GETTING MARRIED IN MALLORCA AS AN INTERNATIONAL COUPLE
YOUR OPTIONS, THE DOCUMENTS YOU WILL NEED AND HOW TIMING WORKS
Getting married in Mallorca, also written Majorca in English, is simpler than most couples expect, as long as the paperwork starts early.
Foreign couples can marry legally in Spain through a civil ceremony or a religious one. They can also celebrate with a symbolic ceremony and complete the legal formalities at home.
This guide explains each option, the documents authorities usually ask for and how timing works.
Requirements depend on your nationality and where you live, so treat it as a starting point and speak to us before you commit to a date.
Can foreign couples legally marry in Mallorca?
Yes. Neither of you needs to be a Spanish resident or citizen. You choose between three routes, and each one changes how much paperwork you will handle before the wedding.
Three ways to marry in Mallorca
Each route suits a different kind of celebration and involves a different level of paperwork. Below we explain how a civil, religious and symbolic ceremony work in Mallorca, so you can choose the one that best fits your plans.
1. Civil ceremony
A civil wedding is the most common choice for international couples. It is legally binding in Spain and generally recognised abroad.
A file is opened beforehand with the registry office or a notary, and the ceremony is led by a mayor, a councillor or a notary.
Depending on the venue and the municipality, it can often take place at the venue itself, whether that is a finca near Deià, a hotel in Palma or a garden in Pollença.
2. Religious ceremony
A Catholic ceremony in a Mallorcan church or chapel usually needs additional paperwork from your parish and diocese.
It must also be registered civilly to have legal effect. We help you coordinate the timing, so the blessing, the registration and the celebration fit into the same weekend.
3. Symbolic ceremony
A symbolic ceremony has no legal validity, but it gives you complete freedom over the setting, the words and the person who leads it.
Many couples sign the legal documents at home, in a small registry office ceremony, and hold the symbolic ceremony in Mallorca with all their guests.
This route removes the Spanish paperwork altogether.
Documents you will usually need for a civil wedding
The exact list depends on your nationality and where you live. These are the documents authorities most often request:
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Valid passports for both partners
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Recent birth certificates
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Proof of marital status, such as a certificate or sworn statement confirming that you are free to marry
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A divorce decree or a death certificate if either of you was married before
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Apostille and sworn translation into Spanish for documents issued abroad
Civil ceremonies normally require witnesses, and an interpreter if you do not speak Spanish. Couples from some EU countries, including Germany and Ireland, may benefit from simplified rules for certain documents. We check what applies in your case.
Getting married in Mallorca from the US, the UK, Ireland or Germany
Every authority reads the list slightly differently, but some patterns repeat by country.
- American couples
The United States has no single national certificate of single status, so couples usually combine birth certificates with a sworn statement of marital status.
Documents issued by a US state are typically apostilled by that state’s Secretary of State before they are translated.
- British couples
UK documents are apostilled by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office and then translated by a sworn translator.
The proof of marital status requested can vary between registry offices, so we confirm the current rules before you order anything.
- Irish couples
Irish documents are apostilled by the Department of Foreign Affairs.
As Ireland is an EU member state, some documents may qualify for simplified recognition, which can save time.
- German couples
German couples are often asked for a certificate from their local registry office confirming that they are free to marry.
As an EU member state, Germany may benefit from simplified rules for some public documents.
How long does the paperwork take?
Allow several months. Opening the file, gathering and legalising documents, translating them and scheduling the appointment takes longer than most couples expect, especially in summer, when registry offices and notaries are busy.
We recommend starting at least six months before your wedding date, and earlier for May, June, September and October.
Depending on the authority, you may need to attend an appointment in Spain to sign the file. We schedule it around your travel, so that it fits into your venue visit or your arrival days.
What happens after the wedding?
After the ceremony, we explain how to request your marriage certificate, which you will need back home for name changes and official records.
This guide is general information and not legal advice.