Marriage Licences and Ceremonies

Who can get married (age minimum)

You need to be at least 16 years old to get married in Ontario.

If you are under 18 years old, you will need written consent from all of your parents or legal guardians. All parents or legal guardians must complete the Consent of Parents or Guardians to Marriage Form when they go to obtain the marriage licence from the municipality. 

The consent form is available where you get a marriage licence.  

What you need before you marry 

Before you get married, you need a valid Ontario marriage licence. A marriage licence is valid for three months from the date it was issued. Learn more about getting a marriage licence.

In some limited and specific circumstances, the publication of banns may be used as an alternative to a marriage licence. Contact your marriage officiant for more details. 

Note: You and your spouse, witnesses and the person who performed the marriage will need to sign the licence or banns immediately after the ceremony.

How to get a marriage licence

You may be able to purchase a marriage licence from your local or surrounding municipality. Please check the municipality’s website to see if they provide this service.

To get a marriage licence, you will need to:

1. complete a marriage licence application
2. provide 2 pieces of government-issued identification for each person getting married. One piece of identification for each person getting married must include their photo.
   Examples of government-issued identification include:
   • government-issued birth certificate, including any change of name certificates
   • valid passport
   • record of immigrant landing
   • Canadian Citizenship Card or Certificate
   • valid driver’s licence
   • valid Ontario Photo Card
3. provide supporting documentation (for example: proof of divorce) (if applicable)
4. have at least one of you attend in-person to pick up the licence
5. pay a fee (fees vary and depend on the municipality)

Find a local city hall, town hall or municipal office

Download the Marriage Licence Application form

If you are planning to remarry 

If you are planning on remarrying in Ontario, there are a few additional documents you must provide in addition to the ones listed above.

If you were divorced in Canada

You will need to bring official proof of the divorce with you when you apply for a marriage licence. This can be the original or a court-certified copy of one of three documents:

• the final decree
• the final judgment
• a certificate of divorce

If you were divorced outside of Canada

If you were divorced outside of Canada, you will need to provide certain documents to prove that you are no longer married. The government needs to validate these documents. This process can take up to 4 weeks.

You will need to send the following documents to ServiceOntario:

• marriage licence application form: completed and signed
• statement of sole responsibility: for each divorce (signed by both people who are planning to get married and a witness)
• legal opinion letter: from an Ontario lawyer, addressed to both people who plan to get married, giving reasons why the divorce or annulment should be recognized in Ontario
• divorce decree or annulment: an original or court-certified copy in English or French. If the decree is in another language, you will need to include a translated copy and an affidavit sworn by a certified translator

Note: Completed Foreign Divorce Authorizations are sent to applicants by courier. It is important that your full mailing address including suite/unit/apartment and buzzer number is included on the marriage licence application form, or the courier package cannot be delivered and will be returned to ServiceOntario.

Get a marriage licence application form

Get a statement of sole responsibility form

Please mail these documents directly to:

ServiceOntario
Marriage Office
PO Box 4600
189 Red River Road
Thunder Bay ON  P7B 6L8

You can also request to have a sample legal opinion letter sent to your lawyer using:

Update a Marriage Office request (Download as PDF)

For more information, call:

• Toll-free: 1-800-461-2156 if you’re outside of Toronto but within North America
• 416-325-8305 if you’re within the Greater Toronto Area or outside of North America
• TTY: 416-325-3408

How to get a marriage certificate after marriage

A marriage certificate is a legal record of a marriage. It lists the date and place of the marriage, and names of the people who were married.

You may need this document to:

• show legal proof you are married
• apply for certain social benefits
• settle an estate
• change a last name
• assume a last name after marriage

Before you can get a marriage certificate, your marriage needs to be registered. The officiant who performed the marriage will send your completed and signed marriage licence to ServiceOntario so the marriage can be registered.

You can order a marriage certificate about 6-8 weeks after this happens.

Order a marriage certificate

Note: A Record of Solemnization of Marriage may be provided by your marriage officiant immediately following the marriage ceremony. This is a souvenir of the marriage and is not the same thing as a marriage certificate. 

How to change your last name after marriage