How to Elope Abroad

Last Updated: November 11, 2022

If the idea of planning a big wedding with lots of guests stresses you out, you might want to consider eloping. Eloping to another country can help make your wedding memorable without all the fuss. Because different countries have different residency and legal requirements, it’s important that you plan ahead. Talk to officials who can help you plan, and make sure you have all of the necessary paperwork before you leave.

Part 1

Part 1 of 4:

Planning the Wedding

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Choose a destination first. Each country has different requirements for getting married within its borders, and those requirements often depend on your citizenship. Choosing a destination should be the first thing you do, because it will determine what your next steps need to be.^{[1]
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- For example, Mexico is a popular wedding destination because many of the resorts there have lots of experience hosting weddings for non-citizens.
- Puerto Rico, France, and Italy are also popular wedding destinations for non-citizens, but all have varying legal requirements.
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Select a location. Once you’ve chosen your destination country, you’ll need to select a location within that country to get married. This will depend a lot on what sort of wedding you want – something intimate or romantic, or maybe something in the hustle and bustle of a big city.^{[2]
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Decide on a religious or civil ceremony. Some countries have different requirements for civil and religious ceremonies. Decide ahead of time whether you want a religious or civil ceremony so the officials you speak to can give you the best and most up-to-date information.^{[3]
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- Some countries only allow citizens to have civil ceremonies. If that’s the case, you can have a religious ceremony, or a non-legally binding commitment ceremony and then get married legally when you return home.
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Hire a wedding planner. Wedding planners who specialize in weddings abroad will know the long list of rules and requirements related to getting married in that country. They can also act as your contact with the many officials you need to speak with.^{[4]
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- Some travel agencies have wedding planners associated with the agency who can help you with the wedding details.
- If you’re getting married at a resort, the resort itself might have a wedding planner. That wedding planner will usually help you make the arrangements with the necessary officials and with the resort, and also act as a coordinator the day of your wedding.
- If you can't afford a destination planner, it helps to work with a planner from the country where you're getting married.
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Choose your witnesses. Some countries require that you have a certain number of witnesses at the wedding. If you only plan on you and your spouse traveling abroad, you’ll need to find out who else would be able to serve as witnesses. If others are going with you, make sure you ask certain guests to be your witnesses ahead of time.

Part 2

Part 2 of 4:

Talking to Officials

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Contact the Embassy or Consulate in the country where you’re getting married. The Embassy or Consulate can help you figure out what sort of documentation is required, as well as how to meet other requirements for your marriage to be considered legally valid.^{[5]
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- For example, if you’re a United States citizen getting married in Paris, you’ll want to contact the American Embassy or Consulate in Paris for assistance.
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Talk to representatives of your home country. They can tell you what needs to be done for your marriage to be legally recognized in your home country upon your return. They can also let you know if there are any travel advisories to the country you’re traveling to.^{[6]
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Discuss details with representatives of your wedding location. They can let you know what to expect the day of your wedding and explain any rules or procedures. They might also be able to offer more specific advice regarding the legalities of getting married there.
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Check the residency requirements. Each country has different residency requirements for people wishing to marry in that country. You’ll need to know what the residency requirements are so that you know when to arrive in the country.^{[7]
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- For example, you can get married the day you arrive in South Africa, but you and your partner must live in France for 30 days for your marriage to be considered valid.

Part 3

Part 3 of 4:

Gathering the Proper Paperwork

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Get or renew your passport or visa. Depending on the country where you’ll be getting married, you’ll need either your passport or visa to get into the country. Your passport needs to have at least six months left before it expires.^{[8]
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- Some countries require only a passport to get in, but a visa on top of that to marry. Make sure you know if both a passport or visa are required in the country where you’re getting married.
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Gather additional paperwork. The additional paperwork you’ll need will vary according to which country you get married in. You’ll probably need your birth certificates and a divorce decree or the death certificate of a previous spouse if either of you have been married before.^{[9]
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- The Consulate or Embassy in the country where you’re marrying can tell you exactly what you need.
- Some paperwork can’t be obtained until you’re in the country where you’re getting married. For example, Italy requires that you bring certain documentation with you and then apply for two to three licenses once you arrive in Italy.
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Hire a translator. Some countries require that you have your documentation translated in the language of that country. You can hire translators who specialize in translating legal documents to do this for you.^{[10]
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- Make sure that you hire a licensed legal translator. They can be more expensive, but you want to make sure your documents are properly translated so that your marriage is legally valid.
4
Have blood work done. Some countries require that you provide evidence that you and your spouse are both HIV free before you marry. Depending on when you arrive in the country, you might have to have the blood work done while you’re there. Ask local officials where you can have the blood test done.^{[11]
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- Most resorts that host a lot of weddings will have a specific doctor they work with, or the ability to do the blood work on site.

Part 4

Part 4 of 4:

Getting Married

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Arrive in the country in enough time for residency requirements. Depending on what the requirements for residency are, you may have to arrive in the country where you’re marrying up to several weeks before your wedding.
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Finalize wedding details. Things like picking up your outfits (unless you brought them with you), getting flowers, and finalizing details at the venue should be done a few days before the wedding.
- If you’re getting married at a resort, ask the wedding planner on site to finalize the details for you.
3
Finalize the necessary paperwork in your home country. When you get home from your wedding, you may need to file more paperwork at home to get legal recognition of your marriage in your home country. You can contact your state department or local government to find out what the requirements in your country are.
- For example, you may need to submit your wedding certificate with an Apostille - an authentication stamp to formally recognize legal documents created in one country as legally binding in another. Depending on your home country, you may need to contact your state department.
4
Have an official ceremony when you get home. If you're on a vacation abroad and suddenly seized by the desire to elope, go for it! You can have a small, unofficial ceremony that lets you enjoy the scenery and romance of a foreign location, and then get married in a quiet legal ceremony when you get home.
- You can walk into the nearest church or courthouse and ask how you have an unofficial wedding in the country you're in.

Expert Q&A

Question

What is the easiest way to get married abroad?

Alison Hotchkiss
Event Planner
Alison Hotchkiss is an Event Planner and the Founder of Alison Events Planning, Design, and Travel based in Sausalito, California. With over 21 years of experience, she specializes in planning luxury travel for clients in both the honeymoon and leisure travel sectors. Alison Events Planning, Design, and Travel was named as one of Vogue’s best wedding planners around the world and is at the top of the list of wedding planners for Goop, Brides, and Martha Stewart Weddings. Alison received a Bachelors degree from Colorado State University.

Alison Hotchkiss

Event Planner

Expert Answer

It's easiest to get legally married in the country where you're from and then have a symbolic ceremony in the destination of your choice.
Question

What if I had a fight with my mom and I'm wrong?

Community Answer

Get in touch with her and tell her you're sorry and that you made a terrible mistake. She is your mother and she will most likely understand and forgive you, even if it was a big fight.

Warnings

Because different countries have different legal requirements to get married, it's not advisable to decide spur of the moment to get married in another country.

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