Free tools
Plan the marriage and the paperwork as two budgets
Seven calculators that separate the celebration from the legal and immigration costs, so neither project is funded by accident.
Seven calculators for marrying abroad
Marriage abroad
Wedding Budget Abroad
Price the venue, catering, drinks and the smaller lines that decide the total.
Open tool →Destination Wedding Guest Cost
What one guest spends to attend, and what the couple pays if they subsidise.
Open tool →Marriage Documents Cost
Apostilles, translations, notary and courier, priced as one document budget.
Open tool →Spouse Visa Cost
Application, biometrics, medical, police checks, legal help and travel in one total.
Open tool →Sponsor Income Gap
Required income, savings counting and the monthly amount needed to close the gap.
Open tool →Prenup Legal Cost
Independent lawyers for both sides, filing and translation, priced as one project.
Open tool →Marriage Tax Compare
Compare a flat-rate single tax bill with a flat-rate married bill.
Open tool →Reference
Short, sourced entries for the terms our tools act on — written for humans and machines alike.
Marriage abroad
Two budgets: the legal marriage and the celebration
A marriage abroad usually has two cost centres that move on different schedules. The legal step — licence, notices, appointments, translations, apostilles and consular fees — is priced by public authorities and is seldom negotiable. The celebration — venue, catering, photography, attire and travel — is priced by suppliers and can be scaled up or down.
Keeping them separate makes the plan honest. A couple can register quietly and host a dinner later, or host first and register during the trip; either way the legal line should be funded before the celebration line. This page is budgeting information, not legal advice. Requirements and fees are set by the destination authority and change, so verify with the official source before paying.
Documents travel slowly: apostille, translation and validity windows
An apostille, a certified translation and a consular letter are separate steps performed by different offices. Each step can add days, and some documents carry validity windows: a certificate issued too early may expire before the appointment, while one issued too late may not arrive in time. The order matters as much as the price.
Work backwards from the appointment date. Confirm which documents the destination requires, which of them need an apostille or consular legalisation, who is allowed to translate them, and what each office quotes for its part. Keep scanned copies and note every issue date. Rules vary by country and by the type of document, so ask the office that will receive the document rather than the one that issued it.
The spouse visa is a separate project from the wedding
A wedding produces a marriage certificate; a spouse visa produces a residence status. They are handled by different offices, use different evidence and run on different timelines. Budgeting only the wedding can leave the larger and less flexible project unfunded.
Treat the visa as its own line with application fees, biometrics, medical checks, police certificates, translations and travel to appointments. Add professional help only if the route is complex or a previous application was refused. Amounts are set by the destination immigration authority and change, so confirm the current schedule on the official site before paying anything.
Income and savings tests: what counts
Many spouse routes require the sponsoring partner to show income above a threshold, sometimes with savings allowed to make up a shortfall. The counting rules differ: some divide savings by a factor, some count only savings above a floor, some accept the applicant’s income and some do not. A number that works in one route can fail in another.
Use the calculator to see the arithmetic under one set of assumptions, then check the official formula for the route you are applying under. A surplus on paper is not an approval; continuity of income, the evidence trail and the case officer’s assessment all matter. Keep payslips, tax records and bank statements consistent with each other.
Recognition back home and why it matters
A marriage that is valid where it took place is not automatically registered everywhere else. Recognition depends on the home country’s rules, the type of ceremony and whether the foreign paperwork can be verified. A certificate accepted for a visa may still need translation or registration for tax, inheritance or a name change.
Ask the home authority what it needs before the wedding, not after. If recognition is refused or delayed, the couple may need a separate registration or a court process, with its own fees and timelines. Budget for translations and certified copies even when the marriage itself is recognised.
Frequently asked questions
Can we marry as a tourist, or do we need to be resident?
It depends on the destination. Some places allow visitors to marry after a notice or waiting period; others require residence, a local address or a longer stay. Check the marriage authority’s rules for your nationality and immigration status before booking travel. A wedding planner’s advice is useful for logistics but is not a substitute for the official rule.
How long are marriage documents valid?
Validity windows are set by the receiving authority and vary by document. A certificate of no impediment, a police certificate or a medical report may be accepted only within a stated period. Work backwards from the appointment and ask the office that will receive the document, not the office that issued it.
Do we need certified translations?
Often, when a document is not in the language of the authority receiving it. Some offices accept a translator’s declaration, others require a sworn or court-registered translator, and some require the consulate to certify the translator’s signature. Confirm the exact wording and format before paying for a translation.
When should a prenuptial agreement be signed?
Before the marriage, with enough time for both sides to take independent advice and for any translation or filing to be completed. A document signed under pressure or without separate counsel may be treated differently. Rules on enforceability vary by country, so take local legal advice.
Whose income counts for a spouse visa?
Usually the sponsoring partner’s income, sometimes the applicant’s, and sometimes both, depending on the route. Savings may be allowed to cover a shortfall under a counting formula. Check the official guidance for the specific route before restructuring finances or moving money between accounts.
Do dependants change the cost?
Yes, usually in two ways: additional application fees and additional evidence for each dependant. Medical checks, biometrics and translations may also repeat. Some routes allow dependants and some do not, so confirm eligibility before building them into the budget.
Can we change names after marrying abroad?
A marriage certificate may support a name change at home, but the process depends on the home authority and on how the foreign certificate is recognised. Some offices require a translation or a registration first. Ask the passport, tax and social security offices what they accept before booking appointments.
What happens if the spouse visa is refused?
The options depend on the route and the stated reason: an appeal, an administrative review, a fresh application or a different visa category. Deadlines can be short. Keep the refusal letter, note the reasons and take advice before reapplying. Budget for a second application fee rather than assuming a refund.