Marriage Licences

Congratulations on your marriage!

To make it legal you need a valid Ontario marriage licence before your marriage ceremony. You can purchase your marriage licence from the City of Oshawa or any other municipal office in Ontario.

A marriage licence is valid for three months from the date of issue and can be used anywhere in Ontario.

In Ontario you must be at least 16 years old to marry. If you are between 16 and 18 years old, you need written consent from both your parents. You can get consent forms where you get a marriage licence.

The fee for a marriage licence is $135 (non-refundable), payable by cash, debit, cheque, MasterCard, Visa or American Express.

Applying for a marriage licence

Requirements:

submit your marriage licence application
bring a completed application form signed by both parties
bring two pieces of original and valid government-issued identification for each person getting married (original identification only, we will not accept photocopies or scanned images/documents). One piece of identification must include your photo. I.D. must not be expired.
bring divorce documentation, if applicable (see below)
pay a fee of $135

Both parties do not have to be present to apply, if:

both of you have signed and dated the completed application
you bring the required identification for each person on the application (original identification only, we cannot accept photocopies or scanned images/documents)
you bring original divorce documentation, if applicable

Interpreter:

if you cannot read or understand English, you must bring your own interpreter
the interpreter must present their own identification

Identification requirements

Each person applying for the marriage licence must provide two pieces of government-issued identification:

one piece of identification must include your photo
identification must be valid and original (we will not accept photocopies or scanned images/documents)
identification must provide your legal name and date of birth
your first and last names must match the two pieces of identification that you are presenting
to have your middle name(s) included on your marriage licence, it must also appear on both pieces of identification that you are presenting
identification can be from any country, as long as it is government-issued
if the identification is not in English, a written translation from a certified translator is required

Examples of government-issued identification:

government-issued birth certificate, including any change of name certificates
valid passport
record of immigrant landing
Canadian Citizenship Card
valid driver's licence
valid Ontario Photo Card

Remarry after a divorce

Divorced in Canada

You must submit official proof of the divorce when applying for a marriage licence. The proof must be an original or a court-certified copy of a:

final decree
final judgment
certificate of divorce

A certified copy of any of the above divorce documents may be obtained from the court office that granted the divorce. All documents will be returned.

If you do not know where your divorce was granted contact the Central Registry of Divorce Proceedings at 1-613-957-4519.

Divorced outside Canada

If you were divorced outside of Canada, you will need to provide certain documents to prove that you are no longer married. The government needs to validate these documents. This process can take up to four weeks.

You will need to send the following documents to Service Ontario:

marriage licence application form completed and signed
statement of sole responsibility for each divorce (signed by both people who plan to get married and a witness)
legal opinion letter from an Ontario lawyer addressed to both people who plan to get married, giving reasons why the divorce or annulment should be recognized in Ontario
divorce decree or annulment
- an original or court-certified copy in English or French
- if the decree is in another language, you will need to include a translated copy and an affidavit sworn by a certified translator

Please mail these documents directly to:

Service Ontario
Marriage Office
P.O. Box 4600
189 Red River Road
Thunder Bay, ON P7B 6L8

You can also contact their office for a sample legal opinion letter.

For more information, contact Service Ontario, Marriage Office at 1-800-461-2156.

Publication of Banns

The publication of banns is an announcement about your intent to marry in your church, mosque or synagogue.

a marriage may be solemnized under the authority of the publication of banns if both parties to the proposed marriage worship regularly at their own church in Canada.
No one may marry under the authority of the publication of banns if there was a previous marriage (dissolved or annulled).
A marriage licence from the municipality is not required under the publication of banns.
Further information concerning marriage under the authority of the publication of banns should be obtained from a minister or a member of the clergy.

More marriage licence information from Service Ontario