# Getting married in Portugal as a US citizen: fees and documents

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

Getting married in Portugal as a US citizen starts with 3 document checks: identity, birth records and proof that you are free to marry. LAW: the US government does not certify marital status; ADVICE: ask the Portuguese registry which alternative evidence it accepts before paying for notarisation, as the current Lisbon affidavit procedure remains UNKNOWN.[1](https://diariodarepublica.pt/dr/legislacao-consolidada/decreto-lei/1995-34525275)[2](https://travel.state.gov/en/international-travel/living-abroad/marriage.html)[3](https://pt.usembassy.gov/marriage-in-portugal/)

Last updated 2026-11-12 · By Mia

| Document | Verified position | Check first |
|---|---|---|
| Identity and birth | LAW: required records[1](https://diariodarepublica.pt/dr/legislacao-consolidada/decreto-lei/1995-34525275) | Accepted certified copies |
| Freedom to marry | LAW: substitute evidence route[7](https://irn.justica.gov.pt/Servicos/Cidadao/Casamento/Organizar-o-casamento) | Registry's accepted US evidence |
| Previous marriage | LAW: proof it ended[9](https://diariodarepublica.pt/dr/legislacao-consolidada/decreto-lei/1995-34525275) | Foreign-divorce recognition |
| State-issued record | ADVICE: state authentication route[5](https://www.usa.gov/authenticate-us-document) | Correct issuing authority |
| English records | LAW: conditional translation exception[10](https://diariodarepublica.pt/dr/legislacao-consolidada/decreto-lei/1995-34525275) | Receiving official's acceptance |
| Lisbon affidavit | UNKNOWN: current local procedure[3](https://pt.usembassy.gov/marriage-in-portugal/) | Registry and embassy confirmation |

| Service | Official fee | Scope |
|---|---|---|
| Ordinary registry | €120 | Process and registration[8](https://irn.justica.gov.pt/Custos-dos-servicos) |
| Specified ceremony | €200 | Outside registry, out of hours or weekend/holiday[8](https://irn.justica.gov.pt/Custos-dos-servicos) |
| Marriage certificate | €10 / €20 | Online / paper, general purposes[20](https://justica.gov.pt/Servicos/Pedir-certidao-de-casamento) |
| Consular notarisation | US$50 | Per seal, if needed[21](https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/replace-certify-docs/authenticate-your-document/authentication-services-overseas.html) |

## Questions and answers

### Can the US Embassy perform our Portugal wedding?

LAW: State Department guidance says US embassy and consulate employees cannot perform marriages abroad. The marriage must use the route authorised by the destination country's law.[4](https://travel.state.gov/en/international-travel/living-abroad/marriage.html)

### Should we send a state birth certificate to the US Department of State for an apostille?

ADVICE: USAGov directs state-issued vital records to that state's Secretary of State; federal records follow the federal route. Confirm what Portugal requires before requesting authentication, then use the authority for the particular document.[5](https://www.usa.gov/authenticate-us-document)

### Is an affidavit the same as a government-issued CNI?

LAW: the US government cannot attest to an individual's marital status. A personal eligibility affidavit is your statement, potentially notarised; ADVICE: confirm whether and how the Portuguese registry accepts it for your file.[2](https://travel.state.gov/en/international-travel/living-abroad/marriage.html)

### Can we marry in the US and hold only the celebration in Portugal?

ADVICE: the State Department describes this as an alternative to arranging a foreign legal marriage. Confirm the home legal requirements separately and describe the Algarve event as the celebration in the supplier brief.[6](https://travel.state.gov/en/international-travel/living-abroad/marriage.html)

## Sources

1. [Diário da República — Código do Registo Civil, consolidated](https://diariodarepublica.pt/dr/legislacao-consolidada/decreto-lei/1995-34525275) — accessed 2026-11-12.
2. [US Department of State — Marriage abroad](https://travel.state.gov/en/international-travel/living-abroad/marriage.html) — accessed 2026-11-12.
3. [US Embassy Portugal — Marriage in Portugal (access blocked; no substantive claims taken from page)](https://pt.usembassy.gov/marriage-in-portugal/) — accessed 2026-11-12.
4. [US Department of State — Marriage abroad](https://travel.state.gov/en/international-travel/living-abroad/marriage.html) — accessed 2026-11-12.
5. [USAGov — Authenticate an official document for use outside the US](https://www.usa.gov/authenticate-us-document) — accessed 2026-11-12.
6. [US Department of State — Marriage abroad](https://travel.state.gov/en/international-travel/living-abroad/marriage.html) — accessed 2026-11-12.
7. [IRN — Organizar o casamento](https://irn.justica.gov.pt/Servicos/Cidadao/Casamento/Organizar-o-casamento) — accessed 2026-11-12.
8. [IRN — Custos dos serviços: marriage tariffs 3.1–3.5](https://irn.justica.gov.pt/Custos-dos-servicos) — 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. [Diário da República — Código do Registo Civil, consolidated](https://diariodarepublica.pt/dr/legislacao-consolidada/decreto-lei/1995-34525275) — accessed 2026-11-12.
11. [Diário da República — Código do Registo Civil, consolidated](https://diariodarepublica.pt/dr/legislacao-consolidada/decreto-lei/1995-34525275) — accessed 2026-11-12.
12. [Diário da República — Código do Registo Civil, consolidated](https://diariodarepublica.pt/dr/legislacao-consolidada/decreto-lei/1995-34525275) — accessed 2026-11-12.
13. [Justiça — Iniciar processo de casamento](https://justica.gov.pt/Servicos/Iniciar-processo-de-casamento) — accessed 2026-11-12.
14. [Diário da República — Código do Registo Civil, consolidated](https://diariodarepublica.pt/dr/legislacao-consolidada/decreto-lei/1995-34525275) — accessed 2026-11-12.
15. [IRN — Organizar o casamento](https://irn.justica.gov.pt/Servicos/Cidadao/Casamento/Organizar-o-casamento) — accessed 2026-11-12.
16. [Justiça — Iniciar processo de casamento](https://justica.gov.pt/Servicos/Iniciar-processo-de-casamento) — accessed 2026-11-12.
17. [Diário da República — Código do Registo Civil, consolidated](https://diariodarepublica.pt/dr/legislacao-consolidada/decreto-lei/1995-34525275) — accessed 2026-11-12.
18. [US Department of State — Marriage abroad](https://travel.state.gov/en/international-travel/living-abroad/marriage.html) — accessed 2026-11-12.
19. [Diário da República — Lei n.º 9/2010, de 31 de maio](https://diariodarepublica.pt/dr/detalhe/lei/9-2010-332460) — accessed 2026-11-12.
20. [Justiça — Pedir certidão de casamento](https://justica.gov.pt/Servicos/Pedir-certidao-de-casamento) — accessed 2026-11-12.
21. [US Department of State — Notarial and Authentication Services at US Embassies and Consulates](https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/replace-certify-docs/authenticate-your-document/authentication-services-overseas.html) — accessed 2026-11-12.