Where to make an appointment with Hymen: official wedding abroad - list of countries

The lion's share of Russian brides dreams of getting married abroad. Moreover, for many, this is not only a beautiful celebration, but also a real reason for emigrating abroad - foreign citizens are chosen as spouses. But since the ceremony will take place according to the laws of the country where it is being held, it is worth recalling that procedural aspects may differ from the traditional wedding for Russians. It is all the more important to understand the nuances if such a marriage should have legal force in the Russian Federation.

Types of marriages abroad

The legislation of different states has different approaches to the regulation of marriage relations. In Russia, in Bulgaria, for example, the state recognizes only an official marriage concluded in the registry office and confirmed by a documentary certificate. Such an act exists in almost every country.

But outside the Russian Federation, Russians can legitimize family relationships with other forms of civil status acts, for example:

• Church marriage. For example, in Poland and Finland, large religious organizations and churches are also given the right to solemnize marriages, but only in relation to their parishioners. Such a union also allows you to obtain a marriage certificate.
• Civil partnership. A form of family relationship recognized in some countries. Something in between cohabitation and marriage. Sometimes it can give rise to legal consequences that are partly similar to those of marriage (for example, the right to inherit from each other or to claim maintenance). In some countries, for example, in Germany, same-sex unions are legalized in this form. In essence, this is a “civil marriage” recognized by the state.
• Marriage at the consulate. Russian couples living abroad, according to Art. 157, has the right to marry in diplomatic missions of the Russian Federation abroad. Information on acts of civil status is entered by diplomatic staff. Such a marriage can also be concluded by an international couple, where only one of the spouses is Russian. Consular marriage is official.
• Same-sex marriage. Depending on the country, it takes different forms and has different legal consequences. In some countries, same-sex spouses are considered equal to opposite-sex spouses.
• Actual marriage. The cohabitation of a couple, which is not formalized, but in some countries may still entail legal consequences.

Wherever the wedding is held, a fictitious marriage, that is, a union concluded without the purpose of creating a family, will be illegal and, if detected, will be annulled.

Do citizens of the Russian Federation have the right to this?

Russian legislation does not prohibit registering a marriage between Russian citizens and foreign citizens.

However, people often have a question: is a marriage entered into abroad valid on the territory of the Russian Federation?

According to Art. 158 of the Family Code of Russia (FC RF), a marriage registered abroad is recognized as valid on the territory of the Russian Federation if, during its conclusion, all the requirements put forward by the legislation of a foreign state were met, and also if there are no circumstances under which entry into a family union is not allowed ( Article 14 of the RF IC).

Abroad, two options for the marriage registration ceremony can be organized:

• official registration;
• symbolic ceremony.

The difference between them is that in the first case, the newlyweds will receive an official certificate confirming their marital status, which has legal force in Russia. In the second case, the bride and groom simply participate in a ceremony organized abroad, but upon arrival in Russia their marital status remains unchanged.

On the territory of a foreign state, citizens of the Russian Federation can get married only if they fully comply with all the legal requirements of the country in which registration is planned. But, regardless of the conditions of another country, the bride and groom, according to the RF IC, can become spouses if the following circumstances are absent:

• the bride and groom have close family ties;
• one of the future spouses is officially registered in another marriage;
• the bride or groom received the status of an incompetent person in court due to an existing mental disorder;
• one of the spouses is the adoptive parent, and the other is the adopted person.

A citizen of the Russian Federation can officially register his marriage in almost any country in the world.

Symbolic and official ceremony: what are the differences?

In a wedding ceremony abroad, many are primarily interested not in the legal registration of the marriage, but in a beautiful picture: the sea, landscapes, islands, architecture. For these purposes, there is a “symbolic wedding”, when a festive atmosphere is created in non-standard places, for example, on the ocean, in a nature reserve or national park.

Many wedding agencies even organize special tours, during which they help arrange a turnkey wedding of your dreams. Depending on the budget, the organizers will take care of the flight, accommodation, the official part of the ceremony and even a banquet for the required number of guests.

It is interesting for Russians to organize a wedding in Turkey.

But such a beautiful wedding story will not entail legal consequences, unless the local registration authorities provide for “exit registration”. However, for those living permanently in Russia, leaving for official registration does not make practical sense: it is much easier to register a marriage at the registry office, and hold the ceremony with guests and a photographer abroad.

Package of documents

1. Birth certificates (both spouses) 2. Russian passport (both) 3. International passport (both) 4. Certificate of marital status (certificate that the couple is not married, and therefore has no obstacles to marriage) 5 . Divorce certificate (if you are divorced) 6. Death certificate of a spouse (if you are a widower)

Of course, different states may require additional documents necessary to officially register a marriage. However, there is one city, famous for the abundance of weddings all year round, where only one document is required - a passport (foreign). This is, of course, Las Vegas.

Pre-collected documents 1-2 months in advance (depending on legal requirements) are sent to the country where you plan to register the marriage, to the relevant authority. Often, copies of documents are sufficient, and the originals are presented upon arrival (you also need to arrive in advance, usually 3-5 working days before the wedding date).

In any case, no matter what package of documents is required, a wedding abroad is an opportunity to organize your wedding exactly there and in the way you imagined in your most unforgettable dreams. From the location of the ceremony to the program of the evening, you don’t have to choose between restaurants in your hometown and worry that everything will be “standard, like everyone else’s.”

Is foreign marriage recognized in Russia?

In accordance with Art. 158 of the Family Code of the Russian Federation, unions concluded by Russians, including if the second spouse is a foreigner, can be recognized on the territory of Russia only if there are no obstacles established by Art. 14 SK.

To be sure whether a marriage is valid in Russia, you need to exclude the following circumstances:

• none of the newlyweds is in another official marriage;
• the spouses are not close relatives or half-brothers/sisters;
• the spouses are not in a relationship of adoptive parent and adopted child;
• None of the newlyweds were declared legally incompetent.

If the marriage took place abroad, compliance with local laws and conditions in the country where the ceremony is taking place is sufficient for its recognition. However, for official recognition by the Russian authorities, documents about such a marriage must be legalized.

Is it possible to register a marriage in another country?

Holding a wedding ceremony outside the Russian Federation is acceptable.
States parties to the treaty in The Hague allow marriage when the newlyweds satisfy the requirements of domestic law, are citizens of a particular country, or comply with conflict of laws rules. Important! Foreign citizens require legalization of their marriage certificate. There is a standard international apostille for parties to the 1961 Hague Convention.

Legislation

Russian laws also provide for the opportunity for the bride and groom to marry and register it abroad. The conditions of the ceremony are prescribed in the Family Code.

Article 158. Recognition of marriages concluded outside the Russian Federation

From the text you can find out whether a marriage abroad is valid in the Russian Federation:

• paragraph 1 states that a legal union of Russians, citizens of Russia with foreigners, formalized under the laws of another state, is recognized as valid. The procedure is possible only if there are no obstacles;
• Clause 2 states that the Russian government recognizes marriage relations of citizens of other countries, for example, Germany, if the rules of legality are met.

On a note! Newlyweds must not violate the laws of the country where they celebrated their marriage.

Article 158 of the Family Code of the Russian Federation “Recognition of marriages concluded outside the territory of the Russian Federation”

Article 14. Circumstances preventing marriage

It is impossible to legalize documents and marriages entered into by people abroad on the basis of this article. Marital relations are prohibited between:

• the person already has a husband or wife. The wedding will only be possible if the union is annulled or declared invalid;
• participants in the marriage ceremony are relatives (sisters, brothers, parents, children, granddaughters and grandfathers). The basis for the ban is the negative health of children born as a result of incestuous relationships;
• The marriage is formalized by the adoptive parent and the child. Based on Russian legislation, such children are comparable to their own children.
• people who have mental disorders, as well as those declared incompetent by a court.

On a note! If an obstacle is identified after the conclusion of the marriage, the court will invalidate the marriage.

Article 14 of the Family Code of the Russian Federation “Circumstances preventing marriage”

Types of marriages abroad

Foreign countries sometimes have legislative differences in regulating marriage. In Russia, for example, a union is recognized that is officially registered in the registry office, of which there is a certificate. Outside the territory of the Russian Federation, persons can conduct a wedding in the following ways:

• in the church with the issuance of a certificate. Authorities are vested in organizations from Finland, Poland, and the USA. Marriages can only be celebrated by parishioners;
• civil partnership. Some states recognize such forms of relations. Partnership is equivalent to marriage and cohabitation at the same time;
• at the consulate. Based on Art. 157 IC, Russians can hold a wedding at a diplomatic mission abroad. Marriage at the consulate is official and acceptable for international newlyweds;
• same-sex. The forms, legal consequences and powers of spouses vary from country to country;
• actual, or cohabitation. Citizens of the Russian Federation can also live without an official ceremony. Such relationships have legal consequences.

Important! Fictitious unions are illegal and void.

Article 157 of the Family Code of the Russian Federation “Marriages in diplomatic missions and consular offices”

Read also: ​​Division of marital property

Symbolic and official ceremony: what is the difference

Newlyweds can enter into a symbolic marriage and choose a ceremony abroad.
Travel agencies offer many wedding story options against the backdrop of the ocean shore, nature reserve, or national park. A turnkey wedding is popular among Russian spouses, where all the little details - such as the celebration, banquet, flight and accommodation - are taken care of by the organizers. The symbolic ceremony has no legal consequences other than exit registration. Advice! To avoid legal red tape, get married in a domestic registry office, and choose another place for the wedding ceremony.

Procedure for registering a marriage abroad

In European and other developed countries, the procedure for concluding an official marriage may have its own peculiarities, but in general it is standard. To familiarize yourself with local legal requirements, contact your local registry office or other registration authority for advice, for example:

• local government or mayor's office;
• district or other court;
• parish of a church that is allowed to register marriages.

After consultations, the newlyweds should:

1. Collect all necessary documents for the wedding.
2. Order their translation into the desired language, have the translation certified by a competent notary. Legalize documents in the country where the wedding is taking place.
3. Apply for registration. If necessary, first obtain permission from local or consular authorities. If necessary, a change of surname after the wedding is agreed upon.
4. Pay the state fee. The cost of registration in different countries may vary significantly.
5. Wait for the agreed date and register the marriage.
6. Obtain a marriage certificate.

Package of necessary documents

The package of documents usually includes:

• statement of desire to marry, jointly submitted by the spouses;
• internal and foreign passports of the spouses (if they were previously stamped with a marriage stamp, this union must be annulled);
• certificate of divorce (if one of the two was previously married) or death certificate of the former spouse;
• birth certificate;
• a document from the Russian Consulate confirming compliance with the conditions for marriage and the absence of obstacles to its conclusion under Russian law (for Russians abroad);
• receipt for payment of state duty.

Documents of Russian (or other foreign) origin must be translated into the national language of the state where the ceremony is being held and apostilled at the registry office or consulate of the Russian Federation.

Registration of marriage abroad from the point of view of Russian legislation

The first question that arises for future spouses who want to hold a wedding outside their homeland is whether such an event is legal and whether its result is legal. If you adhere to the necessary requirements dictated by law, a wedding on tropical sunny islands or within the walls of a medieval European castle is possible.

If you wish and have a sufficient wedding budget, such a ceremony will not be difficult or problematic. All you need to do is make sure you comply with the legal regulations of the country in which the wedding is planned - and you can pack your bags.

The procedure for concluding a marriage in another country is regulated by the legislation of the Russian Federation - https://stskrf.ru/158.

According to the Family Code, Russian citizens can hold an official wedding ceremony outside the territory of their own country, and such an event will be legal if:

1. There were no violations of the legislation of the country where the wedding will take place. Subject to compliance with all legal norms of the state, by which we mean the requirements for the form, place, and conditions of marriage, a wedding celebration abroad will receive its legal force.
2. There is no reason why marriage will not be possible.

Obstacles include:

1. Those wishing to get married are considered close blood relatives, full-blooded, half-blooded (those who have one common parent) brother and sister.
2. One of the future spouses who is already married.
3. Marriage is concluded between people who are declared incompetent by a court decision and both or one of them have mental disabilities.
4. If the newlyweds are an adoptive parent and an adopted child.

Places where you can hold a wedding ceremony abroad are:

1. City Hall.
2. Diplomatic representation.
3. Consular office of the Russian Federation in the country.
4. Another government or local government body where a wedding can take place.

Prices for weddings in different countries

The wedding budget is a purely individual matter, and the cost of local taxes and state duties is a mere trifle in the list of items of expenses for a wedding. Only those couples who refuse to invite guests at all or limit themselves to traveling abroad with 4-6 witnesses will be able to hold a ceremony relatively cheaply. But a ceremony in a Czech castle or on the Bulgarian coast can be quite budget-friendly.

Relatively inexpensive in this matter:

• Baltic countries;
• Bulgaria;
• Czech Republic;
• Spain;
• Portugal;
• Cyprus;
• Greece;
• Montenegro and other countries.

The budget for a modest wedding without guests, but with a 5-7 day holiday will be 60-100 thousand rubles. The cost will also depend on the season: for example, in the summer, the cost of living and, accordingly, the size of the budget, can increase by 20-30%.

Among the more expensive countries:

• New Zealand;
• Australia;
• France;
• Italy;
• Sri Lanka;
• Maldives;
• Dominican Republic;
• Seychelles.

If organized independently, the cost of the ceremony will be 150-200 thousand rubles. If the organization is entrusted to an agency, in 2021 the budget “wedding package” (legal support, rent and decoration of the hall, symbolic ceremony, local taxes and registrar services, paperwork, their legalization in Russia and a number of other services) will cost an additional 70-120 thousand rubles depending on the state.

Cost of an official ceremony in other countries

Registering a marriage abroad is not the cheapest pleasure.
But if you want an unforgettable holiday, it’s easy to find an alternative option. You can reduce expenses by saving on the list of invitees. You should not invite casual acquaintances, colleagues or distant relatives. Or cut the budget planned for the holiday menu. You can do without an organizer, a wedding decorator, or the services of a toastmaster. All these expenses are unimportant when you want an original and unconventional wedding in an ancient Prague castle or at the foot of an active volcano in Iceland.

But first you need to familiarize yourself with the pricing policy for wedding registration abroad. So, what is the approximate cost of a formal wedding ceremony in other countries? Price for registration and 7 days for two / for 3 days + 8 guests:

1. From 15,000 rub./45,000 rub.

• Vietnam
• Latvia
• Ukraine
• Bulgaria
• Czech
• Cuba

2. From 20,000 rub./60,000 rub.

• Estonia
• Hungary
• Cyprus
• Croatia
• Montenegro
• Spain
• Slovenia
• Portugal
• Türkiye
• Sri Lanka
• Dominican Republic

3. From 25,000 rub. / 65,000 rub.

• Greece
• Malta
• Seychelles
• USA
• Mexico

4. From 30,000 rub./70,000 rub.

• Italy
• Mauritius
• Aruba

5. From 35,000 rub. / 100,000 rub.

• Gibraltar
• South Africa
• Fiji
• Australia
• New Zealand

Selecting a country: the most popular destinations

When choosing a country, you need to take into account not only beautiful places and cost - this is important only for symbolic registration. For an official marriage, legal features are much more important, for example:

• the difficulties of further legalization of marriage in Russia;
• the need to obtain permits;
• the need to leave in advance and live in the country for a certain period of time;
• terms of local legislation.

Here is a list of the countries most popular among Russians for marriage ceremonies:

1. Czech Republic. A country imbued with the spirit of history and medieval architecture. This is a great place not only for tourism, but also for weddings.
2. Italy. A unique country where eternal love reigns. Perhaps you couldn’t imagine a more romantic place for a wedding. Florence, Venice, Rome - the dream of any bride.
3. Greece. Greek beaches are one of the best and relatively inexpensive places for destination weddings on the Mediterranean coast.
4. Seychelles. Truly a heavenly place, but only for those who can afford it: the most modest ceremony will cost 220-250 thousand rubles.
5. Sri Lanka. A Ceylon wedding will surprise many with its exotic flavor for relatively little money - from 180 thousand rubles.
6. Cuba. A Latin wedding with Cuban sauce is a specific and expensive option, prices start from 220 thousand rubles.
7. Egypt. A relatively budget option for celebrating with guests. A symbolic ceremony at a hotel or right on the beach will cost 80-140 thousand rubles.
8. New Zealand. An option for avid travelers looking for exotic things.
9. Dominican Republic A wedding venue for lovers of luxury. It's summer all year round, great service and beautiful wild beaches.
10. Türkiye. Another place of mass and relatively inexpensive wedding pilgrimage. A budget ceremony here will cost 120-140 thousand rubles.

Marriage

French legislation is pedantic. Therefore, it is better to get married according to established rules. For example, entering into an alliance with a tourist visa in hand is not encouraged.

If a Russian citizen married a Frenchman while on vacation, then the children born in the union may be denied citizenship.

Therefore, for this type of immigration, it is advisable to apply for a visitor visa or a fiancé visa.

A wedding in France is the choice of true romantics!

For reference. Many stories about the romanticism of the French turn out to be myths. More than half of immigrants will be disappointed. Therefore, the longer the couple knows each other before the wedding, the better.

Find out how to get a fiancée and wife visa to France on our website.

Preparatory stage

The first thing the future newlyweds will need to do is to visit the municipality’s mayor’s office together, where the marriage will be registered. An employee of the department will issue Dossier de marriage (marriage dossier) forms to the bride and groom. It displays a list of approved documents that must be collected for joint submission with the marriage application.

The number and type of required papers depend on the family history of the visitor. For most foreigners, the list of documents is as follows:

• International passport.
• Invitation of the groom (bride).
• Confirmation of financial independence (certificate of income for the last three months, letter of guarantee from the groom regarding the provision of financial assistance).

  

  Certificate of financial condition

• Birth certificate.
• Information about the place of residence (groom's address, rental agreement, hotel name).
• Confirmation of the groom's civil status (resident, citizen).
• Civil status act (Certificat de Capacité Matrimoniale).
• Certificate of divorce (death) of a spouse for remarried couples.
• Certificate of no criminal record.
• Characteristics from four witnesses of the couple (friends, acquaintances, colleagues).
• Notification from the Russian Embassy regarding the recognition of marriage in the homeland (Certificat de Coutume).

All documents, except for information about no criminal record and the rental agreement, must be prepared using the international Apostille form.

Ceremony

After the documents and application have been submitted, the wedding ceremony will take place on the appointed date (not earlier than 10 days). The process is guaranteed to be attended by the mayor of the locality or one of the heads of the municipality. That's the rule. Witnesses must be present, two to four people.

A marriage license in France is valid for 12 months. However, after three months of deliberation, some certificates will have to be reissued, as they will no longer be relevant.

Spouse visa

After marriage in France, the immigrant is entitled to a spouse visa. This is one of the options for a long-term D visa, allowing you to stay in the country for one year. The main condition for applicants for a long-term stay in the country is passing exams in the French language and knowledge of national traditions. The test is carried out in oral and written form.

An example of one of the written tasks: write in French your first name, last name, place and date of birth, full age, where you live.

In case of a fiasco, the applicant will be offered to improve his missing knowledge in courses for two to three months, of course, in his homeland. The number of retakes is not regulated by migration legislation. Therefore, in order not to live in separation, it is worth taking the exam question seriously.

Find out what you need to consider when applying for a wedding in France from the video below.

Citizenship by marriage

Having lived as a spouse for two years gives the resident the right to obtain French citizenship. Submitting documents is possible with the permission of the husband (wife). The applicant must collect a package of documents established by migration legislation, which includes information about place of residence, employment and availability of bank accounts.

Among the main conditions is continuous stay in the country for the last two years on a national visa D. The applicant for citizenship will have to retake an exam on knowledge of the language and cultural values ​​of France. The application for citizenship status is examined by the French Tribunal. The total inspection period reaches 1.5 years.

From the moment of application, the identity of the applicant will be carefully checked. Particular attention is paid to marriage, since fictitious unions are quite common in France. Based on the results of a personal check and the results of exams, the commission makes a decision whether or not to grant the applicant French citizenship.

Difficulties in registering marriage

Before choosing a country, carefully study all legal features. Depending on the country, newlyweds may encounter the following difficulties:

• Requirement of prior accommodation. In some countries, a mandatory condition for registering a marriage is the permanent residence of one of the spouses on its territory. For example, in Thailand. Other countries may impose a mandatory premarital residence period. For example, in France it is 3 months, in Sri Lanka – 4 days.
• Belonging to a confession when concluding church marriages. In countries where church marriages are recognized, such a union can only be formalized in a church or religious organization of which at least one of the spouses is a follower.
• The need to obtain permission. It is practiced in a number of European countries (for example, Austria and Germany), where the authorities must study the situation of the newlyweds before issuing permission. The document processing may take from 2 to 6 months.
• Further legalization in Russia. To simplify the procedure for official recognition, it is recommended to marry in countries that have signed the 1961 Hague Convention. Such countries confirm the authenticity of documents with an apostille.
• Marriage age. In many countries, marriage can be concluded not from the age of 18, as in Russia, but, for example, from the age of 20-21, as in Egypt, Puerto Rico, Taiwan and Japan.

There may be other features - check them out before making a decision.

Civil marriage in the Russian Federation

A civil marriage is an officially registered union of a man and a woman. Sometimes a civil marriage is called cohabitation without registration. But from a legal point of view this is incorrect; such relationships are called cohabitation.

Most often, registration takes place on the territory of Russia, but it is also possible outside its borders . This is regulated by the 14th and 158th articles of the Family Code. The first of them lists the obstacles to concluding a marriage.