I AM MARRYING IN SPAIN AS A FOREIGNER. WHAT DOCUMENTS WILL I NEED TO TRANSLATE?

In today’s post we talk about the documents that will need to be translated if you are marrying in Spain as a foreigner. Read our article: I am marrying in Spain as a foreigner. What documents will I need to translate? to find the answers for all your questions.

You may have found the love of your life in Spain and you wish to formalise your union here. It could seem a long process, but you will only need to follow some steps.

First of all, in order to celebrate a marriage between a foreigner and a Spanish citizen, it is compulsory to start by filing an application with the civil registry. This application will certify that both parties are acting voluntarily and that there is no apparent convenience in the intended marriage. The judge will review the submitted dossier and proceed to authorise it. Thus, since this marriage will be celebrated in Spain, it will be regulated by the Spanish civil law.

Both civil and religious marriages are legal in Spain. In the case of civil marriages, the union shall be solemnized by the Judge in charge of the Civil Registry, by the town Mayor, by the officer duly authorised, or by the diplomatic officer of the Civil Registry abroad. With regard to religious marriages, the certificate of marriage issued by the Church after the ceremony must be registered with the Spanish civil registry in order to get an official marriage certificate.

DOCUMENTATION REQUIRED

The procedures and documents to be provided, although generally common in all cases, may vary depending on the civil registry of your city. Normally, both parties will need to present the following documents:

· Passport

· Original birth certificate

· Application to marry form

· Proof that the two parties are single (This document can be obtained from the civil registry at your home country)

· If previously married, the original final divorce decree, or death certificate.

· Certificate of residence: If you are non-resident, you may sign an affidavit before your consular officer.

· Certificate of Consular Inscription. It can be obtained from your embassy or consulate.

It is important to bear in mind that any document coming from abroad must be duly authenticated or bear the Hague Apostille. In cases where the country of origin is not a signatory member of the convention, the authentication of the document is achieved with a stamp from the institution issuing the document or from the foreign ministry of the foreigner’s country. If such documents are in a language other than Spanish, they shall be translated by a sworn translator.

You can check the following link for more information on the marriage of foreigners in Spain.

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