I need to use my New Zealand marriage certificate back home or in another country. What do I need to do?
You may need an apostille or authentication certificate first, and a translation into the local language. Ask the country or organisation that will use the document what they require. The marriage certificate is the official evidence, not the Copy of particulars of marriage from the ceremony.
Official figures
- Marriage licence fee
- NZ$1581
- When to get it
- At least 3 working days before you get married; the licence expires after 3 months1
- How long the licence takes
- After you sign the declaration in front of a Registrar of Marriages and post it to Births, Deaths and Marriages, it takes 3 days to get the licence. If you are using a celebrant, the licence can be sent straight to them by email or courier1
- Registry ceremony cost
- Marriage licence NZ$158, plus a set ceremony fee of NZ$175 (paid to the celebrant in advance)2
- Personalised ceremony cost
- Marriage licence NZ$158, plus whatever the celebrant charges for the ceremony3
Official sources
- Get a marriage licenceDepartment of Internal Affairs (Govt.nz) · govt.nz
- Registry ceremoniesDepartment of Internal Affairs (Govt.nz) · govt.nz
- Personalised ceremoniesDepartment of Internal Affairs (Govt.nz) · govt.nz
- Order a marriage certificateDepartment of Internal Affairs (Govt.nz) · govt.nz
Read the full guide: Getting married in New Zealand →
People also ask
- How do I get married in New Zealand, and how much does it cost?
- How far ahead do I need a marriage licence, and how long is it valid?
- What is the cheapest way to get married? How much is a registry ceremony in total?
- We are not New Zealand citizens — we're visitors or on work visas. Can we get married here?
- How many witnesses do we need, and who can be a witness?
- How do I get a marriage certificate? How much is it and how long does it take?
Answers are based on official New Zealand government pages. Check the official source before you act. This is not immigration, legal or tax advice.
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