Notice of Intended Marriage (NOIM) in Canberra
What the Notice of Intended Marriage is, when to lodge it, and how to prepare it properly for a paperwork-only marriage in Canberra.
The Notice of Intended Marriage, usually called the NOIM, is the form that starts the legal marriage process in Australia.
If you are booking our paperwork-only service, this is one of the key documents you need to sort out early.
The easiest way to prepare it
Use NOIM Easy. It walks you through the form step by step, creates a completed PDF, and can email a copy to your celebrant if you want.
When to lodge it
Your celebrant must receive the NOIM:
- at least one calendar month before the marriage
- no more than 18 months before the marriage
If you are hoping to marry soon, do not wait.
Can the NOIM be witnessed remotely?
Yes. The Attorney-General’s Department says that from 12 June 2024 the NOIM can be witnessed in person or remotely by audio-visual link.
The witness still has to be an authorised witness, and the location rules still matter. The official NOIM form lists who can witness it.
What else you usually need
Your celebrant will also need:
- evidence of your date and place of birth
- proof of identity
- proof the end of any previous marriage, if relevant
If documents are not in English, translations may be needed.
Important point people miss
The NOIM is not the booking itself.
For this service, the journey is:
- book and pay through Get Married
- prepare the NOIM
- have it witnessed
- send it to us
- once the paperwork is received, we confirm the date, time, and place, subject to availability
Need more help?
See our guides on ID requirements, one month notice, and shortening of time.
No fuss. No frills. No wedding. Just paperwork.
Ready to book your paperwork-only marriage?
Book first, then prepare your Notice of Intended Marriage. NOIM Easy walks you through the form step by step and can generate a completed PDF ready to print.
- 1. Click Get Married and fill in the booking form.
- 2. Pay the booking fee.
- 3. Prepare your Notice of Intended Marriage with NOIM Easy and have it witnessed by an authorised witness.
- 4. Once we receive your paperwork, we confirm the date, time, and place, subject to our availability.
Want more than the legal paperwork? For a full ceremony, book a Canberra celebrant like Josh Withers. For an elopement, see an elopement creator like Elopement Collective. You can also browse the wider Australian Marriage Offices network.