Marriage Licences are available from any registry agent in Alberta. A Marriage Licence shows that you meet the requirements to get married in Alberta and gives you the legal right to get married any time within three months from the date the licence was issued.
Check our listing of marriage commissioners for an officiate in your area. Any marriage licence issuer can also provide you with a list.
Registration of Marriages
You will receive a Registration of Marriage form from the registry agent at the same time you receive your marriage licence. Once complete, the Registration of Marriage form becomes a permanent legal record of your marriage. The information recorded on the Registration of Marriage is also used to produce marriage certificates.
You must give both the licence and the registration to the person who is performing your wedding prior to the ceremony. This shows them that you have met all the legal requirements in Alberta, and they can now perform the marriage for you.
The couple getting married, two witnesses and the person who performs the wedding ceremony will all be required to sign the Registration of Marriage during the ceremony. The person performing the ceremony keeps the Marriage Licence for their records and files, or registers, the Registration of Marriage with the Alberta Vital Statistics office within two days of the ceremony.
Marriage Licence Requirements
To get a marriage licence in Alberta, you must meet the following requirements:
- You must be at least 18 years old (if you are younger than 18, you will need legal consent from your parents)
- You must show acceptable identification such as a birth certificate, passport, treaty status card, Canadian citizenship card or driver's licence
- Both parties must provide their parents' full names and birth places
- You cannot be related to the person you wish to marry by whole blood, half blood or adoption (for example, you may not marry your grandparent, parent, grandchild, child or sibling)
- You must be currently unmarried
- If you are divorced, you must present proof the divorce is final such as a Certificate of Divorce or a Decree Absolute
- You must have your wedding in Alberta, however you do not have to be an Alberta resident to get married in Alberta
- You must be free of the influence of drugs and alcohol when you apply for a Marriage Licence (and when you participate in the wedding ceremony)
- Both parties to the marriage must apply together for their marriage licence
Additional requirements for special circumstances:
- Both parties to the marriage must speak English (Note: If they do not, it is their responsibility to provide an interpreter who is over 18 years old and is fluent in both English and the language requiring translation. If the registry agent issuing the Marriage Licence is fluent in the other language, then that registry agent may proceed as the interpreter for issuing the Marriage Licence. The couple applying for a licence cannot translate for each other.)
- If either party is deaf, a sign language interpreter may be required
- If either party is mentally challenged and a trustee or guardian has been appointed, proof that their trustee or guardian has been informed of the upcoming marriage is required
- Blood tests are not required
Marriage Commissioner Survey Invitation
Alberta Vital Statistics is continuing to look for ways to improve its marriage commissioner program. As part of this process, a public survey is being conducted.
If your ceremony is being performed (or has recently been performed) by an Alberta marriage commissioner, we would be very interested in hearing about your experiences and opinions after you are married. To participate in our (anonymous) survey, please go to www.ServiceAlberta.ca/survey/MarCom.
More information from Government of Alberta
