MARRIAGE REGULATIONS IN AUSTRIA
American citizens may enter into marriage in Austria. The procedure is, however, somewhat complex. For this reason, Americans contemplating marriage in Austria should be completely familiar with the following provisions:LEGAL AGE FOR MARRIAGE: Legal age for either sex is 18 for both males and females, but a marriage between an 18 year-old and a 16 year-old may be authorized by the court.
PLEASE NOTE: Only the Austrian Registrar's Office (Standesamt) can give you binding information regarding marriage requirements. REQUIRED DOCUMENTS
- Passport
- Birth Certificate (original or certified copy, citing names of parents)
- Certificate of residence (driver's license or latest tax slip)
- Documentary proof of dissolution of previous marriages, if any, e.g. final divorce or annulment decrees, marriage certificate from former marriages or death certificate. (i.e. Mexican divorces are normally not recognized in Austria). In the case of a divorce, in which the woman's or the man's nationality are different or which took place outside of their home country, the permission of the Austrian Ministry of Justice is required, which will delay the procedure.
- A marriage affidavit executed before a consular officer of the U.S. Embassy in 1010 Vienna, Parkring 12a, in which the American applicant states that he or she is free to marry the other party according to the laws of his or her home state in the U.S. We are available Mo - Fr 08:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m., please bring your U.S. passport and US$ 30 or Euro equivalent.
- Notarized parental consent, if required (see above)
- Austria, the United States and many other countries are members of "The Hague Convention Abolishing the Requirement of Legalization for Foreign Public Documents". This means that Austrian official will require that U.S. documents be certified and a so-called apostille be affixed. The apostille can only be obtained from the Secretary or Deputy Secretary of State in the U.S. state where the original document was issued.
Legal Requirements for Getting Married in Austria
Legality of Marriage
You can legally get married in Austria but your marriage will only be valid if it is performed at a Standesamt, which is the registry of births, deaths and marriages and it must be preformed by an official of the registry in the presence of two witnesses.
Residency Requirements
There are no minimum residency requirements to get married in Austria. However, once you have filed for your marriage application there is usually a waiting period of between two and six weeks until you will be given a confirmed date of marriage. You can file your marriage application up to a maximum of six months prior to your wedding date.
Marriage Application
If either of you is an Austrian citizen or resides in Austria (regardless of citizenship), 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.
Standesamt Wien-Innere Stadt
Schlesingerplatz 4
A-1080 Vienna
Tel: +43-1-40134 08591
Fax: +43-1-40134 99 08580
Email: wec@m61.magwien.gv.at
When filing for your marriage licence you must be both present in person.
If neither of you reside in Austria, in some circumstances the Registrar will waiver this requirement, however it would be advisable that this has been agreed to before you continue on with your plans for arranging your wedding in Austria.
If permission has been granted for you not to be in attendance, I would advise employing the services of a wedding planner or a legal professional to file your marriage application on your behalf.
When filing for your marriage application the registrar will require the following:
- legal proof of marriageability and
- any possible impediments to marriage
Please note: When filing the application, you must inform the registrar of the surnames you will using after marriage.
Required Documentation
All documentation must be original or certified copies, and your Certificate of No Impediment must not be older than 6 months.
- Certificate of No Impediment together with an Apostille and a translation
- Original long Birth Certificate which include the names of both your parents
- Passport
- Photocopies of the picture page of the passports for your two witnesses, listing their name, address and occupation.
- If you are divorced – divorce certificates
- Certificate of Marriage
You will be issued with an international wedding certificate that will be valid in your home country however, if you wish more than one copy you will need to request this in advance.
Religious Ceremonies
In Austria only a civil ceremony is legally binding. If you wish to have a religious ceremony you must first have a civil ceremony.
The civil ceremony can take place in Austria or in your country of residence.
related to preparation of Documents Required for a Marriages Abroad for submission in foreign countries.
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Prepare or Retrieval the necessary Documentsfor Marriages Abroad |
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Obtain an Apostille (for Hague Convention countries) or Embassy Legalization (for non-Hague countries) |
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Translate the Documents into the target language |
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Have the Marriages Abroad authenticated by the Consulate or Embassy of the target country |
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