Applying for a Marriage License

How it works

You must get an Alberta marriage licence before you can get married in Alberta.

A marriage licence shows a marriage officiant that all the laws in Alberta have been met and the couple can get married.

Alberta Marriage Licences are available from a registry agent office.

A registry agent issues a 2-part document. The top part is a Registration of Marriage and the bottom part is the marriage licence:

the full document (Registration of Marriage and Marriage Licence) must be given to the marriage officiant that will be performing the marriage
the document must be kept in good condition and not folded as the document will be permanently archived

a couple must apply together for their marriage licence – some exceptions may apply, check with a registry agent for details
a couple cannot be under the influence of a drug or alcohol when applying
there’s no time period that must pass between the date a couple arrives in Alberta and the date a licence is issued
there are no residency requirements
there are no citizenship requirements
blood tests are not required
banns, which are postings or announcements in a church, aren’t acceptable in place of a marriage licence
in Alberta a person cannot marry his/her grandparent, parent, child, sibling or grandchild that is related by whole blood, half blood or adoption
the couple getting married must swear/affirm one or more affidavits
the couple getting married must provide their parents’ birth places and full names (including mother’s maiden name)
when either person getting married is hearing, speech or visually impaired, additional requirements may apply – check with a registry agent for details
When either person getting married is cognitively impaired and has a court ordered guardian appointed, additional requirements apply – check with a registry agent for details

a licence is valid for 3 months from the date it’s issued
an Alberta Marriage Licence is only valid for an Alberta marriage – the wedding must take place in Alberta
a wedding may take place the same day a marriage licence is issued – there is no waiting time

both persons getting married must be fluent in English; otherwise an interpreter is needed
- when the registry agent employee issuing the marriage licence is fluent in the other language, then that registry agent employee may be the interpreter and issue the marriage licence
when an interpreter is needed, it’s the couple’s responsibility to provide one
- an interpreter must be 18 years of age or older
- the interpreter must be fluent in both English and the language requiring translation
the couple applying for a marriage licence cannot interpret/translate for each other