Complete guide to the marriage certificate in Spain
Welcome to the definitive guide on the marriage certificate. This official document certifies the celebration of the union and is essential for procedures such as divorce, inheritances, widowers pensions, nationality, separation of assets or change of surname. Below, we detail what it is, its types, requirements and how to obtain it in person, officially online or through an agency.
What is a marriage certificate?
The marriage certificate is the document issued by the Civil Registry (or Justice of the Peace Court in small municipalities) that contains the registration of the marriage. It includes data such as the names of the spouses, date, place, economic regime, witnesses and marginal annotations (divorce, annulment, etc.).
Important: the certificate must correspond to the registry where the marriage was registered (normally the municipality where the ceremony took place).
Types of marriage certificate
| Type | Content | Recommended use |
|---|---|---|
| Literal | Full copy of the registry entry (all data) | Legal procedures, divorce, inheritances |
| Multilingual | Basic summary (without full details) | Simple procedures, pensions |
| Negative | Certifies that the marriage is not recorded | Exceptional cases |
General requirements
- Who can request it: either spouse, descendants, ascendants or third parties with notarised authorisation.
- Required data:
- Full names and surnames of both spouses.
- Date and municipality of the marriage.
- Applicants DNI.
How to obtain a marriage certificate
There are several options:
1. In person (by appointment)
- Book an appointment at sede.mjusticia.gob.es or call 060.
- Go to the Civil Registry or Justice of the Peace Court in the municipality where the marriage took place.
- Present your DNI and the spouses data.
- Receive the certificate immediately or within a few days.
2. Online with an agency (recommended – 100% remote)
Use www.registrocivil.es, a professional agency that processes marriage certificates from any Civil Registry or Justice of the Peace Court in Spain.
Steps:
- Enter the link -> Apply for a marriage certificate
- Indicate the municipality, type of certificate and spouses data.
- Select extras (apostille, copies, priority).
- Pay online (€55 + extras).
- Receive the original in 5-15 days with tracking.
Advantages:
- No appointment, no Cl@ve, no travel.
- Management of old marriages (since 1870).
- Sending of the physical original by certified mail.
- Personalised attention from an agent.
3. Official online application (Ministry of Justice)
- Access the Electronic Headquarters of the Ministry of Justice: sede.mjusticia.gob.es.
- Step by step:
- Identify yourself with Cl@ve, digital certificate, or electronic ID (not available without these).
- Selecciona "Certificado de Matrimonio" > "Inscrito es para mí" o "Tercero".
- Enter the marriage details.
- Download the PDF with a secure verification code.
- Limitations: Only for literal certificates if the Civil Registry of the city is digitised. If not, it will redirect you to an in-person application.
- Disadvantages: there is no tracking of the application and the application may not be processed correctly if it has errors or missing information.
International legalisation
If the certificate is for use abroad:
- Hague Apostille: €25 extra (the agency processes it).
- Valid in countries party to the Hague Convention.
- Without apostille: consular legalisation (more complex).
Frequently asked questions
Can I request another persons marriage certificate?
Yes, if they are a spouse, direct ascendant or descendant, or with notarised authorisation.
Is a certificate with a divorce annotation valid?
Yes, the literal one includes all marginal annotations.
What to do if the marriage is not registered?
Request late registration with the ecclesiastical record or supporting documents.
Can I obtain it from abroad?
Yes, through the official online option or the agency.