Getting married in Australia: notice, celebrants, registry weddings and certificates
You do not need to be an Australian citizen or permanent resident to marry in Australia; visitor and student visa holders can marry too. The process: lodge a Notice of Intended Marriage with an authorised celebrant at least 1 month (and no more than 18 months) before the wedding, hold the ceremony with the celebrant and 2 adult witnesses, then apply to the BDM of the state where you married for an official marriage certificate. The cheapest option is a wedding at a state registry office: from A$482 on a weekday at the Pyrmont registry in Sydney (NSW), A$500 for the Classic package at the Melbourne registry (VIC), and A$410.60 at the Brisbane registry (QLD). Same-sex marriage is legal.
Key facts
- Requirements to marry in Australia
- Neither of you is already married; you are not each other's parent, grandparent, child, grandchild, brother or sister; you are both 18 or over (if one of you is 16–18, a court must approve); you both understand what marriage means and consent freely; you say the legally required words during the ceremony; you lodge a Notice of Intended Marriage in advance; and an authorised marriage celebrant conducts the ceremony.1
- Timing of the Notice of Intended Marriage
- Lodge it with an authorised celebrant at least 1 month and no more than 18 months before the wedding. You can complete it while you are still overseas. If you have less than 1 month, a prescribed authority can approve a shorter notice for reasons such as work or travel commitments, wedding arrangements, medical reasons, legal proceedings or an error in the notice.1
- No need to be a citizen or permanent resident
- Marriage does not require Australian citizenship or permanent residence. If you are not a citizen or PR and want to stay in Australia after marrying, you need to look into visas separately.1
- Same-sex marriage
- The right to marry in Australia is no longer determined by sex or gender (marriage equality).1
- What to give the celebrant
- Proof of your date and place of birth (birth certificate or passport), proof of identity (driver licence or passport), and proof that any previous marriage has ended. The celebrant must meet each of you separately and in person before the ceremony.1
- On the wedding day and after
- The couple, the celebrant and 2 witnesses aged 18 or over sign 3 marriage certificates. The celebrant gives you a commemorative marriage certificate on the day; this is not the official certificate. The celebrant must lodge the documents with the BDM of the state or territory where you married within 14 days. To change your name or prove you are married, apply to the BDM for an official marriage certificate (the celebrant can do this for you, usually for a fee).1
- NSW: Pyrmont registry weddings
- Classic ceremony (Terrumi room, up to 30 guests): from A$482 Monday to Friday 9am–4pm, from A$597 on Saturdays. Legal-only ceremony (the couple and 2 witnesses only): from A$482 Monday to Friday, from A$597 on Saturdays. The fee includes the celebrant, lodging the NOIM and the official marriage certificate.2
- NSW: official marriage certificate
- Standard service A$70, priority A$105 (both include A$11 postage), fees from 1 July 2026. The celebrant has up to 14 days to register the marriage; an online application takes up to 3 weeks to issue.3
- VIC: Victorian Marriage Registry weddings in Melbourne
- Classic package A$500 Monday to Friday, A$600 on Saturdays and Sundays; Legal-only package A$400, Monday to Thursday only. Both include the celebrant, lodging the NOIM, the Commonwealth marriage certificate on the day and an official marriage certificate sent by courier, but not witnesses or an interpreter. The fee includes a non-refundable administration fee of A$195.10. Fees updated 1 July 2026.4
- VIC: official marriage certificate
- A$59.10, plus A$10.60 for courier delivery within Australia (A$58.60 international), fees from 1 July 2026. Issued within 14 days.5
- QLD: Brisbane registry weddings
- A$410.60 Monday to Friday, A$534.00 on Saturdays, including the celebrant, 30 minutes in the ceremony room and a commemorative certificate but not the official marriage certificate (except for evening ceremonies). Legal-only ceremony A$410.60, weekdays only, couple and 2 witnesses only. Your interview must be at least 1 month before the wedding. All 2026 dates are booked; only 2027 bookings are being taken.6
- QLD: official marriage certificate
- Official marriage certificate A$58.10; commemorative certificate package (includes 1 official certificate) A$75.60; priority processing an extra A$34.45. Standard post is free. A standard application takes up to 10 business days.7
Who is this for, and what are the requirements?
- Anyone can marry in Australia; you do not need to be a citizen or permanent resident. Visitor, student and work visa holders can marry.
- Both of you must be unmarried (with proof of divorce or a spouse's death if applicable), not close relatives, and aged 18 or over (16–18 needs court approval).
- If you are overseas, you can complete the Notice of Intended Marriage, send it to a celebrant in Australia, and then come to Australia for the ceremony.
- Marriage and visas are separate. If you want to stay in Australia after marrying, you must apply for a visa separately; ask a registered migration agent or a lawyer about visa questions.
How do I do it? Steps and process
- Choose a celebrant or a registry office
You can use a Commonwealth-registered civil celebrant, a minister of religion, or book a registry wedding with a state BDM (Pyrmont in NSW, the Old Treasury Building in VIC, the Brisbane registry in QLD). Celebrants set their own fees, so ask first.
- Complete the Notice of Intended Marriage (NOIM)
Download the form from the Attorney-General's Department website and give it to your celebrant at least 1 month and no more than 18 months before the wedding. Sign it in front of an authorised witness (a celebrant, JP, lawyer, doctor, police officer and others). Since 12 June 2024 the signature can also be witnessed remotely by video.
- Get your documents ready
A birth certificate or passport (proof of date and place of birth), a driver licence or passport (identity), and a divorce certificate or death certificate if either of you was married before. Documents not in English need a NAATI-certified translation. The celebrant meets each of you separately and in person.
- Registry weddings: attend an interview first
In NSW, book a marriage interview (by phone or at Pyrmont); you can set a date only after the interview. At the Brisbane registry in QLD, the interview must be at least 1 month before the wedding; bring original documents (certified copies are not accepted). In VIC, book online. Registry dates fill up fast: Brisbane is fully booked for 2026.
- Hold the ceremony
The celebrant, the couple and 2 witnesses aged 18 or over must be in the same place (you cannot marry online). The celebrant says the legally required words, everyone signs 3 certificates, and you receive a commemorative certificate on the day. If either of you does not understand English, bring an interpreter: a NAATI-certified interpreter, or any bilingual person who is not one of the couple or a witness.
- Apply for the official marriage certificate
After the celebrant lodges the documents with the BDM within 14 days, apply to the BDM of the state where you married: NSW A$70, VIC A$59.10, QLD A$58.10. You need this official certificate to change your name, apply for a partner visa or use the marriage overseas. The NSW and VIC registry packages include it; in QLD you apply separately.
What documents do I need?
- Notice of Intended Marriage (NOIM) form, signed in front of an authorised witness
- Birth certificate or passport (proof of date and place of birth)
- Driver licence or passport (proof of identity)
- Divorce certificate or the death certificate of a former spouse (if applicable)
- If one of you is 16–18: court approval (and parental consent)
- Documents not in English: NAATI-certified translations
- On the day: 2 witnesses aged 18 or over (registry offices require witnesses who understand English and do not provide them)
What should I watch out for?
- The certificate you receive on the wedding day is commemorative and is not official proof of marriage. To change your name, apply for a partner visa or use the marriage overseas, you need the official marriage certificate issued by the BDM.
- The NSW and VIC registry packages include the official marriage certificate. The Brisbane registry in QLD does not (except for evening ceremonies); you pay A$58.10 to apply for it separately.
- Book registry weddings early: the Brisbane registry is full for 2026 and is taking bookings for 2027 only. The Pyrmont registry in NSW holds free open days where you can lodge your NOIM on the spot.
- The ceremony is conducted in English. If either of you does not understand English, you must arrange an interpreter. Registry offices also require witnesses who understand English, and they do not provide witnesses.
- Since 12 June 2024 the NOIM signature can be witnessed remotely by video, but the celebrant must still meet each of you separately and in person before the ceremony, and the wedding itself must take place with the celebrant, the couple and 2 witnesses in the same place.
- A marriage performed overseas is generally recognised in Australia (if it was valid there and would be valid in Australia); it cannot be registered in Australia. Some states do not accept overseas marriage certificates for a name change, so ask your local BDM first.
- Marriage does not give you a visa. A partner visa is a separate application with its own conditions; ask a registered migration agent or a lawyer. This page does not give visa advice.
- This page is a plain-English summary of public information. State registry fees may change each 1 July; check the Attorney-General's Department and your state's BDM for the official rules. This is not immigration or legal advice.
What has changed recently?
- NSW BDM and VIC BDM updated their fees for the new financial year: NSW official marriage certificate A$70 (priority A$105); VIC official marriage certificate A$59.10, registry Classic package A$500 / A$600, Legal-only A$400.Source: bdm.vic.gov.au ↗
- Amendments to the Marriage Act took effect: the Notice of Intended Marriage can be signed with remote video witnessing; celebrants must meet each party separately and in person before the ceremony; and the celebrant must be in the same place as the couple and 2 witnesses to conduct the wedding.Source: ag.gov.au ↗
Common questions
How do I get married in Australia? How far in advance do I need to start?
Lodge a Notice of Intended Marriage with an authorised celebrant at least 1 month and no more than 18 months before the wedding. Give the celebrant proof of your date and place of birth, your identity and the end of any previous marriage; the celebrant meets each of you separately. Hold the ceremony with 2 witnesses aged 18 or over, then apply to the state BDM for the official marriage certificate.
We are not Australian citizens. Can we marry in Australia on a visitor or student visa?
Yes. Marriage in Australia does not require citizenship or permanent residence, so visitor, student and work visa holders can marry. You can even complete the Notice of Intended Marriage while overseas and send it to a celebrant in Australia. Marriage and visas are separate: if you want to stay in Australia afterwards, you must apply for a visa separately and should ask a registered migration agent or a lawyer.
What is the cheapest way to get married? How much does a registry office wedding cost?
A registry wedding at a state BDM is the cheapest option. In NSW, the Pyrmont registry in Sydney charges from A$482 on weekdays and from A$597 on Saturdays, including the official certificate. In VIC, the Melbourne registry's Classic package is A$500 on weekdays and A$600 on weekends, and Legal-only is A$400. In QLD, the Brisbane registry charges A$410.60 on weekdays and A$534.00 on Saturdays, excluding the official certificate.
What is the Notice of Intended Marriage and what documents do I need?
The NOIM is the legal notice you must give an authorised celebrant at least 1 month and no more than 18 months before the wedding. Download it from the Attorney-General's Department website and sign it in front of an authorised witness; since 12 June 2024 video witnessing is allowed. You also need a birth certificate or passport, a driver licence or passport, proof that any earlier marriage ended, and NAATI-certified translations of documents not in English.
How do I apply for a marriage certificate? How much does it cost and how long does it take?
Apply to the BDM of the state where you married after the celebrant lodges the documents within 14 days. NSW: A$70 standard or A$105 priority, up to 3 weeks online. VIC: A$59.10 plus A$10.60 courier, within 14 days. QLD: A$58.10, or A$34.45 extra for priority, up to 10 business days. NSW and VIC registry packages include the certificate; in QLD you apply separately.
Can I use the certificate I get on the wedding day for a visa or to change my name?
No. The certificate the celebrant gives you on the day is commemorative, not official proof of marriage. To change your name, apply for a partner visa or use your marriage overseas, you need the official marriage certificate issued by the BDM of the state where you married. Your celebrant can apply for it on your behalf, usually for a fee.
Can same-sex couples marry in Australia?
Yes. The right to marry in Australia is no longer determined by sex or gender (marriage equality). The process is the same for every couple: lodge a Notice of Intended Marriage, have an authorised celebrant conduct the ceremony with 2 witnesses aged 18 or over, and apply to the state BDM for the official certificate.
Does getting married in Australia give me a partner visa?
No. Marriage does not give you a visa. A partner visa is a separate application with its own conditions. If you are not a citizen or permanent resident and want to stay in Australia after marrying, ask a registered migration agent or a lawyer.
Answers are based on the verified content of this page — the official source always prevails.
Where can I check the official information?
- Get marriedAttorney-General's Department · ag.gov.au
- Pyrmont Wedding RegistryNSW Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages · nsw.gov.au
- Fees and processing timesNSW Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages · nsw.gov.au
- Wedding ceremony fees (Victorian Marriage Registry)Births, Deaths and Marriages Victoria · bdm.vic.gov.au
- Get a marriage certificateBirths, Deaths and Marriages Victoria · bdm.vic.gov.au
- Get married at the Brisbane registryQueensland Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages · qld.gov.au
- Get a marriage certificateQueensland Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages · qld.gov.au
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The AI answers using this guide and official Australian government websites.
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