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:
complete a marriage licence application
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
valid driver’s licence
valid Ontario Photo Card
provide supporting documentation (for example: proof of divorce) (if applicable)
have at least one of you attend in-person to pick up the licence
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
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
You can order a marriage certificate about 6-8 weeks after the ceremony.