Do you dream of getting married in a foreign country? Are you wondering how to get married in u.s. as a foreigner? Or maybe you consider choosing one of the international wedding packages? This exciting, yet demanding process entails preparation of numerous documents. Do you doubt whether an abroad wedding is valid in Poland? Such wedding is valid as long as we take care of appropriate procedures and deliver translated documents. Translation of documents such as birth certificate, certificate of marital status, or certificate of no impediments to marriage require precision and diligence. Therefore, it is worth ordering such service with a sworn translator. What else should you know? Read this article to find out more!
Who needs to have his / her documents translated to get married abroad?
Translators prepare various types of documents so that their clients could have their dream wedding abroad. Here are two of the most common situations when you may need to have your documents translated:
Certificate of marital status for an abroad wedding
Having a wedding abroad is a dream of many couples who want to get married in romantic scenery, for instance in picturesque Tuscany, on a Greek island or on a paradise tropical beach. However, organising a wedding ceremony abroad is connected with numerous formalities for which you should be prepared. One of them is translation of documents such as a certificate stating that a marriage can be concluded according to the Polish law, if the bride and groom wish to have their wedding abroad followed by issuance of a foreign marriage certificate. You can probably guess whether a marriage concluded abroad is valid in Poland. Definitely yes! Of course, provided that you comply with proper formal requirements.
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Conclusion of a marriage abroad with a foreigner
Another frequent situation is when a Polish citizen intends to marry a foreigner. Foreigners who wish to get married in Poland must meet certain requirements (e.g. sometimes a consent of the court is a must, sometimes a translated marriage certificate attached with a divorce judgement – for divorcees). However, such procedure is quite long and therefore, couples often decide to have their wedding abroad, which is a faster and more economical option. The most favourite locations for a marriage abroad include among others: Denmark, the USA (Arizona, Nevada) but also more exotic places such as the Maldives, Seychelles, Madagascar etc. In such a situation, a couple must obtain a relevant certificate for an overseas wedding and order its translation from Polish to English.
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What documents will have to be prepared for a wedding abroad?
Below you will find a list of the most frequently translated documents, when planning a wedding abroad. It is worth remembering that they may vary depending on requirements applicable in a given country.
Source: iStock
1. Birth certificate
A birth certificate is a basic document that may be required by foreign authorities in order to confirm the identity and age of foreigners who wish to conclude a marriage. In many countries, especially in Europe, an original birth certificate must be delivered before conclusion of marriage, which must subsequently be translated into the official language of the country in which you plan to get married.
2. Certificate of marital status
Depending on the country in which you wish to get married, it may be necessary to present a certificate of marital status which confirms that there are no impediments to marriage (translation into English included). This document may take form of a declaration on being single or divorced, if applicable.
3. Certificate of no impediments to marriage
In some countries, particularly in those which have restrictive regulations, one must obtain a certificate on legal capacity to conclude a marriage abroad. There is no need to download a specimen of such document online, because this document is issued by a relevant registry office in Poland, and in some cases – also by a consulate or embassy.
4. Identity card or passport
An identity card or passport confirm the identity of future spouses. Depending on a country, it may be necessary to translate these documents into an official language.
Summary – it is good to know:
- In the case of some countries such as the USA, apart from apostille, other procedures may apply, for instance certification by a consulate.
- Choose a translator who is experienced in translation of official documents. One of the recommended specialists is the Office of a Sworn Translator and Interpreter of the English Language Jacek Kasprzyk. Are you already married and need to translate a marriage certificate to English? Or perhaps you need to have your church wedding documentation translated into English? We can also provide you with such services.
- Check whether a translation bears a seal of a sworn translator in order to be valid abroad.
- Start preparations well in advance to avoid stress connected with delays.
- Watch a video on organising a wedding abroad by Izabela Janachowska:
Finally, if you are wondering how to translate a marriage certificate – call us for more information!