GETTING MARRIED IN MEXICO

In the list below you will find general requirements for a Canadian citizen or landed immigrant to get married in Mexico. Be advised that these requirements may vary according to the law of different states within Mexico.

This information is for reference purposes only and it is highly recommended that couples wishing to get married contact the registry office of the city where the wedding is to take place, to find out the specific documentation requested locally.

Note that sections 2 and 3 are the only arrangements you have to do beforehand at the Mexican consulate in Toronto. A fee of around can $57.00 (please inquire) applies for the legalization of each document.
1. Completed application, to be obtained in Mexico at the registry office.

2. Certified copy of the Canadian birth certificates (the long form, not the credit-card size), which must be a) authenticated by the Canadian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (authentication and service of documents section, tel. 613-995-0119) and b) legalized by the Mexican consulate in Toronto. This consulate only legalizes certificates of persons who were born in the provinces of Ontario or Manitoba (for other Canadian provinces please inquire). Nationals of other countries need to get either their birth certificates duly legalized by the Mexican embassies or consulates in the corresponding country, or certified by their embassies or consulates in Canada and, afterwards, legalized by the Mexican consulate.

a. Be advised that some registry offices may request a translation into Spanish of the said documents as well as of those mentioned in the next paragraph.

3. If either party has been married before, they must present proof of the termination of that marriage in the form of a divorce certificate (original or certified copy) or a death certificate (original or certified copy). In either case these documents must be a) authenticated by the Canadian ministry of foreign affairs (authentication and service of documents section, tel. 613-995-0119) and b legalized by a Mexican consulate with jurisdiction over the place where the divorce or the spouse’s death took place. Divorced persons cannot marry in Mexico until one year after the finalization of the divorce.

4. Results of a clinical analysis (blood test), to be done in Mexico

5. Tourist card and/or visa as well as a copy of the valid passport to demonstrate migratory status (for nationals of canada a certified copy of the birth certificate along with a piece of photo bearing identification will suffice).

6. Two legally qualified witnesses (over 18 years of age), who must be present at the ceremony.

Marriages are performed at the civil registry offices, but may be performed elsewhere for an additional fee.

A certified copy of the original marriage certificate (acta de matrimonio) may be obtained from the office of the civil registry, once the marriage has been performed. This document can be legalized by the Canadian Embassy or Canadian consulates in Mexico in order to be recognized as valid for legal purposes in Canada.

Religious marriages, which have no legal implications in Mexico, require an additional ceremony. Information about requirements must be obtained from the corresponding local church officials.