Getting Married Abroad This Summer? Here's How to Prepare Your U.S. Documents
Summer is one of the most popular seasons for destination weddings and international marriages. Whether you're planning to exchange vows in Italy, Mexico, France, Spain, the Dominican Republic, Japan, Thailand, or another beautiful destination, many countries require official U.S. documents before your marriage can legally take place.
Understanding these requirements early can help you avoid delays and last-minute stress.
At American Notary Service Center, we help individuals throughout the United States prepare their documents for international use through professional notary, apostille, and document authentication services.
Common Documents Required for Marriage Abroad
Each country has its own requirements, but many request one or more of the following documents:
Single Status Affidavit (Affidavit of Eligibility to Marry)
Birth Certificate
Divorce Decree (if previously married)
Death Certificate of Former Spouse (if applicable)
Passport Copy
Court Documents
Name Change Documents
Before submitting your documents, always verify the requirements with the foreign country's civil registry, embassy, consulate, or wedding coordinator.
What Is a Single Status Affidavit?
A Single Status Affidavit, sometimes called an Affidavit of Eligibility to Marry, is a sworn statement declaring that you are legally free to marry.
Many countries require this document because the United States does not issue a national certificate proving someone is unmarried.
Since this affidavit is signed by you, it usually must first be notarized before it can receive an apostille or authentication.
Our office provides professionally prepared affidavit templates and notary services for clients who are signing in person. This is optional and you can always bring your own drafted single status affidavit.,
Single Status Affidavit - English ($9.99)
Single Status Affidavit - English and Spanish ($14.99)
Birth Certificates for International Marriage
Foreign governments frequently require a certified copy of your U.S. birth certificate.
Depending on where the birth certificate was issued and where it will be used, it may need:
An Apostille
State Authentication
Federal Authentication
Embassy or Consular Legalization
Using an incorrect or unofficial copy can delay your wedding plans, so it's important to verify that your document qualifies before submission.
Apostille vs. Authentication: What's the Difference?
The process depends on the country where you will be getting married.
Apostille
If your destination country is a member of the Hague Apostille Convention, your documents generally require an Apostille.
An apostille certifies the authenticity of the signature and seal on your document so it can be recognized in another participating country.
Authentication and Embassy Legalization
If your destination country is not part of the Hague Apostille Convention, your documents may instead require:
State Authentication
U.S. Department of State Authentication
Embassy or Consulate Legalization
This process typically involves additional steps and processing time.
Why Start Early?
Marriage document requirements often involve multiple government agencies.
Processing times can vary depending on:
The issuing state
Government processing times
Embassy requirements
International shipping
Starting several weeks before your wedding helps reduce unnecessary stress and provides time to correct any document issues if needed.
How American Notary Service Center Can Help
Our experienced team assists individuals throughout the United States by helping prepare documents for international use.
Our services include:
Notary Services (in-person)
Apostille Services for all 50 states
Document Authentication Services
Embassy & Consulate Legalization Assistance
Document Review
Document Retrieval Services (when eligible)
Domestic and International Return Shipping
Before submitting your documents, we carefully review them to help identify common issues that could delay processing.
Planning Your Wedding Overseas?
Preparing your documents correctly is just as important as planning the venue, travel, and celebration.
Whether you need a notarized Single Status Affidavit, an apostilled birth certificate, or complete authentication for a non-Hague country, our experienced team is here to guide you through the process.
Contact American Notary Service Center today to learn how we can help prepare your documents for your international wedding, so you can focus on celebrating your special day with confidence.
📞 Call us or send us a text message: 202-599-0777
American Notary Service Center Inc. provides fair, fast, confidential, and professional document notarization and certification services for our clients. We also provide various assistance services to small businesses led by socially and economically disadvantaged groups. Our service helps small businesses obtain federal government contracts, gain a foothold in the market, and boost their sales. For more information, please visit our website at www.usnotarycenter.com, and contact us by calling 202-599-0777 or by email at info@usnotarycenter.com.
