statistics Office (Standesamt) or registrar’s office.
If either of you is an Austrian citizen or resides in Austria, your marriage application must be filed at the Standesamt which pertains to your residence. If neither of you are Austrian or do not reside in Austria, your marriage application must be filed at the main registrar’s office in Vienna.
The ceremony itself takes 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.
If you are not Austrian or do not reside in Austria, you will have to show a certificate of residence (e.g. a U.S. driver’s license or latest tax return). Both marriage partners should apply in person at the appropriate Vital Statistics Office, bringing with them the required documents. Anyone not present when registering to get married also needs the form “Erklärung zur Ermittlung der Ehefähigkeit” (Statement of marriageability).
In Austria, same-sex couples can also get married.
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Frequently asked questions
Both men and women must be at least 18 years old to get married in Austria. However, 16-year-olds can marry with the consent of both parents, as long as their future spouse is at least 18.
No, residency is not a requirement for getting married in Austria. However, non-residents will need to show a certificate of residence (e.g. a U.S. driver's license or latest tax return).
No, Austrian citizenship is not required to get married in Austria. However, if you are not an Austrian citizen or resident, you must file your marriage application at the main registrar's office in Vienna.
You will need to apply in person at the local Vital Statistics Office (Standesamt) or registrar's office, bringing the required documents with you. If you are not present when registering to get married, you will also need the form 'Erklärung zur Ermittlung der Ehefähigkeit' (Statement of marriageability).
The administrative procedures for getting married in Austria usually last two to four weeks. The ceremony itself takes approximately 15 minutes.
