Foreigners can legally marry in the US as visitors, with no residency or citizenship requirement. Licences are issued county by county, so waiting periods and officiant rules vary by state. Most licences must be used within 30–90 days of issue, though some states allow longer (Nevada allows up to a year). Recognition abroad usually needs a certified, apostilled copy of the marriage certificate.
The United States is, on paper, one of the more straightforward countries in the world for a foreigner to marry in legally — there is no residency requirement, no citizenship test, and no need for a special visa purely to wed. The complication is that marriage law in America is not federal: it is set state by state and administered county by county, so the exact process, wait and paperwork depend entirely on where you choose to say “I do”. A little local homework early on goes a long way.
There is no residency or citizenship requirement
Any foreign national present in the US, including as a visitor, can apply for a marriage licence and marry legally there — no green card, spousal visa or long-term stay is needed simply to hold the wedding. One caution worth flagging: entering the country as a tourist with the pre-formed intention of marrying and then trying to change your immigration status afterwards can raise visa-fraud questions with US authorities. If either partner intends to move to the US permanently after the wedding, take separate immigration advice well ahead of travel.
The marriage licence: county by county, not nationwide
There is no single “US marriage licence” — each of the fifty states sets its own rules, and licences are issued locally, by the county clerk (or equivalent office) covering your venue. In most counties, both partners attend in person with valid passport ID, complete a short application and pay a modest fee, and are issued the licence there and then or after a brief wait. A few jurisdictions let you start the paperwork online in advance, which saves time in busy wedding counties such as Los Angeles or Napa.
Waiting periods, expiry, and who can officiate
Some states, including California and Nevada, have no waiting period at all, so the ceremony can follow the licence within the hour. Others build in a short pause — commonly one to three days between applying and marrying, such as 24 hours in New York and South Carolina or 72 hours in Texas. Once issued, a licence is usually only valid for a fixed window before it expires unused, commonly 30 to 90 days, and up to a year in some states such as Nevada, so it pays to time the paperwork to your actual wedding date rather than collect it too far ahead. Who may conduct the ceremony also varies by state — clergy and judges can solemnise a marriage everywhere, notaries public only in a few states such as Florida and South Carolina, and a handful of states even allow couples to “self-solemnise” with no officiant present at all. The county clerk’s office publishes the current rules for its county, and they do change.
| Civil (legal in the US) | Symbolic (legal at home) | |
|---|---|---|
| Legally binding | Yes | No (you marry at home) |
| Where | County clerk + authorised officiant | Anywhere |
| Paperwork | Passport ID, licence fee, translated divorce papers if relevant | Minimal |
| Lead time | Often same day to a few days’ wait | Driven by your home country |
| Best for | A genuinely legal US wedding | Couples already married at home, or wanting zero admin |
Getting it recognised back home
A US civil marriage is real and binding, but you will still want it recognised officially in your own country. The standard route is to obtain a certified copy of the marriage certificate from the county or state vital records office, then have it apostilled — typically via the relevant Secretary of State — if your home country is party to the Hague Apostille Convention, as most are. Some countries also expect the certificate to be translated, and a few place their own limits on how recently the document must have been issued, so US paperwork does not always transfer unaided.
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Quick answers
Can tourists legally marry in the United States?
Yes. Foreign visitors can apply for a marriage licence and marry legally in the US with no residency or citizenship requirement. The marriage itself does not require a special visa, though couples planning to relocate afterwards should take separate immigration advice.
What documents do foreigners need to marry in the US?
Requirements vary by county, but most ask for valid passport ID for both partners, a completed application and a licence fee. If either partner was previously married or divorced, some counties request supporting documents, occasionally translated. The local clerk’s office sets the exact list.
How long does it take to legally marry in the United States?
It depends on the state. Some, including California and Nevada, have no waiting period, so you can marry the same day the licence is issued. Others build in a short wait, commonly a few days, between application and ceremony.
Does a US marriage licence expire?
Yes, in most states. Once issued, a licence is typically valid only for a fixed window — commonly somewhere between thirty and ninety days, and up to a year in some states such as Nevada — before it expires unused, and some states also impose a short waiting period before it can first be used. Time the paperwork to your wedding date.
Will a US wedding be recognised as legal back home?
Generally yes, once you obtain a certified copy of the marriage certificate and, for most countries, have it apostilled via the relevant Secretary of State. Some countries also require translation or apply their own timing rules.