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Canadian Law & Modern Day Foreign Brides
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Location of Your Marriage Ceremony

Something to keep in mind when you are marrying someone from a different country is where the wedding will take place. Whether you get married in your home country or in Canada, your marriage must be considered valid in Canada. This means that your marriage has to meet the legal requirements of marriage in Canada.

Ceremony in Home Country

If you decide to get married in your home country and immigrate to Canada afterward, your marriage has to be valid in both the country where the ceremony took place as well as in Canada. Canada does not recognize certain marriages such as  polygamous marriages (polygamy) and Mut’a marriages.

When you enter Canada, you will need to provide proof that your marriage was valid in the country it took place in. An immigration officer at your local visa office can tell you what kind of proof to bring with you.

In order to enter Canada, your marriage must also be considered valid in Canada. Therefore, at a minimum, you will need to show that:

  • you were at least 16 years of age when you got married,
  • your husband has not sponsored any other spouse for whom the sponsorship period is not yet finished,
  • at the time of your marriage, your husband was eligible to marry you. In other words, that he did not have any other wives, or common-law or conjugal partners. Canada does not recognize certain marriages such as polygamous marriages (polygamy) and Mut’a marriages.

Ceremony in Canada

In Canada, the requirements of a marriage are governed by provincial laws, and the exact requirements may vary slightly from province to province.

The most common requirements include:

Licence – Before you can get married, you must obtain a marriage license.When you do so, you will be informed of the exact rules of your province. You must have appropriate identification to get a licence and there is a cost.

Age – you have to be at least a certain age in order to marry. Often this age is 16. A marriage can be arranged for you before the minimum age, but the ceremony cannot take place until after you reach the minimum age. In Alberta, for example, except in certain circumstances, you cannot marry if you are under 16 years old and if you are under the age of 18, you must obtain your parent’s or guardian’s consent in order to get married. If you have special circumstances, you may be able to get a court order that lets you get married without parental consent.

Your Consent – you have to consent to being married. If you are forced into a marriage, that marriage is not valid in Canada.

Certificate of Marriage – this is a legal document that is signed by you, your spouse, two witnesses, and the person who performs the ceremony. You must have appropriate identification to get a certificate and there is a cost.

 

  • International Dating and Matchmaking Agencies
  • International Arranged Marriages
  • Questions to Ask
  • Your Future Husband – His Marital Status
  • Location of Your Marriage Ceremony
  • Your Future Husband’s Expectations of a Wife
  • Visiting Your Future Husband Before Marriage

Caution

This site gives you accurate legal information as of 2007.
If you need legal advice, please contact a lawyer.
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  • About
  • Before Getting Married
    • International Arranged Marriages
    • International Dating and Matchmaking Agencies
    • Location of Your Marriage Ceremony
    • Questions to Ask
    • Visiting Your Future Husband Before Marriage
    • Your Future Husband – His Marital Status
    • Your Future Husband’s Expectations of a Wife
  • Canadian Law
    • Areas of Laws of Importance to Foreign Brides
    • Brief Introduction to Canadian Law
    • Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms
    • Sources of Laws
    • What is the role of the police?
    • Who Does the Law Apply To?
    • Who makes the law?
  • Children
    • Children During Separation and Divorce
    • Legal Obligations of Having Children
    • Status of Children Born in Canada
    • Your Husband Sponsoring Your Children
  • Coming to Canada
    • Length of Processing Sponsorship Application
    • Permanent Resident – Sponsorship
    • Sponsorship – Common-Law and Conjugal Partner Relationships
    • Temporary Resident / Visitor Visa – Application Process
    • Temporary Resident / Visitor Visa – Screening Requirements
  • Links
  • Living in Canada
    • Abuse or Violence in the Family
    • Eligibility for Student Financing
    • Filing Income Tax Returns
    • Getting Canadian Citizenship
    • Government Benefits Programs
    • Health Benefits – “Medicare”
    • Legal Aid
    • Studying in Canada
    • Where to Get Help
    • Working
    • Working While Waiting for Sponsorship to be Approved
  • Marriage Breakdown
    • Children During Separation and Divorce
    • Divorce
    • Finances – Bank Accounts and Debts
    • Financial Support
    • Implications for Sponsorship – Application Being Processed
    • Implications for Sponsorship – Permanent Resident Status Granted
    • Matrimonial Property
    • Separation