Expediente matrimonial y celebración del matrimonio civil
Get married at the Civil Registry (civil marriage)
Open the marriage file (expediente matrimonial) at the Registro Civil where one of you is on the padrón, then hold the civil ceremony — in Barcelona, usually before a city councillor.
- Legal deadline
- 1 year, from the resolution authorising the marriage
- How long it takes
- n/a
- Cost
- free at the Registro Civil; a notary or the Ajuntament set their own cost
Is this the right procedure for me?
- Who it is for
- EU and non-EU citizens
- When
- Later, or only for some people
Do these first
What to bring
- The completed and signed marriage application, and a declaration of civil status sworn or promised and signed by each of you.seujudicial.gencat.cat
- Original and copy of the DNI, NIE or passport of each of you and of both witnesses.seujudicial.gencat.cat
- An up-to-date padrón certificate for each of you.seujudicial.gencat.cat
- An up-to-date full birth certificate (certificado literal de nacimiento) for each of you.seujudicial.gencat.cat
- For a foreign national: a certificate of civil status issued by their consulate, embassy or home-country authority.seujudicial.gencat.cat
- If divorced: the full certificate of the previous marriage with the divorce noted, or, as your country's law provides, the full marriage certificate plus the divorce certificate or final divorce judgment. If widowed: the full certificate of the previous marriage and the spouse's death certificate.seujudicial.gencat.cat
Steps
- Ask for an appointment at the Registro Civil of the municipality where either of you is on the padrón. You can only get one once you have every document ready.seujudicial.gencat.cat
- Open the marriage file (expediente matrimonial): both of you attend with two adult witnesses and the documents listed below. The day the file is opened is not the day of the wedding.seujudicial.gencat.cat
- If the Registro Civil handled the marriage file, the marriage is then celebrated before the Alcalde or a Concejal they delegate, chosen by the couple.boe.es
- In Barcelona, once you have the Registro Civil marriage file, request the ceremony date online from the Ajuntament; the District contacts you to set the day and time. Ceremonies take place in the Saló de Cent or at the district offices.ajuntament.barcelona.cat
That is the whole procedure
If you would rather go through yours with someone, describe it to NEXO first. You will find out what applies to you, and whether you need a person.
What we see in practice
NEXO's own observations. They are not official information and carry no source.
- How a marriage affects residence (family cards, family routes) is a separate procedure, covered by its own guides.
Where and how to apply
Online or in person · Registre Civil de Barcelona / Ajuntament de Barcelona
What gets it refused or delayed
- The file cannot be opened if any document is missing or the two witnesses do not come.seujudicial.gencat.cat
- A certificate is out of date: older than the validity it states or, if none is stated, issued more than six months before the application.seujudicial.gencat.cat
Questions people ask
Do we both have to be on the padrón in the same city?
No. The file is opened at the Registro Civil of the municipality where either of you is registered; if you are registered in different municipalities, you can choose. Each of you brings an up-to-date padrón certificate.seujudicial.gencat.cat
Does it cost anything?
The Registro Civil file is free, and so is a ceremony at the Registro Civil. A notary or the Ajuntament set their own cost, which you check with them directly.seujudicial.gencat.cat
Do we need witnesses?
Yes. Both of you attend the opening of the marriage file with two adult witnesses, such as relatives or friends.seujudicial.gencat.cat
What the official sources say
A civil marriage in Spain requires a prior file (expediente) or a notarial act that checks there is no legal impediment to the marriage.mjusticia.gob.es
Under Ley 20/2011 of the Registro Civil, the marriage file is handled by the Letrado de la Administración de Justicia or the Encargado del Registro Civil of the domicile of one of the couple; a notarial act is handled by a notary of that domicile.boe.es
During the marriage file, the official handling it hears each of the couple privately and separately to confirm their capacity and that there is no impediment.boe.es
The marriage record is signed by the person before whom the marriage is celebrated, by both spouses and by two witnesses.boe.es
Registro Civil entries and Registro Civil files are entirely free of charge.mjusticia.gob.es
Foreign documents must be translated by a sworn translator and legalised or apostilled, unless exempt. EU citizens can instead attach the EU multilingual standard form to the original document.seujudicial.gencat.cat
Nationals of Germany, the Netherlands Antilles, Austria, Greece, Italy, Luxembourg, Moldova, Portugal, the Netherlands, Switzerland and Turkey must bring a certificate of capacity to marry.seujudicial.gencat.cat
Certificates for the marriage file are valid for the period they state; if they state none, they must have been issued within the six months before the application.seujudicial.gencat.cat
Once the marriage is authorised, the couple has one year from the authorising resolution to marry. Where a certificate of capacity was issued instead, the marriage must be celebrated within six months of its issue.seujudicial.gencat.cat
Checked by Ivan Pereira on 2026-09-30. Information, not legal advice.
Need help?
Does any of this sound like you?
- Your country does not issue a civil-status certificate, or you are not sure whether you need a certificate of capacity to marry.
- A previous marriage or divorce took place abroad.
- One of you would marry by proxy.
Cases like these need someone to look at the details. Describe yours to NEXO and we will tell you what applies and what to do next.