# Getting married in Portugal from Ireland: fees and legal steps

Source: https://www.lovebirdsweddings.com/guides/legal-wedding-portugal-ireland/

Getting married in Portugal from Ireland means arranging Irish freedom-to-marry papers alongside your Portuguese marriage file. ADVICE: the Irish Embassy asks you to apply at least 4 months before the wedding; LAW: for recognition in Ireland, the marriage must meet the legal formalities and enter the Portuguese civil register, including after a church ceremony.[1](https://api.ireland.ie/en/portugal/lisbon/services/marriage-and-civil-partnership/)[2](https://api.ireland.ie/en/dfa/overseas-travel/consular-services/marriage-and-civil-partnership-abroad/)

Last updated 2026-11-12 · By Mia

| Milestone | Timing | Planning check |
|---|---|---|
| Irish application | ADVICE: at least 4 months ahead[1](https://api.ireland.ie/en/portugal/lisbon/services/marriage-and-civil-partnership/) | Work backwards from marriage |
| Irish declaration | LAW: within 6 months before marriage[11](https://api.ireland.ie/en/portugal/lisbon/services/marriage-and-civil-partnership/) | Date of witnessing |
| Capacity evidence | LAW: normally under 6 months old[8](https://diariodarepublica.pt/dr/legislacao-consolidada/decreto-lei/1995-34525275) | Issuer validity and submission |
| Portuguese preparation | ADVICE: at least 1 month ahead[12](https://justica.gov.pt/Servicos/Iniciar-processo-de-casamento) | Allow correction time |
| Portuguese approval | LAW: marry within 6 months[13](https://diariodarepublica.pt/dr/legislacao-consolidada/decreto-lei/1995-34525275) | Review any date change |

| Service | Official fee | Scope |
|---|---|---|
| Ordinary registry | €120 | Process and registration[10](https://irn.justica.gov.pt/Custos-dos-servicos) |
| Specified ceremony | €200 | Outside registry, out of hours or weekend/holiday[10](https://irn.justica.gov.pt/Custos-dos-servicos) |
| Marriage certificate | €10 / €20 | Online / paper, general purposes[19](https://justica.gov.pt/Servicos/Pedir-certidao-de-casamento) |
| Irish certificate | €66 | €60 plus €6; per Irish applicant[20](https://api.ireland.ie/en/dfa/overseas-travel/consular-services/marriage-and-civil-partnership-abroad/) |

## Questions and answers

### Does completing the online Irish questionnaire finish the application?

LAW: the published process also requires the signed hard-copy declarations and supporting documents. ADVICE: track their arrival with the processing office rather than treating the online step as confirmation that your file is complete.[3](https://api.ireland.ie/en/portugal/lisbon/services/marriage-and-civil-partnership/)

### Is a parish letter of freedom the same as the Irish civil certificate?

LAW: the DFA's Certificate of Freedom to Marry is civil evidence. ADVICE: keep parish papers in a separate church checklist, because a similarly named church letter does not replace that certificate.[4](https://api.ireland.ie/en/dfa/overseas-travel/consular-services/marriage-and-civil-partnership-abroad/)

### Do all Irish documents need an apostille for Portugal?

LAW: covered public documents issued in an EU member state are exempt from apostille authentication when used in another EU member state. The issuing country and document type matter, so Irish citizenship does not bring a US-issued record within that exemption.[5](https://europa.eu/youreurope/citizens/family/couple/getting-public-documents-accepted/index_en.htm)

### Can we marry in Ireland and celebrate in the Algarve later?

ADVICE: that is a route to compare if you want the Irish legal ceremony separate from the holiday. LAW: the normal Irish notification requirement is 3 months; check it against the date of the Irish marriage, not the later celebration.[6](https://www2.hse.ie/services/births-deaths-and-marriages/getting-married/how/)

## Sources

1. [Embassy of Ireland, Portugal — Marriage and civil partnership](https://api.ireland.ie/en/portugal/lisbon/services/marriage-and-civil-partnership/) — accessed 2026-11-12.
2. [Irish DFA — Marriage and civil partnership abroad](https://api.ireland.ie/en/dfa/overseas-travel/consular-services/marriage-and-civil-partnership-abroad/) — accessed 2026-11-12.
3. [Embassy of Ireland, Portugal — Marriage and civil partnership](https://api.ireland.ie/en/portugal/lisbon/services/marriage-and-civil-partnership/) — accessed 2026-11-12.
4. [Irish DFA — Marriage and civil partnership abroad](https://api.ireland.ie/en/dfa/overseas-travel/consular-services/marriage-and-civil-partnership-abroad/) — accessed 2026-11-12.
5. [European Union, Your Europe — Getting public documents accepted](https://europa.eu/youreurope/citizens/family/couple/getting-public-documents-accepted/index_en.htm) — accessed 2026-11-12.
6. [HSE — How to get married in Ireland](https://www2.hse.ie/services/births-deaths-and-marriages/getting-married/how/) — accessed 2026-11-12.
7. [Diário da República — Código do Registo Civil, consolidated](https://diariodarepublica.pt/dr/legislacao-consolidada/decreto-lei/1995-34525275) — accessed 2026-11-12.
8. [Diário da República — Código do Registo Civil, consolidated](https://diariodarepublica.pt/dr/legislacao-consolidada/decreto-lei/1995-34525275) — accessed 2026-11-12.
9. [Diário da República — Código do Registo Civil, consolidated](https://diariodarepublica.pt/dr/legislacao-consolidada/decreto-lei/1995-34525275) — accessed 2026-11-12.
10. [IRN — Custos dos serviços: marriage tariffs 3.1–3.5](https://irn.justica.gov.pt/Custos-dos-servicos) — accessed 2026-11-12.
11. [Embassy of Ireland, Portugal — Marriage and civil partnership](https://api.ireland.ie/en/portugal/lisbon/services/marriage-and-civil-partnership/) — accessed 2026-11-12.
12. [Justiça — Iniciar processo de casamento](https://justica.gov.pt/Servicos/Iniciar-processo-de-casamento) — accessed 2026-11-12.
13. [Diário da República — Código do Registo Civil, consolidated](https://diariodarepublica.pt/dr/legislacao-consolidada/decreto-lei/1995-34525275) — accessed 2026-11-12.
14. [Embassy of Ireland, Portugal — Marriage and civil partnership](https://api.ireland.ie/en/portugal/lisbon/services/marriage-and-civil-partnership/) — accessed 2026-11-12.
15. [European Union, Your Europe — Getting public documents accepted](https://europa.eu/youreurope/citizens/family/couple/getting-public-documents-accepted/index_en.htm) — accessed 2026-11-12.
16. [Diário da República — Código do Registo Civil, consolidated](https://diariodarepublica.pt/dr/legislacao-consolidada/decreto-lei/1995-34525275) — accessed 2026-11-12.
17. [Ministério Público — Concordata Portugal / Holy See (2004)](https://dcjri.ministeriopublico.pt/sites/default/files/documentos/instrumentos/concordata_santa_se.pdf) — accessed 2026-11-12.
18. [Government of Ireland — Get married in Ireland](https://www.gov.ie/en/department-of-social-protection/services/get-married-in-ireland/) — accessed 2026-11-12.
19. [Justiça — Pedir certidão de casamento](https://justica.gov.pt/Servicos/Pedir-certidao-de-casamento) — accessed 2026-11-12.
20. [Irish DFA — Marriage and civil partnership abroad: fees](https://api.ireland.ie/en/dfa/overseas-travel/consular-services/marriage-and-civil-partnership-abroad/) — accessed 2026-11-12.