Marriage Licences

Important information before starting your application:

• You will be taken to the Province's online marriage licence application form.
• Once you've submitted your application form, you will have one opportunity to download a copy of your completed form. This form will be required if only one of you plans to attend in person to obtain the marriage licence.
• If you do not download, print, and ensure both applicants sign this form, then both parties must attend in person in order to obtain your marriage licence.

I am ready to apply for a marriage licence

Each person applying for the marriage licence must provide two pieces of government-issued identification:

• one piece of identification must include your photo
• identification must be valid and original (we will not accept photocopies or scanned images/documents)
• identification cannot be expired
• identification must provide your legal name and date of birth
• your first and last names must match the two pieces of identification that you are presenting
• to have your middle name(s) included on your marriage licence, it must also appear on both pieces of identification that you are presenting
• identification can be from any country, as long as it is government-issued
• if the identification is not in English, a written translation from a certified translator is required

Examples of government-issued identification:

• 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

Note: Health cards, and S.I.N. cards cannot be used for marriage licence applications.

Divorced in Canada

You must submit official proof of the divorce when applying for a marriage licence. The proof must be an original or a court-certified copy of a:

• final decree
• final judgment
• certificate of divorce

A certified copy of any of the above divorce documents may be obtained from the court office that granted the divorce. All documents will be returned.

If you do not know where your divorce was granted contact the Central Registry of Divorce Proceedings at 1-613-957-4519.

Divorced outside 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 four weeks.

You will need to send the following documents to Service Ontario:

• marriage licence application form completed and signed
• statement of sole responsibility for each divorce (signed by both people who plan 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

Please mail these documents directly to:

Service Ontario
Marriage Office
P.O. Box 4600
189 Red River Road
Thunder Bay, ON P7B 6L8

You can also contact their office for a sample legal opinion letter.

For more information, contact Service Ontario, Marriage Office at 1-800-461-2156.

The publication of banns is an announcement about your intent to marry in your church, mosque or synagogue.

• A marriage may be solemnized under the authority of the publication of banns if both parties to the proposed marriage worship regularly at their own church in Canada.
• No one may marry under the authority of the publication of banns if there was a previous marriage (dissolved or annulled).
• A marriage licence from the municipality is not required under the publication of banns.
• Further information concerning marriage under the authority of the publication of banns should be obtained from a minister or a member of the clergy.

More marriage licence information from Service Ontario