Weddings Abroad in Brazil

Getting married in Brazil is quite a complex procedure and they only recognise a civil ceremony as being legally binding, although you can still have a religious ceremony as well. Intent to marry needs to applied for at the Civil Registry Office at least 30 days before the intended marriage date and foreigners need to complete a form and present valid passports or ID cards along with birth certificates that have been certified by a Brazilian consulate in the country of issue. They will also need a declaration of civil status, again issued by the consulate in their country. All documents need to be translated into Portuguese and notarised and a minimum of 2 witnesses are required at the ceremony. The fee changes from state to state. The banns are published for 15 days after which the couple are free to marry. Once all the documents have been presented  and banns read, the marriage licence is issued which is a permit to marry. For more information visit http://brazil.angloinfo.com/countries/brazil/marriage.asp