Who Can Get Married in Canberra ACT?

Basic Requirements

To get married in Canberra, you must:

  • be at least 18 years old, unless a court has approved a marriage involving a 16 or 17 year old
  • not already be married
  • not be marrying a close relative
  • understand what marriage means
  • freely consent to the marriage
  • lodge notice at least one month before
  • have two adult witnesses present

Citizenship and Residency

You can get married in Canberra if you are:

  • an Australian citizen
  • a permanent resident
  • a tourist or visitor
  • on a student visa
  • on another temporary visa
  • from overseas and only coming to Australia for the marriage

There is no Australian citizenship or residency requirement for getting married here.

Who Cannot Get Married

Marriage is not permitted if:

  • either person is currently married
  • you are closely related by blood or adoption in a prohibited way
  • either person is under 16
  • either person cannot give real consent
  • the documentation requirements are not met
  • the notice period has not been observed

Age Requirements

Adults

  • Adults aged 18 and over can marry if the other legal requirements are met.

People Aged 16 or 17

  • This is rare.
  • Court approval is required.
  • The required consents must also be in place.
  • A person under 16 cannot marry in Australia.

Previous Marriage

If previously married, you must provide proof that the earlier marriage has legally ended:

  • a divorce order, or
  • a death certificate of the former spouse

Same-Sex Marriage

Marriage in Australia is available to couples regardless of sex, gender, or sexuality. The legal requirements are the same for all couples.

International Couples

You can get married in Canberra even if:

  • both of you live overseas
  • one of you is in Australia and one is overseas before the ceremony
  • neither of you is an Australian citizen

What matters is meeting the legal requirements and having the paperwork handled correctly.

Both parties must:

  • understand what marriage means
  • consent freely
  • be capable of making the decision to marry

Forced marriage is not lawful in Australia.

Location Requirements

You can get married:

  • anywhere in Canberra or the ACT that is suitable for the legal ceremony
  • at a home, office, park, cafe, or private venue
  • any day of the week, subject to celebrant availability

If you want a minimal ceremony, start with Paperwork-Only Marriage in Canberra or Simple Marriage Service in Canberra.