Getting Married in Mexico

Quick reference

Step-by-step requirements

Follow these steps in order. Most are completed weeks before travel; the in-country portion typically takes 1-3 days depending on the destination.

1. 1

   Each partner must present a valid passport plus a certified birth certificate, apostilled in the country of issue and translated into Spanish by a Mexican-certified translator.

2. 2

   If either partner was previously married, provide an apostilled divorce decree (Decree Absolute) or a death certificate of the former spouse, also translated.

3. 3

   Both partners arrive in Mexico at least 2-3 business days before the ceremony to complete the prenuptial medical exam (blood type only) and submit paperwork to the local Civil Registry (Registro Civil).

4. 4

   Two witnesses over 18 with valid government ID must be physically present at the civil ceremony (your wedding coordinator typically provides locals if needed).

5. 5

   File the prenuptial application (solicitud de matrimonio) with the Registro Civil in the municipality where the ceremony will take place.

6. 6

   Attend the civil ceremony in person — Mexican civil marriage cannot be performed by proxy.

Documents you'll need

• →Valid passport (machine-readable, 6+ months remaining validity)
• →Apostilled and translated birth certificate (original plus copies)
• →Apostilled divorce decree if previously married (within 1 year of decree)
• →Death certificate of former spouse if widowed (apostilled + translated)
• →Tourist permit (FMM) issued on entry

Timeline

Plan to arrive at least 3 business days before the ceremony date. Submit paperwork and complete the medical exam on day 1; the Civil Registry takes 1-2 days to issue the license. Most resort wedding coordinators handle the registry interaction on your behalf.

Cost breakdown

Total legal fees typically run $200-$400 in USD equivalents, covering apostille (~$15-$50 per document in the home country), Spanish translation (~$30-$80 per document), the registry filing fee, the prenuptial medical exam, and the officiant fee. All-inclusive resort wedding packages frequently bundle these costs.

Already married? Symbolic ceremony option

Couples who want to skip the apostille and in-country residency requirements legalize at home in advance, then host a symbolic ceremony in Mexico with the same vows, party, and photography but no legal weight. This is the path most US and Canadian couples take.

Same-sex marriage recognition

Same-sex marriage has been legal across Mexico since 2022. All 31 states and Mexico City recognize same-sex civil marriage with the same requirements as opposite-sex marriages.