Are you planning a wedding and love the idea of saying “I do” abroad—perhaps on a beach with crystal-clear waters or on snow-covered mountain peaks? Destination weddings have become increasingly popular among Czech couples in recent years. However, they also involve fulfilling several formal requirements. What are they?
There are several reasons why Czech couples choose to get married abroad. Surveys show that many couples appreciate the fact that they do not have to worry about the organisation, as everything is arranged by specialised agencies or travel companies. Others cite lower overall costs compared to a wedding in the Czech Republic. Another common reason is the opportunity to combine the wedding ceremony with a honeymoon. Most often, however, a wedding abroad is simply seen as a truly unique experience.
Where should you get married? According to last year’s data, the most popular destinations among Czech couples include the exotic islands of Mauritius and the Seychelles, as well as Greece, Italy and Croatia. When choosing a wedding destination, you should of course be guided by what feels close to your heart. Some couples dream of an intimate beach wedding with witnesses only, others love mountain landscapes, and for some, a wedding in Las Vegas is the perfect choice.
Naturally, your decision should also reflect your financial options, and it is advisable to consider the legal aspects as well. For example, if you get married in countries that are signatories to the Hague Convention (primarily EU countries), you will face fewer formal requirements than in the case of more exotic destinations.
If you decide to get married abroad, you will need to choose whether to arrange everything yourself or use the services of an agency. If you handle all administrative matters on your own, obtain the necessary documents and familiarise yourself with the relevant legislation, you may save some costs. However, if you are short on time or want to avoid stress and enjoy your wedding preparations, we recommend turning to a reputable wedding or travel agency.
The documents required for a wedding abroad can be divided into two categories:
So what documents are usually required to get married abroad?
What needs to be arranged after the wedding? Documents confirming the marriage are issued by the foreign authority that performed the ceremony and must then be submitted to the Czech authorities for the marriage to be legally recognised in the Czech Republic.
As you may already suspect, it is not possible to submit documents in Czech to foreign authorities, nor to submit documents issued abroad in a foreign language to Czech authorities. All documents therefore need to be officially translated.
Documents required for the wedding ceremony must be translated into the official language of the relevant country, while the foreign marriage certificate must be translated into Czech. In many cases, a certified translation is sufficient if the documents are submitted in countries with which the Czech Republic has concluded a bilateral agreement on the exemption from document legalization. Otherwise, an apostille or superlegalization will also be required.
If the Czech Republic does not have a bilateral agreement with the country in question, documents must be not only officially translated but also authenticated. The method of authentication depends on whether or not the country where you are getting married is a member of the Hague Convention.
For countries that are members of the Hague Convention, an apostille is sufficient. For countries outside the Convention, superlegalization is required.
Prepare All Required Documents in Advance
As outlined above, for a marriage concluded abroad to be valid in the Czech Republic, you must visit a registry office after returning home. You will need to bring the authenticated marriage certificate officially translated into Czech, as well as your birth certificates and identity cards. The registry office will forward the documents to the Special Registry Office in Brno, which will issue a Czech marriage certificate. Please note, however, that marriages concluded in certain foreign countries are not legally recognised in the Czech Republic.
Given the need for certified translations and, where applicable, apostilles or superlegalization, it is advisable to start planning your wedding well in advance. Ideally, you should begin preparations at least three months ahead to ensure that all documents are ready and that you comply with the rules and deadlines of the destination country.
The first step should be to contact the authorities in the country where you plan to get married. They will inform you of all the requirements you need to meet.
To make your wedding preparations as stress-free as possible, we recommend familiarising yourself thoroughly with the legal regulations of the destination country and the conditions for recognising the marriage under Czech law.
Have all required documents officially translated as early as possible, and arrange apostilles or superlegalization where necessary, through a reliable translation agency. Official authentication usually takes several days. However, local registry offices may require copies of documents to be submitted well in advance.