Your Guide to a Statement in Lieu of Certificate of Non-Impediment to Marriage Abroad
What is a Statement in Lieu of Certificate of Non-Impediment to Marriage Abroad?
A certificate of non-impediment to marriage abroad is a certificate that confirms there are no objections to a proposed marriage or civil partnership. It is sometimes required if you are planning a wedding ceremony abroad.
The Government of Canada does not issue certificates of non-impediment. Instead, Global Affairs Canada can prepare a statement in lieu of a certificate of non-impediment to marriage abroad (“in lieu of” means “instead of”.)
Many foreign countries require this Certificate of Marriage in order to give a foreign national permission to marry there. This certificate confirms there are no objections to a proposed marriage or civil partnership.
Some countries require this document to be issued in Canada. They will not accept a document issued by a Canadian embassy, high commission or consulate abroad. It is best to check prior to your travel dates and plan accordingly.
To get a statement in lieu of certificate of non-impediment to marriage abroad, you must do the following steps.
Step 1 | Complete the authentication request form
Fill out the appropriate section on the authentication request form. The document can be found on the Global Affairs Candidate website.
Step 2 | Create a statutory declaration with Notary Pro
You will need to provide a notarized statutory declaration stating your:
- Full name
- Present marital status
- Permanent address in Canada (P.O boxes are not accepted)
At Notary Pro, we can quickly draft your Statutory Declaration for you. To request our drafting service, visit our legal templates online or contact or team for more information.
Step 3 | Submit certified true copies of your documents
You may be required to submit additional notarized documents, depending on your life situation:
- born in Canada: you must submit a certified copy of your birth certificate or passport
- widowed: you must submit a certified copy of the death certificate of your deceased spouse
- divorced: you must submit a certified copy of the divorce certificate
- born abroad: you must submit a certified copy of your Canadian citizenship certificate, permanent resident card, or passport
At Notary Pro, we can help you to get your certified true copies with locations in Ontario, Alberta and Saskatchewan. Discover our locations online.
Step 4 | Send your documents to Global Affairs or use Notary Pro
Once you have completed all steps, you can mail your documents to Global Affairs. We also work with partners in Ottawa that can help you transit your documents to Global Affairs in Person, and guide you along the way.
Need Help?
At Notary Pro, we can help you along the way to create your statutory declaration, get your certified true copies, and help you submit your documents to Global Affairs. Contact us.