Spain is a frequent destination for US-ES binational weddings: couples with one Spanish spouse marrying here, or US couples choosing Spain for an international family wedding. The process before the Spanish Civil Registry is workable but documentarily demanding, and most delays come from unapostilled documents or non-sworn translations.
This guide explains the document package the US partner must provide, the step-by-step process before the Civil Registry, and the mistakes that most often stall files.
The three routes for a US citizen to marry in Spain
1. Civil marriage before the Spanish Civil Registry
The standard route when the couple lives or will live in Spain. Begins with a prior marriage application before the Civil Registry of the place of residence (of either spouse). After 30-90 days of processing, the Registry authorises the ceremony, which can be officiated by the Registry judge, a notary, or a mayor.
2. Marriage at the Spanish consulate in the US
Only possible if at least one spouse is Spanish and legally resident in the consular jurisdiction. The process is similar to the Civil Registry's but before the consul. Less common.
3. Recognition in Spain of a US-celebrated marriage
The couple marries in the United States (Las Vegas, California, etc.) and then requests registration in the Spanish Civil Registry or, if neither is Spanish but they want to reside here, simply apostilles and translates the certificate for consular use. Fastest route when there's a tight deadline.
This guide focuses on route 1 (civil marriage in Spain).
Documents the US spouse must provide
Identity and filiation
- US passport in force (the biographic page is often translated: sworn translation of passport).
- Birth certificate in long form (not short form) issued by the Vital Records of the state of birth. Issuance deadline: less than 6 months before submission. Must be a certified copy (with raised seal), not a photocopy.
- Apostille from the Secretary of State of issuing state on the birth certificate.
- Sworn Spanish translation of the birth certificate + apostille. We cover this in our birth certificate technical page.
Free civil status
- Certificate of No Impediment to Marriage (CONIM) or Affidavit of Single Status. This is the key document and the one that causes most confusion because the US does not officially issue a federal CONIM. Each state handles it differently:
| How to get CONIM by state | Method |
|---|---|
| California, Florida, Texas, New York and most states | Sworn declaration (affidavit) before a US notary public, in bilingual format or English only, declaring the signer is single/divorced/widowed and free of marriage impediments. |
| Some states | Issue a "Statement of Single Status" from the County Clerk |
| No local option | Some consulates accept a sworn declaration before the Spanish consul in the US ("declaración jurada de soltería") |
- Apostille of the CONIM at the Secretary of State of the notary's state.
- Sworn Spanish translation of the CONIM and its apostille.
If there are prior marriages
- Divorce decree from the relevant state court.
- State apostille from the Secretary of State where the decree was issued.
- Sworn Spanish translation of the complete decree. We cover this in the court ruling fact sheet.
- In case of widowhood: death certificate of the deceased spouse, apostilled and translated.
Padrón (if the couple resides in Spain)
- Padrón certificate of each spouse in the municipality where the file is initiated.
Other documents per case
- If there are children together without being married: birth certificates of children for registration.
- If there are prenuptial agreements or intention to grant them: not mandatory but sometimes processed jointly.
Step-by-step process before the Spanish Civil Registry
| Step | What to do | Timeline |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gather all documents from the US spouse (originals) | Variable based on US steps — count 2-3 months |
| 2 | Apostille all documents at the relevant Secretary of State | 2-4 weeks |
| 3 | Commission sworn translations into Spanish | 3-5 business days |
| 4 | Request appointment at the Civil Registry of residence (Spain) | 1-4 weeks |
| 5 | Initial appearance: file submission with both spouses | 1 day |
| 6 | Private hearing (individual interview with each spouse to verify matrimonial will) | 1 day |
| 7 | Posting of edicts (if Registry requires) | 15 days |
| 8 | Resolution authorising the ceremony | 30-90 days from start |
| 9 | Wedding ceremony (before judge, notary or mayor) | Agreed day |
| 10 | Registration of marriage in the Civil Registry | Immediate |
| 11 | Issuance of Libro de Familia and full certificate | 1-2 weeks |
Total timeline: 3-6 months from start. Worth starting early if a wedding date is set.
US validity of the Spanish marriage
A civil marriage celebrated in Spain is fully valid in the United States without need for additional registration (recognition is automatic under the comity principle between jurisdictions). However, if the couple will reside in the US and wants to register the marriage for local purposes (name change, joint tax benefits), they submit the Spanish literal certificate apostilled and translated to English.
Apostilles: how to fit them in
For the US person, all apostilles are state-level (Secretary of State of the issuing state of the document or of the notary):
- Birth certificate → SoS of state of birth.
- CONIM/notarized affidavit → SoS of notary's state.
- Divorce decree → SoS of state where issued.
- Death certificate (if any) → SoS of issuing state.
No document in this file goes through federal apostille at the Department of State — all are state-level. Details in our US apostille guide.
Sworn translations: what we accept and what the Registries accept
The Spanish Civil Registry only accepts translations made by MAEC-accredited sworn translator-interpreters. A US "ATA-certified translation" or "notarized translation" has no validity in Spain.
Documents from the US spouse that always require sworn translation:
- Complete birth certificate + apostille.
- CONIM/affidavit + apostille.
- Divorce decree (if any) + apostille.
- Death certificate of deceased spouse (if any) + apostille.
- Pages of passport with holder data (some Registries request them).
At Textualia we deliver in electronically signed PDF with full validity at all Spanish Civil Registries and, if your Registry requires physical copy (some older ones do), we send by tracked mail to the customer's address in Spain or the US.
Common mistakes in US-ES wedding files
- Birth certificate short form. Many states issue both formats; the Spanish Registry requires the long version with parents, full place of birth and original record.
- CONIM without apostille. The notarized declaration must have apostille from the Secretary of State of the notary's state; without that step, it is not accepted.
- Divorce decree with partial judgment. If the divorce was contested and has multiple rulings, the final judgment is submitted, not interim resolutions.
- Certificate of marriage of a prior marriage instead of the divorce decree. Some applicants think a prior marriage certificate is enough; it's not: you must prove that prior marriage ended (divorce or death of spouse).
- Expired documents. The birth certificate and CONIM have 6-month validity for the Civil Registry. If older, must be requested again.
- Not translating the apostille. The apostille is part of the document and gets translated with it.
- Commissioning translation before apostille. If you translate without apostille and then apostille, you have to translate again including the apostille. Apostille first, translate after.
Related pages
- Sworn translation of birth certificate — long form vs short form for the Spanish Registry.
- Sworn translation of marriage certificate — for later registrations and international recognition.
- Sworn translation of court rulings — exact format for foreign divorces.
- Spain Non-Lucrative Visa for US citizens — what comes next if the couple settles in Spain.
- US apostille: federal vs state — full guide to the apostille step.
→ Request my sworn translation
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