How do I get a civil marriage in Czechia?
Simply: a declaration before the registry office (matrika), with two witnesses. You file the marriage questionnaire, show IDs and birth certificates (divorce judgment or death certificate where relevant) and book a date. On official days at the designated venue the ceremony is free; marrying outside official hours or venues (garden, castle, meadow) costs a flat CZK 3,000 since 1 Jan 2024. A church wedding has full legal effect, but only with the registry certificate, valid 6 months. Foreigners add a certificate of legal capacity to marry with certified translations. Since 1 Jan 2025 same-sex couples can enter a partnership with near-marital rights.
📋 The rules
- Registry office + 2 witnesses; questionnaire and documents upfront
- Official day & venue: free; other place/time: CZK 3,000 (since 2024)
- Foreigners: certificate of no impediment + translated documents
- Church weddings are legally valid — with a registry certificate (6-month validity)
- Since 1 Jan 2025: same-sex registered partnership with near-marital rights
🔓 Exceptions
- Marriage by proxy only exceptionally with regional-authority permission
- Imminent danger to life: simplified marriage without some documents
- Foreigners: without the certificate of legal capacity and certified translations the registry will not marry you
⚠️ Penalties & fines
Not a sanction area — but defects in a marriage are expensive. Bigamy or lack of capacity make the marriage void, and bigamy is also a criminal offence. The practical risk is administrative: a missing document (birth certificate, divorce judgment, or a translated certificate of legal capacity for foreigners) means the registry will not confirm or will postpone the ceremony. With a church wedding, watch the registry certificate — without it, or once its six-month validity lapses, the ceremony has no legal effect and the couple simply is not married.
📎 Official sources
- Interior Ministry · Getting married (CS) →
- Svět svateb · Administrative fees (CS) →
- Budeme se brát · Registry, documents, fees (CS) →
❓ Frequently asked
How much does a registry wedding cost?
Nothing on official days at the designated venue — the ceremony is free. Step outside official hours or the ceremony hall and a flat CZK 3,000 fee applies, in force since 1 Jan 2024, whatever the venue or day.
Can we marry in a garden?
Yes, that is an off-venue ceremony: you pay CZK 3,000 and the registry must approve the location. The rate is the same for a castle or a meadow, so a fancier backdrop costs you nothing extra in fees. Two witnesses are still required.
What does a foreigner need?
A certificate of legal capacity to marry, a birth certificate and ID, all with certified translations. Without them the registry will not perform the ceremony, so start collecting early — translations take time.
Is a church wedding legally binding?
Yes, provided you hand the officiant the registry certificate — it is valid 6 months and without it the ceremony has no legal effect. The registry then issues the marriage certificate, exactly as for a civil wedding.
How fast can it happen?
It depends on registry capacity, typically weeks from filing the questionnaire and documents. Earlier dates are a matter of agreement with the office; outside official hours expect the CZK 3,000 fee and venue approval.
🔎 Common searches
What people search to land here:
- “getting married czech republic”
- “civil wedding prague foreigner”
- “marriage registry czechia documents”
- “certificate no impediment czech”
- “wedding outside venue fee czech”
- “church wedding legal validity czechia”