| Jump to section: | 1. What you need to obtain a marriage licence 2. Obtaining a marriage licence 3. After the marriage ceremony |
Before getting married, a valid Ontario marriage licence needs to be obtained. A marriage licence is valid for three months from the date it was issued.
Applicants need to be at least 16 years old to get married in Ontario. If either applicant is under 18 years old, written consent from all parents or legal guardians is required. All parents or legal guardians must complete the Consent of Parents or Guardians to Marriage Form available in our office.
1. What you need to obtain a marriage licence
- Complete the marriage licence application form online for faster service. Alternatively, download the form here or visit our office for a paper copy. Print the completed marriage licence application form that is received after completing the online form. Ensure both applicants sign it, and bring this into our office.
- Provide 2 pieces of valid government-issued identification, no photocopies, for each person getting married. One piece of identification for each person must include their photo.
- If either applicant is planning to remarry, provide supporting documentation, as noted below. Read more if divorced in Canada, or divorced outside of Canada.
| Acceptable Forms of ID: |
| Birth Certificate (Canadian or Foreign) Passport (Canadian or Foreign) Driver’s Licence (Canadian or Foreign) Ontario Photo Card issued by Service Ontario Photo Identity Card (other Canadian Province/Territory or Foreign) Canadian Citizenship Card or Certificate Canadian Permanent Residency Card Canadian Record of Landing Canadian Government Refugee Travel Document Canadian Department of National Defence Driver’s Licence (Form DND 404) Canadian Possession and Acquisition Licence Canadian Status Card Canadian Conditional Release Identification Card Nexus Card United States Green Card Temporary resident permit (IMM 1442) • study permits, work permits, visitor records, Report Pursuant to the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act with Photo |
The first and last names must match on the two pieces of ID being presented. To include a middle name on the marriage licence it must also appear on both pieces of ID.
Planning to remarry
If either applicant is planning on remarrying in Ontario, there are a few additional documents that must provided in addition to the ones listed above.
Widow(er)
If an applicant is a widow(er) they are not required to produce a death certificate to obtain a marriage licence.
Divorced in Canada
The applicant will need to bring official proof of the divorce to apply for a marriage licence. This can be the original or a court-certified copy of one of three documents:
- a certificate of divorce (Form 36B)
- the final decree (Decree Absolute)
- the final judgment
The Certificate of Divorce (Form 36B) needs to be obtained from the courthouse where the divorce took place. To find a courthouse online, select the city, then select the “Family” drop-down to obtain the correct contact information.
A divorce order issued by a judge is different from a certificate of divorce which acts as the proof of a divorce. We can not accept a Judgement, Court Order (Form 25A) issued by the Court or photocopies/certificates certified by a Lawyer or Notary Public. More information is available online. Learn more about the differences and how to obtain a divorce certificate.
Divorced outside of Canada
If either applicant was divorced outside of Canada, you will need to send specific documents to ServiceOntario to prove the applicant(s) is/are no longer married. Once ServiceOntario has confirmed the documents, they will send a Foreign Divorce Authorization to Issue a Marriage Licence letter. This process may take up to 4 weeks and must be completed before applying for a marriage licence at City Hall.
Follow the ServiceOntario instructions if you were divorced outside of Canada to get a Foreign Divorce Authorization letter.
For more information, call Toll-free: 1-800-461-2156 within North America.
2. Obtaining a marriage licence
Marriage licenses are issued at Sarnia City Hall, Customer Service, 1st Floor, between the hours of 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday – Friday. A marriage licence appointment takes approximately 30 minutes. We encourage applicants to book an appointment. Walk-ins are accepted on a first-come, first-served basis.
Complete the marriage licence application form online for faster service before visiting us. Print the completed marriage licence application form that is received after completing the online form. Ensure both applicants sign it and bring this into our office. Alternatively, download the form here or visit our office for a paper copy.
Both applicants must sign the marriage licence application form. Please ensure to bring all required documents and IDs for both applicants. If the printed marriage licence application is signed by both applicants, only one applicant is required to attend in-person. If the marriage licence application is not signed by both applicants, both applicants need to attend in-person. The 2024 marriage licence fee of $159.50 is payable by cash, debit, or credit and is non-refundable.
Contact by phone at 519-332-0330 or by emailing tietheknot@sarnia.ca
3. After the marriage ceremony
The Office of the Registrar General maintains records of marriages that were officiated in Ontario. For more information call ServiceOntario: 1-800-461-2156 (toll-free). A Record of Solemnization of Marriage may be provided by your marriage officiant immediately following the marriage ceremony. This is a souvenir of the marriage and is not the same thing as a marriage certificate.
You can order a marriage certificate through ServiceOntario 6-8 weeks after your ceremony: https://www.ontario.ca/page/how-get-copy-ontario-marriage-certificate-online. Additional information about how to change your last name and obtain a marriage certificate is available on the Service Ontario website: https://www.ontario.ca/page/getting-married.
Civil Marriage Ceremony
Read about civil marriage ceremonies at City Hall.