Getting Married in Portugal

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Getting Married in Portugal

Both civil and Roman Catholic church marriages are recognised in Portugal. Civil marriages take place at the Civil Registry Office (Conservatória do Registo Civil) in the area of residence. A marriage (casamento) in Portugal is recognised as valid in most other countries.

• To find a local Civil Registry Office: Click here 

Legal Preparations for Marriage

The minimum age to get married in Portugal is 16. However written consent of both parents is required for those aged under 18.

One of the marrying parties must have been resident in Portugal for 30 days before notice of the intended marriage can be given.

The publication of banns (publicações) is necessary prior to the wedding for either civil or church ceremonies; the chosen marital regime must be mentioned on the banns.

Documents required by both marriage partners

The following documents must be presented at the Civil Registry Office to begin the marriage process:

• Proof of residence or passport for temporary visitors
• Certified birth certificate (certidão de nascimento) issued within the last six months (within three months if the marriage is to take place in the Azores)
• A certificate of no impediment (um certificado de capacidade matrimonial). This document, issued by the national's Consulate in Portugal, confirms there is no obstacle to their marriage in Portugal. All foreigners getting married in Portugal require this document
• In the case of a previous marriage a certified copy of the death certificate (certidão de óbito) of the deceased spouse or a certified copy of the final divorce decree
• Baptismal certificates are necessary for those who wish to marry in a Roman Catholic church

All documents must be translated into Portuguese by a certified translator.

A small fee is charged (the amount varies from one Civil Registry to another).

The Marriage Ceremony

Once the couple receives approval to get married, the marriage must take place within three months. Civil weddings take place at the Civil Registry Office (Conservatória do Registo Civil) of one of the fiancé's place of residence and must be booked at least one month before the celebration is to take place. The marriage is conducted in Portuguese in the presence of at least two and at the most four witnesses. Once the wedding has taken place the couple will receive a marriage certificate (certidão do casamento). 

Roman Catholic ceremonies

Roman Catholic weddings can take place in any church that is licenced for marriage. A Roman Catholic marriage does not require a civil ceremony. Documents required will include those above (aside from divorce documents) as well as baptism, first communion and confirmation certificates.

• For comprehensive information from Weddings in Portugal.com on the documents required for Roman Catholic ceremonies: Click here

Religious ceremonies for all other churches and faiths must be preceded by a civil ceremony and the marriage certificate should be made available. Arrangements for the service can be made directly with the local clergyman, Rabbi or Mullah.  

Marital Regime

There are four kinds of marital regime (regime de bens) available in Portugal. The default system is marriage in community of property (Comunhão de adquiridos). Pre-nuptial agreements should be drawn up to alter this in any way.

1. Community of property (Comunhão geral): All property brought to the marriage and acquired during the marriage is communal. This marital regime cannot be chosen if one or both of the marrying parties already has children.
2. "Acquired" community of property (Comunhão de adquiridos): only goods and property acquired after the marriage are communal.
3. Out of community of property (Separação geral de bens): The law imposes this marital regime when one or both of the couple are aged sixty or more.
4. Other: Portuguese law allows couples to choose their own marital regime, or combine certain characteristics of the three above.

For comprehensive information on marital regimes in Portugal see the Portuguese-language website of the Directorate General of Registry and Notary (Direcção-Geral dos Registos e do Notariado, DGRN)

Divorce

Following a divorce, men must wait 180 days before they may remarry and women must wait 300 days.

Nationality

Foreign citizens do not acquire Portuguese nationality when marrying a Portuguese citizen. However they may apply for Portuguese citizenship after three years of marriage.

Applications can be made at the Central Registry Office (Conservatória dos Registos Centrais)

• Conservatória dos Registos Centrais
  At: Rua Rodrigo da Fonseca 198, 1294 Lisbon
  Tel: 213 817 600
  Fax: 213 817 699

Same-Sex Union

Portugal does not currently permit same-sex marriage, although the matter is under discussion.

• See AngloINFO INFOrmation page on Civil Unions in Portugal

Further Information

The Consular Offices of most Embassies are able to help their nationals with much of the documentation required in the preparation of a wedding in Portugal.

• Information from the British Embassy on marriage in Portugal: Click here
• Information from the Direcção-Geral dos Registos e do Notariado, DGRN website: Click here (in Portuguese)