Eloping in New York City as a Foreigner

I believe eloping in another country has to be one of the most romantic ways to say I Do’s. If you and your love have decided to travel to New York City for this very reason, here are a few things you should know to make sure that your elopement is legal in your home country.

The office of the New York City Clerk Marriage Bureau (City Hall) is located at 141 Worth Street New York New York 10013 in Manhattan. Operating hours are from Monday to Friday from 8:30AM to 3:45PM. Please note that the office is closed on all major US holidays. Make sure you check the official website for more information

BEFORE GETTING MARRIED

To obtain your New York State Marriage License you must both show up in person to fill out the forms and show proper identification usually in the form of your passport. You can start the application online to hasten the process but you must still both appear at the City Clerk’s office at the same time. The cost of the marriage license is USD$35 payable by credit card. The Marriage License is valid for 60 days. I would suggest that you get this process done immediately when you arrive in NYC as there is a 24 hour wait period after the Marriage Licensed is issued before you can officially marry.

You should be aware that to enter City Hall, there is airport like security.. so be prepared to have your belongings run thru a scanner and you having to walk thru a metal detector. The best time to go to City Hall in my experience is on a Tuesday early morning and during lunchtime between 11AM-1PM any weekday.

GETTING MARRIED

Once the 24 hours are up, its time to get married! You can have the ceremony at City Hall or you can have the ceremony anywhere in NYC you’d like with a registered Officiant. I have a list of dedicated officiants that I cannot recommend enough. If you choose to get married at City Hall you will need to bring your Marriage License, passports and one witness. If its just the two of you, as your photographer, I can be your witness! So no need to stress out if you don’t have a witness. If you have someone to be your witness please make sure that they bring their passport or IDs accepted.

When you get there you will be asked to produce your Marriage License and passports. This fee payable via credit card or money order. You wait for your number to be called to sign paperwork and pay a fee of USD$25 for the ceremony. Once you do that you will have to wait again for your number/names to be called to get access to the chapel waiting room where you will be married in one of the two chapels available. The waiting game continues at the waiting room for the clerk to call you into the chapel. The ceremony is short and sweet and just like that you are pronounced married by the Laws of the State of New York and given your Certificate of Marriage!

AFTER GETTING MARRIED

To ensure your marriage is legal and valid in your home country, you need to procure a Certificate of Authentication also known as an Apostille. This is a document to prove that you legally got married in New York City when you register your marriage in your hometown/country. You do not have to do this right after your elopement. Go celebrate being newly weds and take care of this the next day. To obtain an Apostille you will first be required to fill out the Extended Certificate form and pay a fee of USD$3 at the New York City County Clerk at the New York County Supreme Court, 60 Centre Street, New York, NY 10007. A list of countries that participate in the Apostille Convention can be found here.

Once that is done you are ready for the last step of this process, the Certificate of Authentication Request (Apostille) and bring it to this filled out form as well as your Extended Certificate and head over to the New York Department of State Division of Licensing Services, 123 William Street, 2nd floor, New York, NY 10038. Office hours are from 9:00 AM to 3:30PM. The fee is USD$10 and payment must be in the form of a money order that can be obtained at any US Post Office. Wait for your document to be prepared and you are all set. Technically you can request your Marriage Record by mail but I personally feel that it would be safer and faster to do so in person.

Update as of 2023

Since Covid-19, City Hall has now returned to in person services with some restrictions.

Couples seeking to obtain their marriage license and ceremony at City Hall must make an appointment via their website. If you do not have a email confirmation of your appointment, you will not be able to enter the building. Couples having their ceremony at City Hall can only have five people in their party at the time this article was updated. Please check the website for more information, inquire about the most recent updates during your marriage license appointment or give them a call.