Are you planning to get married in France when one or both partners are foreign nationals?
Preparing an international marriage file can be more complicated than expected. The documents required depend on several factors, including each partner’s nationality, country of birth, country of residence, previous marital status and the requirements of the French town hall handling the application.
Avocat NBA assists international couples with preparing, verifying and completing their marriage file in France.
Legal assistance is available in English, French and Russian.
Can foreign nationals get married in France?
Foreign nationals may get married in France if the legal conditions are satisfied.
The marriage must normally be celebrated in a municipality with which at least one of the future spouses — or one of their parents — has the required connection through domicile or residence.
Before accepting the file, the French town hall will verify:
- the identity of both future spouses;
- their legal capacity to marry;
- their marital status;
- the absence of any legal impediment to the marriage;
- the authenticity and validity of foreign civil-status documents;
- the required connection with the municipality;
- and, where necessary, the genuine nature of the intention to marry.
The exact requirements may vary depending on the couple’s personal circumstances and the country in which the foreign documents were issued.
Which documents are required?
A marriage file commonly includes:
- passports or identity documents;
- proof of address or residence;
- birth certificates;
- information concerning the witnesses;
- a certificate of single status or equivalent evidence;
- a certificate of customary law;
- divorce judgments or former marriage certificates;
- death certificates for widowed applicants;
- certified translations;
- apostilles or legalisation, where required.
This list is not exhaustive.
A document routinely issued in France may not exist in the same form in another country. Conversely, a foreign document may not correspond exactly to the document requested by the French town hall.
The appropriate solution must therefore be determined by examining the law and civil-status system of the country concerned.
Foreign birth certificates
A foreign birth certificate must contain sufficient information to establish the person’s identity and parentage.
Depending on the country, the town hall may require:
- a recently issued birth certificate;
- a full copy rather than a short extract;
- an apostille;
- legalisation;
- a certified translation into French;
- evidence that the document is authentic;
- or confirmation that birth certificates issued in that country are not updated in the same way as French civil-status records.
The applicable period of validity is assessed at the time the marriage file is submitted, not on the planned date of the ceremony.
It is advisable to verify the requirements before ordering, translating or legalising documents. Obtaining the wrong version of a certificate can result in additional costs and significant delays.
Certificate of customary law
A certificate of customary law, known in French as a certificat de coutume, explains the foreign law applicable to the future spouse.
It may address matters such as:
- the legal age for marriage;
- matrimonial capacity;
- prohibited degrees of relationship;
- the consequences of a previous marriage or divorce;
- the documents used to establish marital status;
- and specific features of the foreign civil-status system.
Depending on the nationality and the legal question involved, the certificate may be issued by a consulate, a foreign authority, a lawyer or another competent legal professional.
The appropriate procedure must be determined individually. A standard certificate copied from another case may be unsuitable if the person’s nationality, previous marital status or documents are different.
Certificate of single status
Some French town halls request a certificate confirming that the foreign partner is single and legally free to marry.
However, not every country issues a document corresponding exactly to the French concept of a certificat de célibat. In such cases, it may be necessary to provide another official document, a sworn declaration or a legal explanation concerning the foreign civil-status system.
A sworn declaration cannot automatically replace an official certificate. Its acceptability depends on the applicable law, the available documents and the requirements of the town hall.
Apostille, legalisation and certified translations
Foreign documents may need to be authenticated before they can be used in France.
Depending on the issuing country and the type of document, this may involve:
- an apostille;
- consular or diplomatic legalisation;
- an exemption under an international agreement;
- or no authentication formality.
Documents written in a foreign language will generally require a French translation prepared by a duly authorised translator.
The translation should normally be arranged only after confirming that the original document is correct and that any required apostille or legalisation has been completed.
Avocat NBA can coordinate with certified translators and other professionals where necessary.
Difficulties with the French town hall
International marriage files may be delayed or blocked for various reasons:
- a document is considered too old;
- the town hall requests a document that does not exist in the foreign country;
- a certificate of customary law is refused or considered incomplete;
- names are spelled differently across several documents;
- a married name and a birth name are confused;
- different transliterations are used;
- a foreign divorce is not sufficiently established;
- the authenticity of a document is questioned;
- the couple is asked to provide additional evidence;
- or an interview of the future spouses is requested.
In such situations, the first step is to determine whether the request is legally justified and what alternative evidence may be submitted.
The firm may communicate with the town hall, explain the relevant foreign law and prepare an appropriate legal response. Contentious proceedings or intervention before the Public Prosecutor are subject to a separate assessment and fee proposal.
Full legal assistance with your marriage file
Avocat NBA offers personalised assistance for international couples preparing to marry in France.
The service may include:
- an initial video consultation;
- analysis of both partners’ personal circumstances;
- a personalised list of the required foreign documents;
- guidance concerning apostilles, legalisation and certified translations;
- assistance with obtaining or preparing a certificate of customary law;
- review of the documents before submission;
- preparation of letters, forms or powers of attorney where required;
- coordination with certified translators or foreign legal professionals;
- communication with the French town hall;
- and assistance with additional requests made during the examination of the file.
Fee
Full legal assistance: €1,200 including VAT
The package includes up to five hours of legal work. Any additional work is billed at €240 including VAT per hour, subject to prior information and agreement.
External costs are not included, including translation fees, apostille or legalisation fees, consular charges and the fees of foreign lawyers or other professionals.
Visa applications, residence permits, complex civil-status rectifications, proceedings before the Public Prosecutor and litigation are not included. A separate proposal may be provided where necessary.
Legal consultation
If you do not require full assistance, you may book a one-hour legal consultation to discuss a specific question or have your situation assessed before starting the process.
Consultation fee: €240 including VAT
Following the consultation, you will receive clear guidance on the next steps and, where appropriate, a proposal for further assistance.
Information to provide for an initial assessment
When contacting the firm, please indicate:
- the nationality of each future spouse;
- each person’s country of birth and current country of residence;
- the French town hall where you intend to submit the file;
- the intended date of the marriage;
- whether either partner has previously been married;
- whether the town hall has already provided a list of documents;
- and any particular difficulty you have encountered.
You may also send the town hall’s written request and copies of the documents already obtained.
Frequently asked questions
Can two foreign nationals get married in France?
Yes, provided that the required connection with the municipality and the other legal conditions are satisfied. Simply choosing France as a wedding destination is not always sufficient for a civil marriage before a French town hall.
Is a French residence permit required to get married?
A residence permit is not, by itself, a general condition of matrimonial capacity. However, the couple’s residence, identity and personal circumstances may be examined. Marriage does not automatically grant a visa or a right to remain in France.
How long does the process take?
There is no single timeframe. It depends on the town hall, the countries involved, the documents required, translation and authentication formalities, and whether additional checks are necessary. International couples should begin preparing their file several months in advance.
Can the lawyer guarantee that the town hall will accept the file?
No professional can guarantee the town hall’s decision or the date of the ceremony. The lawyer’s role is to identify the applicable requirements, prepare a coherent file, anticipate difficulties and respond to legally questionable or unsuitable requests.
Does marriage automatically provide a French visa or residence permit?
No. Immigration procedures remain separate from the marriage process. The appropriate visa or residence permit depends on the spouses’ nationalities, place of residence and personal circumstances.
Contact Avocat NBA
Avocat NBA assists French and international couples with marriage files involving foreign documents and several legal systems.
Maître Nadezda BONNIOT ALUPOVA
Lawyer registered with the Draguignan Bar
57 avenue de Valescure
83700 Saint-Raphaël, France
Telephone: +33 4 22 47 00 26
Email: nadezda@avocat-nba.com
Consultations are available in English, French and Russian.