The legal side of getting married is something many couples planning a wedding on Mallorca find confusing. How does it work? Which documents do I need? Will the marriage be recognised back home? This guide answers all the key questions - clearly and simply.
Option 1: Civil marriage on Mallorca (Registro Civil) - only for couples resident in Spain
A civil marriage on Mallorca at the Registro Civil (the Spanish civil registry) is possible in principle - but only if at least one partner is officially registered as resident in Spain (empadronamiento); many registry offices also require a longer period of residence in Spain. For couples who do not live on Mallorca, a purely civil marriage on the island is therefore not possible in practice - for them, Option 2 (a civil marriage in your home country plus a free ceremony on Mallorca) is the usual route. A marriage validly concluded in Spain is automatically valid in your home country as well; registering the marriage with the authorities in your home country is possible and can be useful, but is not mandatory.
Required documents
- Valid passports for both partners
- Birth certificates (with apostille and certified translation into Spanish)
- Certificate of no impediment / single status (apostille, no more than 6 months old) or decree absolute
- Empadronamiento (official registration of residence in Spain) - mandatory for a civil marriage on the island (for at least one partner)
- For divorcees: the divorce decree with apostille and translation
Timing
Allow at least 3-6 months before your preferred date to obtain all documents and for processing by the Spanish Registro Civil. During the high season (June-September), waiting times can be longer.
Registering the marriage in your home country
After your wedding on Mallorca, you can have the foreign marriage registered with the relevant authorities in your home country (usually where one of the partners is resident). For this you will need the Spanish marriage certificate (Acta de Matrimonio) with apostille and a certified translation. This step is optional, not mandatory - the marriage is already valid.
Option 2: Symbolic ceremony + civil marriage in your home country
By far the most popular option among our couples: the official civil marriage simply takes place quietly, with close family, in your home country. The actual celebration - the big dream wedding - then takes place on Mallorca as a symbolic ceremony. Legally straightforward and creatively completely free.
For a symbolic ceremony on Mallorca, you work with an independent celebrant to create a completely personal ceremony, exactly as you wish. No bureaucratic requirements, no prescribed text - just your story.
Option 3: Church wedding on Mallorca
A church wedding in one of Mallorca's beautiful churches (for example in Pollenca, Valldemossa or Palma's Gothic cathedral) is possible - but it does require preparation:
- Church documents from your home parish (baptism certificate, confirmation certificate, declaration of nullity)
- Reading of the banns at least 6 months in advance
- Coordination with the local parish on Mallorca
Unlike a free/symbolic ceremony, a Catholic church wedding does have civil legal effect. Puntorosso works with English-speaking clergy and, if you wish, coordinates the entire church process for you.
Puntorosso handles the paperwork for you
Gathering documents, translations, apostilles and coordinating with the Registro Civil can be time-consuming and confusing - especially from abroad. Puntorosso has guided this process hundreds of times and, if you wish, takes care of the entire coordination. You needn't worry about a thing.
Questions about getting legally married on Mallorca? Puntorosso offers free advice on all the legal and administrative aspects of your wedding on Mallorca.
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