Getting married in New York from abroad

In New York City, licenses are issued by the Office of the City Clerk. Couples apply online first, then complete the license at an appointment, in person at a City Clerk office or by video through the City Clerk’s Project Cupid service. For a video appointment, both partners must be together and physically in New York State. Both partners need valid, unexpired photo identification; for most international couples this is a passport. Walk-in visits are not accepted, so book the appointment before you travel.

There is no residency or citizenship requirement. Any couple who can legally marry in New York can apply.

The license can be used from 24 hours after it is issued and is valid for 60 days. For most international couples that means arriving in New York at least a few working days before the wedding, with the license appointment booked in advance. Appointments can book up in the busiest wedding seasons, so reserve one as soon as your dates are set.

Your ceremony must be performed by someone authorized to marry couples in New York: a member of the clergy, a judge or another authorized official. Officiants who perform ceremonies in New York City must be registered with the City Clerk. At least one witness, aged 18 or over, must sign the license. After the ceremony the officiant returns the signed license within five days, and the marriage is registered.

If you need your marriage recognized in another country, you will usually need more than the standard certificate. In New York City this means ordering an extended marriage certificate for foreign use from the City Clerk, having it authenticated by the County Clerk, and then obtaining an apostille from the New York Department of State. Each step takes time, so start soon after the wedding, and check with your own country’s authorities what they require before you travel.

Rules and appointment systems change, so confirm the details on the City Clerk’s site before you book anything. We check them with every couple as part of the plan.

Some couples marry legally at home and hold their ceremony in New York; others do the reverse. Both are common. We plan around whichever you choose, and we help you time the legal steps so they never crowd the wedding week.

Guests coming from abroad may need a visa or an electronic travel authorization to enter the United States, and some visas take months. Send your date early, with a note asking guests to check what they need. We plan hotel blocks, arrivals and transport, and a welcome for guests who have come a long way. See international families and wedding weekends.