Portugal Wedding
Welcome to our guide to getting married in Portugal. Before you go into depth about the specifics for your wedding in Portugal we have a couple of articles that we suggest you read first.
In Portugal you could have a Civil Ceremony, Religious Ceremony or perhaps consider a Blessing.
Civil Ceremony
Civil Ceremonies are legally recognised in Portugal. The local Registrar performs the ceremony in the Register Office. The ceremony will be conducted in Portuguese. Therefore if neither marrying parties can speak Portuguese you should arrange for an interpreter to be present throughout the ceremony.
For a list of recognised local Portuguese interpreters contact the British Embassy, Portugal.
Religious Ceremony
Portugal is recognised as a Roman Catholic country and as such church weddings are legally recognised under Portuguese Law, however the following Anglican churches in Lisbon, Oporto Estoril and the Algarve and the Scottish church in Lisbon are NOT licensed for marriages. Therefore couples may prefer to get married in the UK first and then have a blessing on there arrival to Portugal.
The ceremony will be conducted in Portuguese. Consequently if neither marrying parties can speak Portuguese you should arrange for an interpreter to be present throughout the ceremony.
For a list of recognised local Portuguese interpreters contact the British Embassy, Portugal.
You will need to get in touch will the local priest in the region of Portugal you wish to marry in advance of your wedding to make the necessary arrangements. For more information you should consult with the priest at your local parish back in the UK on how to obtain a copy of your Baptism Certificate and to find out what other documentation may be required.
Other religious ceremonies
If you wish to have any other type of religious ceremony you will be required to have a Civil Ceremony first, otherwise the marry will not be legally binding under Portuguese law. In such cases couples may wish to have a Civil Ceremony in the UK and have a blessing in Portugal.
Residency Stay
If you are planning to have a Civil Ceremony in Portugal, by law, at least one of the marrying parties must be resident in the local area of the Registry Office in Portugal, for a minumium of 30 days, before they can give notice of their intention to marry.
Certificate of No Impediment
First both marrying parties must apply for a Certificate of No Impediment from their local Register Office in the UK. This process takes 21 days, during which time banns will be published in the register officer. Provided there are no queries arising from your application you will be given a Certificate of No Impediment. The certificate can be forwarded to the British Consulate in Portugal where it will be translated into Portuguese.
The certificate can also be obtained in Portugal at the Consulat Section of the British Embassy in Lisbon or at one of the British Consulates at Oporto, Portimão, Funchal or Ponta Delgada. The certificate will be in Portuguese and be valid for three months from the date it was issued.
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Basic Documentation
If you intend to marry in Portugal you will need the following documentation:
- A full birth certificate.
- A valid passport.
- If divorced a Decree of Absolute.
- If widowed a spouses death certificate, along with the previous marriage certificate.
- Written consent from your parents or guardians (if either of you are under 18 years of age).
- If you have changed your name by Deed Poll or you were adapted, proof of this needs to be presented
All the above documents will need to be authenticated at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in London, with the exception of those which bear the special seal of the General Register Office. They will also have to be translated by a recognised translator, into Portuguese and certified by a Portuguese Consular Officer.
Alternatively you could have your documents translated while in Portugal. If you decide to have them translated on your arrival, then visit one of the British Consulates in Portugal and enquire about recommended translators.
Marriage Certificate
Once the ceremony has been performed you will be issued with a Marriage Certificate.
Depositing you Marriage Certificate
Although your marriage in Portugal is legally binding you will not be able to register it back in the UK. However you can still contact the nearest Portuguese Consulate or Embassy to make arrangements to have a certified copy of your marriage certificate along with a certified translation into English forwarded to the General Registrar Office in the UK. Your marriage certificate will be deposited for their records, and consequently your original marriage certificate will not be returned to you. This in no way makes your marriage invalid. Should you both need your marriage certificate in the future the General Register Office can issue you with a certificate, should the need arise.
For further information:
Embassy of Portuguese Republic, in London
11 Belgrave Square,
London,
SW1X 8PP
Tel: 0207 235 5331
E-Mail : london@portembassy.co.uk
Portuguese Consulate General
3 Portland Place,
London
W1B 1HR, UK
Tel: 0207 291 3770
E-Mail: mail@cglon.dgaccp.pt
Foreign and Commonwealth Office, London
Tel: 0207 270 1500
IMPORTANT
Whilst every effort to ensure that the above information is correct, it may be subject to change at any time. Please always check with the official authorities before proceeding. If you notice some outdated information please let us know.
