If you wish to get married in Austria, it is important to know that only civil ceremonies are legally binding in the country. However, you may also wish to have a religious ceremony. Here is what you need to know.
Marriages in Austria are legally binding and are recognised by international governments. There are no residency requirements for Austrian weddings, so the marriage can occur as soon as all paperwork is completed and approved. Civil wedding ceremonies are conducted in German, so a translator may be required. They are conducted by the Vital Statistics Office, know as the Standesamt.
Important:
Since January 1st, 2010, Austria has legalised same-sex registered partnerships and legalised same-sex marriage at the beginning of 2019.
Legal requirements for getting married in Austria
To get married in Austria, both parties must be over the age of 18 or be accompanied by a parent or guardian if they are between 16-18 years. They also have to provide the following documents:
- Passport and their birth certificate (original or certified copy).
- Completed residence registration form and proof of residence. (Residence proof may not be required if you are staying in a hotel.)
- A completed certificate of Freedom to Marry.
- If you have been previously married, proof of the dissolution of a previous marriage and your previous marriage certificate.
- Documents must be translated into German by an official translator.
Procedures for getting married in Austria
The first step is to file an application for marriage, which is done at the main registrar's office in Vienna (if neither party is Austrian or an Austrian resident). If one or both parties are Austrian, the application can also be filed outside of Vienna. It is very helpful to hire a wedding planner to assist with the paperwork and bureaucratic processes because they tend to be confusing and very time consuming, especially if you don't speak German.
The application can be filed up to six months before the actual wedding date, after that you will have a two to a six-week waiting period before the application is processed and a final date for the wedding can be secured. The application must also be filed jointly, with both parties present. The registrar will require legal proof of eligibility to marry and will need to know of any potential impediments to marriage. There are also fees attached to filing the application. After the wedding has taken place, a certificate of marriage will be issued.
Divorce in Austria
And of course, nobody wants to talk about divorce at this stage, but it is something you always have to keep in mind.
A typical divorce in Austria looks like this: a consensual divorce might take two to four weeks. A non-consensual divorce with a lawsuit could take from one to three years. Usually, both parents get shared custody over the minor child. However, it might also come to an agreement, whether in court or not, about sole parental responsibility. In case that one parent lives in another country and there are children involved, the parents can agree about which parent gets custody. Otherwise, the court will decide. The parent with custody can choose where they will stay; they only have to inform the other part. You do not have to be present for a divorce; you can be presented by a lawyer.
For more detailed information about the process, you should consult your local Austrian embassy or consulate.
Wedding traditions in Austria
Austria has many wedding traditions, designed to bring good luck to the new couple. For example, Wednesdays are considered the best days for a wedding, and it is deemed to be unlucky for the bride to make her own wedding dress.
In traditional weddings, after exchanging vows, the couple enjoys a meal, traditional frivolities, and games, dancing and socialising with their friends and family. If you are attending a wedding, they are often formal affairs, and gifts are to be given to the couple, which could include money (unless otherwise specified), or something for their home and their new life together
Useful links:
Austria Official Portal
Weddings Abroad - Legal requirements for Austria
Mariage in Austria
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