Legal Requirements for Getting Married in Mexico

Getting legally married in Mexico is possible for foreigners, but requirements vary slightly by state, but most popular wedding destinations follow similar rules.

On The Destination Wedding Blog, we cover Cancun, Riviera Maya, Tulum, Cabo San Lucas, and Puerto Vallarta, so we will look at Quintana Roo, Baja California Sur, and Jalisco states.

• Cancun, Riviera Maya & Tulum → State of Quintana Roo

• Cabo San Lucas → State of Baja California Sur

• Puerto Vallarta → State of Jalisco

Here’s what you need to know for the three most popular destination wedding states in Mexico.

Legal Requirements to Get Married in Quintana Roo

Quintana Roo is the most popular and streamlined state for foreign couples getting legally married in Mexico. Which is why it is also one of the most popular ones.

Documents Required

• Valid passports

• Tourist permit (FMM form)

• Birth certificates

  • Usually apostilled

  • Spanish translation required

• Divorce decree or death certificate (if applicable, apostilled + translated)

FMM (Forma Migratoria Múltiple) — Mexico’s official tourist permit

It is issued upon entry (airport or land border) and must be valid at the time of your wedding. Even though Mexico has digitized parts of the process in some airports, it is still legally the FMM tourist permit.

Blood Tests

• Not required in most municipalities in Quintana Roo. Which is a nice change from the other states, where this is mostly required.

Residency Requirement

• No long-term residency required

• Must arrive at least 3 - 4 business days before the wedding

• Documents are typically submitted a few days before the ceremony

Witnesses

• 2 - 4 witnesses

• Must provide passport copies

• Must be 18+

 Same-Sex Marriage

• Fully legal and widely accepted

Once you are officially married, the marriage certificate will be issued in Spanish. After your wedding, your Mexican marriage certificate will need to be apostilled to be legally recognized in your home country. This step confirms the document’s authenticity under international law. In most destination wedding cases, couples do not stay in Mexico long enough to collect the final apostilled certificate in person, so it is usually sent to you afterwards.

📜 What Is an Apostille?

An apostille is an official government certification that confirms:

• The certificate is authentic

• The signature and stamp are legitimate

• The document is legally recognized internationally

It is issued under the Hague Apostille Convention. If your home country is part of this convention (most are, including the US, UK, Canada, Australia, and most of Europe), an apostille makes the Mexican marriage certificate legally valid there.

How It Works in Mexico

After your civil wedding:

1. You receive your official Mexican marriage certificate.

2. The document is sent to the appropriate state authority.

3. The state issues an apostille certificate attached to it.

4. You may then also need a certified translation in your home country.

You’ll likely need an apostille if you plan to change your last name, apply for a spousal visa, or residency, register your marriage at home, update bank or legal records, file joint taxes, apply for citizenship, etc. If you don’t apostille it, your home country may not legally recognize the document. So ensure your marriage certificate gets apostilled by the state authority in Mexico.

Legal Requirements to Get Married in Baja California Sur

Baja California Sur has slightly stricter administrative steps than Quintana Roo.

Documents Required

• Valid passports

• Tourist permit (FMM form)

• Apostilled birth certificates

• Spanish translations (required)

• Divorce decree (if applicable, apostilled + translated)

Blood Tests

• Often required

• Must be completed in Mexico

• Typically test for:

  • HIV

  • Syphilis

  • Blood type

• Results are valid for a limited time

Important: Some municipalities may still require chest X-rays in rare cases (less common now, but confirm locally).

Residency Requirement

• Usually must be in Mexico at least 3 business days before the wedding

• Paperwork must be submitted in person

Witnesses

• 4 witnesses are commonly required

• Passport copies needed

Same-Sex Marriage

• Legal and recognized

The same as in Quintana Roo, the marriage certificate will be issued in Spanish, and you need to ensure it is apostilled by local authorities.

Legal Requirements to Get Married in Jalisco

Jalisco’s process can be slightly more traditional. Paperwork review can be stricter, and processing times may be slightly longer.

Documents Required

• Valid passports

• Tourist permits (FMM form)

• Apostilled birth certificates

• Certified Spanish translations

• Divorce decree (if applicable, apostilled + translated)

Blood Tests

• Often required

• Must be done locally in Mexico

• Results are valid for only a few days

Residency Requirement

• Must arrive several days before the ceremony

• Some municipalities may require a minimum stay before the application

Witnesses

• 4 witnesses are usually required

• Must provide identification

Same-Sex Marriage

• Legal statewide

Again, you will receive your marriage certificate in Spanish, and you need to ensure it is apostilled by local authorities.

Important for all 3 states - Civil ceremony is required for legal marriage, religious ceremonies alone are not legally binding!

Comparison: Quintana Roo vs Baja California Sur vs Jalisco

Requirement	Quintana Roo  (Cancun, Riviera Maya, Tulum)	Baja California Sur  (Cabo San Lucas)	Jalisco  (Puerto Vallarta)
Tourist Entry	FMM	FMM	FMM
Passports	Required	Required	Required
Birth Certificates	Apostilled + Spanish translation	Apostilled + Spanish translation	Apostilled + Spanish translation
Blood Tests	❌ Usually NOT required	✅ Often required	✅ Often required
Witnesses	2 - 4 witnesses	Usually 4 witnesses	Usually 4 witnesses
Residency Requirement	Arrive 3 - 4 business days prior	Arrive at least 3 business days prior	Arrive several days prior
Marriage Certificate	Issued in Spanish; apostille required for use abroad	Issued in Spanish; apostille required for use abroad	Issued in Spanish; apostille required for use abroad
Overall Difficulty	⭐ Easiest	Moderate	Moderate

Additional Fees that May Arrise

If you choose to get legally married in Mexico, consider adding these extra costs to your budget:

• Judge travel fee (especially for beach weddings)

• Translation services

• Apostille certification

• Blood tests

• Marriage certificate copies

Resorts often help coordinate this process.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Arriving too late to complete paperwork

• Not apostilling documents in advance

• Assuming a resort handles everything automatically

• Forgetting certified translations

• Not checking the validity in your home country

Legal vs Symbolic Wedding in Mexico

You can choose between a legal civil marriage in Mexico or a symbolic ceremony with no legal paperwork. Many couples legally marry at home first and host their celebration in Mexico. Best for couples who want a simple, stress-free experience.

A legal wedding in Mexico requires all the above, and that the civil ceremony is performed by a government official. A symbolic ceremony has no legal paperwork, requires no blood tests, requires no apostille, and offers full flexibility in ceremony style.

In states like Quintana Roo, Baja California Sur, and Jalisco, symbolic weddings are very common because they eliminate paperwork while still allowing a beautiful destination celebration.

FAQs: Legal Requirements for Getting Married in Mexico

Can foreigners legally get married in Mexico?

Yes. Foreign couples can legally marry in Mexico as long as they complete the required civil paperwork and ceremony. The process varies slightly by state.

Do we need to be residents of Mexico to get married?

No long-term residency is required. However, couples must enter Mexico legally with an FMM tourist permit and typically arrive several business days before the ceremony to submit paperwork.

How many witnesses are needed?

Most states require 2 - 4 witnesses who are over 18 and can provide valid identification (usually a passport copy).

Is same-sex marriage legal in Mexico?

Yes. Same-sex marriage is legal in Mexico.

Will our Mexican marriage be valid in our home country?

Yes, but your marriage certificate must be apostilled in the state where the wedding took place. You may also need a certified translation once you return home.

How long does it take to receive the marriage certificate?

Processing times vary by state and municipality. Some couples receive it within a few weeks, while others may wait longer, especially if an apostille is requested. If you leave Mexico before receiving it, the marriage certificate will be sent to your home address.

Is it easier to have a symbolic wedding instead?

For many couples, yes. A symbolic ceremony avoids legal paperwork, blood tests, and apostille requirements. That’s why symbolic weddings are very popular in Mexico.