Registering a marriage celebrated in the United States
A marriage celebrated in the United States is valid, but it has no civil effect in Spain until it is registered in the Spanish Civil Registry. Without that there is no family book, the matrimonial property regime does not apply, and the spouse does not count for pensions or nationality.
Registration is free and either spouse can request it, whatever their nationality.
Where to register
At the consular office for the district where the marriage took place. If both spouses live in Spain, at the Civil Registry for their address.
What to provide
The signed data declaration sheet and the sworn statement of civil status both parties had when they married, signed by both. A full birth certificate for the Spanish spouse —or for both if both are Spanish— less than a year old.
For a foreign spouse, the original birth certificate; if not American, apostilled or legalized and translated, unless it is in Spanish or English. Plus copies of both passports and residence permits.
- Signed data declaration sheet
- Sworn statement of civil status from both spouses
- Full birth certificate of the Spanish spouse, less than a year old
- Birth certificate of the foreign spouse
- Passports and residence permits for both
- Exequatur, if there was a divorce abroad
A previous divorce, where files get stuck
If the Spanish spouse divorced abroad, you need the exequatur: recognition of that divorce in Spain, noted in the margin of the previous marriage certificate. Without it, the registration does not go through.
If the divorce was in Spain, the previous marriage certificate with the marginal note is enough. And if it is the foreign spouse who divorced, the ruling must be legalized or apostilled and translated.
Marrying before the consul
Spanish residents may also marry under Spanish law. If one party lives in the district, the consular office processes the marriage file and can delegate the ceremony to a judge, mayor or notary in Spain.
That requires a request signed by both, the sworn statement of civil status and, depending on the case, the previous marriage certificate with the divorce note, or the death certificate of a previous spouse.
How to send it
Scanned in a single PDF to the consulate's Civil Registry address, with the subject line each office specifies. Once registered, a full marriage certificate is issued, and with it you can apply for the family book.
Without an exequatur for a foreign divorce, the new marriage will not register.Details verified on 8 September 2026.
consuladosespana.us is an independent guide to Spain's consular offices in the United States. We are not the Embassy, any Consulate General, or the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
We do not book or sell appointments: consular appointments are free. Details are checked regularly and can change without notice.