Are Marriages Legal In Other Countries?

Marriages performed overseas are valid in the country where they occur as long as they follow local law. Whether another country recognizes your foreign marriage depends on its own law. Legal marriage in the United States requires couples to get a marriage license and a marriage certificate, which requires proof of identification through a passport, birth certificate, and proof of residency. Same-sex unions are now legal in 35 countries and parts of Mexico after Greece became the first Orthodox Christian country to establish marriage equality for all.

As of 29 April 2024, Bolivia, Croatia, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Hungary, and 10 countries have legalized same-sex marriage nationally through court decisions. In addition, same-sex marriage is legal in Australia and New Zealand, and in Taiwan in 2019.

Marriage is a legally and socially sanctioned union, usually between a man and a woman. The minimum legal age of marriage is 18 for men and 16 for women, provided one of the partners is a resident of the country. Permission of at least one parent is required if one partner is a resident.

In the EU, marriage is a legal institution recognized in all 27 EU countries, but national rules on marriage differ from one EU country to another. In some cases, children can marry with parental permission in Iraq, Jamaica, and Uruguay.

As globalization progresses, the number of international marriages grows, but it is important to remember that marriage is a legally binding contract with many rights and obligations. Getting married overseas can be time-consuming and expensive, but as long as the marriage doesn’t violate any other country’s laws, it is considered valid.


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Can I get married in the US if I am already married?

In the United States, you can only be married to one person. If you’ve been married before, you must be divorced before you can remarry. A legal separation doesn’t allow you to marry while still married. You can’t remarry until your divorce is final. What are the consequences? If you remarry while still married, it’s bigamy and illegal. Marriage is a legal contract. By marrying again, you are breaking your contract. If you’re convicted of bigamy, you could receive a fine of up to $100,000 or up to 40 years in prison. If you commit bigamy, you can be prosecuted in your state based on where you did it, where you live, and where you lived with your new spouse. However, if you thought your first marriage was over when you got married again, the punishment might not be as bad as it would be if you knew you were committing bigamy. Legal Zoom says there are a few ways to defend against bigamy. If the first spouse is missing and it seems they are dead, or if the person representing your spouse didn’t file the paperwork, this could help you. A bigamous marriage is not legal.

Are marriages legal in other countries for foreigners
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What happens if you marry someone who is already married?

What are the consequences? If you remarry while still married, it’s illegal. Marriage is a legal contract. By marrying again, you are breaking your contract. If you are convicted of bigamy, you could receive a fine of up to $100,000 or up to 40 years in prison. If you commit bigamy, you can be prosecuted in your state based on where you did it, where you live, and where you lived with your new spouse. However, if you thought your first marriage was over when you got married again, the punishment might not be as bad as it would be if you knew you were committing bigamy. Legal Zoom says there are a few ways to defend against bigamy. If the first spouse is missing and it seems they are dead, or if the person representing your spouse didn’t file the paperwork, this could help you. A bigamous marriage is illegal.

The legal system moves slowly. Getting a marriage license shows you and your partner are single and can get married. You can’t plan a wedding until your divorce is final.

My husband is married in another country
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Is a marriage in Vietnam recognised in the US?

Marriages performed abroad are also valid in the United States. If you have questions about a marriage abroad, contact your state attorney general. You don’t have to tell us about your marriage. Vietnam doesn’t regulate marriages between two non-Vietnamese citizens unless at least one of them has a permit. Check with the District Justice Office for guidance.

Vietnamese marriage requirements. File your marriage application in person at your local District People’s Committee office. If one person is Vietnamese, the Vietnamese authorities may require that the application be filed in the district where the Vietnamese citizen lives. The rules for getting a marriage certificate can change from place to place.

Can I get married in the US if I’m married in the Philippines?

First, divorce is recognized in the U.S. for U.S. immigration purposes. You do not need to annul your marriage in the Philippines in order to get married in the U.S. Instead, you can divorce your spouse in the U.S., which would constitute a valid termination of your first marriage, enabling you to enter into a second marriage. (Uncontested divorces, where the other party will sign the papers, and not contest the divorce, typically takes about 6 months. Thats a lot shorter than the time for an annulment. Further, in most states, you dont need a reason for divorcing; just “irreconcilable differences,” or “we just dont love each other anymore”. In the Philippines, there usually has to be a reason, like abandonment, psychological incapacity etc.) *Second, court proceedings usually require the plaintiff or petitioner to personally appear in court. If you are in the U.S. and are out of status, how would you be able to personally appear in a Philippine court? If you depart the U.S., you could be subject to the 10-year bar, preventing you from returning for 10 years, unless you applied for and were granted a waiver. *Third, U.S. immigration law is clear that if a divorce is valid and recognized where it was obtained, it will be recognized for immigration purposes. Therefore, if you obtain a valid U.S. divorce, it will be recognized by USCIS, and with that divorce, you could marry your boyfriend.

Can you marry someone in another country if you're already married
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Can I get married in the US and go back to my country?

The regulations don’t say you can’t get married on a tourist or visa waiver visa. You can get married and go home before your visa expires, but you must prove you’ll return. Bring things like lease agreements, letters from employers, a return ticket, and evidence that your US citizen spouse will return with you. The more proof you have that you’ll return home after the wedding, the more likely you are to get through at the border.

8. No excuses for visa fraud. Don’t think you can fool U.S. immigration officers!

Is marriage in another country legal in the US?

The U.S. doesn’t have a national marriage registry. U.S. states recognize marriages from other states and countries. If you got married legally in the country or state where you did, your marriage is recognized in the United States. The only exception is for naturalization. Learn more about marriage for immigration here. If you are getting married abroad, the U.S. State Department website has helpful information.

Is a marriage in Brazil valid in the US?

Marriages performed abroad are also valid in the United States. Each U.S. state has its own marriage rules. Check with the state attorney general to see if your marriage and certificate will be valid there. For more information, visit br.usembassy.gov/u-s-citizen-services/child-family-matters/.

Can you marry someone in another country if you’re already married?

If you are married to someone in the U.S., what happens overseas depends on the country. If polygamy is recognized in another country, you can get married again. However, if you return to the U.S., your foreign marriage won’t be recognized. If you are already married in the U.S., you have to get divorced or widowed before you can remarry. Laws vary by state and country. Contact a local family law attorney before planning a wedding in a foreign country.

How to find out if someone is married in another country
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Which country has the most marriages?

The countries with the highest annual marriage rates are West Bank & Gaza, Fiji, Egypt, the Bahamas, and Uzbekistan. Each has over nine marriages per 1,000 people. West Bank & Gaza has the highest marriage rate in 2018, with ten marriages per thousand people.

Marriage and divorce rates. Marriage rates worldwide in 2018, by country. Lowest marriage rates worldwide in 2018, by country. Lowest divorce rates worldwide in 2020, by country. Divorce rates in Europe in 2020, by country (per 100 marriages). Number of countries that recognize same-sex couples in 2020, by continent. Number of countries that permit same-sex marriage in 2022, by continent. Number of U.S. Same-sex households in 2022, by marital status; Number of civil partnerships in the UK 2005-2021; Number of same-sex marriages in Australia 2020, by state and celebrant affiliation; Number of same-sex marriages in France 2013-2023; Number of straight and same-sex marriages in the Netherlands 2001-2022; Number of same-sex marriages in Norway 2010-2022, by gender; Same-sex marriage and civil partnerships. Number of countries that recognize same-sex couples by continent Number of countries that permit same-sex marriage by continent Same-sex households in 2022, by marital status; Number of civil partnerships in the UK 2005-2021; Number of same-sex marriages in Australia 2020, by state and celebrant affiliation; Number of same-sex marriages in France 2013-2023; Number of straight and same-sex marriages in the Netherlands 2001-2022; Number of same-sex marriages in Norway 2010-2022, by gender.

Is a marriage in Colombia legal in the US?

Marriages performed abroad are also valid in the United States. Each U.S. state has its own marriage rules. Check with the state attorney general to see if your marriage and certificate will be valid there.

Foreign marriage certificate
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Is my US marriage valid in Mexico?

To get married in Mexico with a Mexican citizen, U.S. citizens and other foreigners must show certain documents to the Mexican government. All U.S. documents except for passports should have an apostille from the state where they were issued and be translated by a Mexican official translator. In Mexico, only civil marriage is legal. You can also have a religious ceremony, but this is not legally binding. A civil wedding in Mexico is valid in the U.S., but a religious ceremony without the civil ceremony is not. U.S. law only recognizes marriages that take place in the country where they are valid. This is important for couples applying for an immigrant visa for a spouse who is not a U.S. citizen. You can’t get an immigrant visa based on your marriage without a civil ceremony. Civil marriages are performed by the Civil Registry. The three Civil Registry offices in Matamoros are:

Office 1 of the Civil Registry, Morelos 8 and 2nd floor. Piso Zona Centro, Matamoros, Tamps. Tel. 8 13 52 74 8 12 14 54 8 12 11 60.

Where to get legal capacity to contract marriage
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Can I divorce in the US if I married in Mexico?

State courts can’t hear cases involving people who don’t live in that state. State courts in the United States can divorce couples who were married abroad, but only if one spouse is a resident of the state where the divorce is filed. If neither spouse is a U.S. citizen or has a green card and can stay in the United States forever, they may have trouble showing they live in the state. Even if one spouse is from the state, the court will only proceed if the other spouse can also prove they have lived there for a certain amount of time. These rules vary by state, but the most common is six months. Some states, like New York, require one year of residency, while others, like Washington State, have no residency requirement. If the petitioning spouse is from the state and meets the residency requirement, the court looks at the responding spouse. Does that spouse have to have some connection to the forum state to be able to be sued there? The answer is both yes and no.

No: If the petitioner only wants a divorce, the court will have jurisdiction even if the responding spouse has no contacts with the forum state. If one partner of an international couple moves to the United States and becomes a resident here, she can get a divorce in the U.S. state where she lives even if her spouse has never been here. She must also tell her spouse living abroad.


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Are Marriages Legal In Other Countries
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Christina Kohler

As an enthusiastic wedding planner, my goal is to furnish couples with indelible recollections of their momentous occasion. After more than ten years of experience in the field, I ensure that each wedding I coordinate is unique and characterized by my meticulous attention to detail, creativity, and a personal touch. I delight in materializing aspirations, guaranteeing that every occasion is as singular and enchanted as the love narrative it commemorates. Together, we can transform your wedding day into an unforgettable occasion that you will always remember fondly.

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13 comments

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  • In my country (thailand) and my bfs country, Laos, gay marriage will probably never be legal but having said that it isn’t illegal. But we think differently and our marriages are very different to western marriages. The government’s kinda just let us choose ourselves who we want to live with and how. They don’t see it their place to interfere in personal relationships too much unless maybe if you have many legal wives/husbands which would be illegal. Generally you won’t see many people who have any issue with gays or lesbians. Even the much older generation doesn’t seem to care at all just as long as you’re a good person then that Is enough

  • As a gay man in Australia, I’m now forced into marriage. Australia has common law marriage, where you just have to Iive together & your considered married. What about my right of choice not to be married & not to have the government sleeping in your bed dictating the terms & conditions of your relationships. I voted against it, it’s not good for society.

  • Looks like Russia will never reach this progress. Unfortunately. It’s getting worse and worse in terms of the human rights issues in my country. People in the West discuss such issues as gender etc… (which is good) – and in my country the parliament is about to expand the anti-‘gay propaganda’ law. cringe. made a huge vid on the topic btw.

  • This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.\r \r 2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,\r \r 3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,\r \r 4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;\r \r 5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.

  • For this reason God gave them up to dishonorable passions. For their women exchanged natural relations for those that are contrary to nature; and the men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another, men committing shameless acts with men and receiving in themselves the due penalty for their error. Romans 1:26-27 ESV

  • No Government law can change God’s law. So if you are a Christian judge, or anyone who works for any marriage facility or office, you cannot call yourself a Christian if you are participating in an act against God. And since no president nor law is above God’s law. They will all be judged by God. All believers and unbelievers will be in front of God on judgement day. Including every person that has died since the beginning of time. There is no same sex marriage in God’s word, which means same sex marriage doesn’t exist, even if the court or church prosses it. God will not bless it nor will be present. For God calls it an abomination.

  • Deuteronomy 22:28-29 “If a man meets a virgin who is not betrothed, and seizes her and lies with her, and they are found, then the man who lay with her shall give to the father of the young woman fifty shekels of silver, and she shall be his wife, because he has violated her. He may not divorce her all his days.” Exodus 22:16-17 “If a man seduces a virgin who is not betrothed and lies with her, he shall give the bride price for her and make her his wife. If her father utterly refuses to give her to him, he shall pay money equal to the bride price for virgins.” These did not originate from Napoleonic code. They originated as bible verses, look them up for yourself in your own personal bible, I bet they are still there…….. Welcome to Atheism

  • To those talking about colonial legacy, most colonialists made committees of native priests and religious leaders who informed them about their religious laws which were made laws of the land ! So while yes colonizers are responsible for these laws, the native religious leaders are just as responsible!

  • This is not just about islam vs christianism, not even about eastern vs western culture, this law has been present in virtually all abrahamic religions, the islam is just the newest and more militar branch. This debate is about freedom of choice, something that unfortunally the middle eastern governments dont have.

  • 1:05 That is NOT the whole truth of what that piece of text said!! @AlexLJanin: It said that he can be prosecuted by those have the right to have said marriage be declared void. Who might well be the girl’s family! You should start actually looking into the information this website quotes, instead of just repeating it 😐 3:51 Also, this article misinforms people. Article 411 that is shown here describes what punishment an abductor of a women, or girl, WITH the intent of marrying her should get. Postulating incomplete or simplified truths = zero credibility! Just actually TOOK A CLOSER LOOK people…

  • TO WHOEVER IS SAYING OHHHH LOOK AT WHAT THE MUSLIMS DO. First of all, watch the article because not only muslim countries have such laws. Second, as muslims we do not practice this stupid law. Its not in our religion. The reason some of these Muslim countries have these laws is because of colonialism from Christian countries. (Not hating on the Christian values, just pointing out facts). Muslim countries that strictly practice Muslim beliefs in their laws such as Iran and Saudi Arabia do not have these laws that help out rapists. ITS NOT IN OUR RELIGION the Muslim countries mentioned just adapted the laws

  • I Believe that men and women are very diferent to the point they can be viewed as separated races. They think diferently,they have a diferent biology,they do everything diferently,my point? That Women are good on some fields and men in some fields which is why Men and Women CANT be equal because of the major diferences,its like comparing a fish and a sheep which is not possible. Im not trying to offend anyone just pointing out that you can;t have equality between 2 diferent things so people should stick to the way things have been for thousands of years because it works, has workt and will work unlike this ”femminism” which is creating more harm than good fighting men to have more rights than them instead of fighting real oppresion that is sadly happening in mostly muslim countries

  • This website has just become a feminist propaganda website and is not really focusing on issues that I actually care about anymore. I mean I haven’t seen any of the male hosts for a while. I’m not saying that they can’t just have female hosts, it’s just I’m concerned that this website is taking this feminism thing too far. Edit: I did not realize that they actually had one male host.