Do I Need to Be a Resident of a State to Get Married There? A Must-Read Guide for Couples Needing Urgent Official Documentation
Marriage is a momentous life event—but it can also be a strategic legal decision, especially when you need urgent official documentation for immigration, spousal benefits, deployment, medical emergencies, or legal name changes.
At Get Married Today, we specialize in same-day legal marriage services in California, and one of the most frequently asked questions from our clients is:
“Do I need to be a resident of a state to get married there?”
The short answer is: No, you do not need to be a resident of a U.S. state in order to get legally married there. That’s great news for couples who are traveling, on a time crunch, or dealing with urgent legal needs.
📍 Need to get married today and get legal documentation fast? Book your same-day wedding at GetMarried.Today.
Let’s dive into everything you need to know—whether you’re from another U.S. state or another country entirely.
🔍 Marriage Residency Requirements Explained
In the United States, marriage laws are regulated at the state level, which means requirements can vary depending on where you plan to marry. However, almost all U.S. states do not require residency in order to legally marry there.
✅ California’s Policy on Marriage Residency
- You do not need to be a California resident to get married in California.
- No waiting period—you can get married the same day you receive your marriage license.
- No blood tests required.
- You just need valid photo identification (passport, driver’s license, or government-issued ID).
📍 Learn more from the official California Department of Public Health.
This is especially beneficial for couples visiting from other U.S. states or from abroad who need to get married quickly and legally.
🌍 International Couples: No U.S. Residency Required
Couples from outside the U.S.—including the UK, Canada, Australia, Germany, and Mexico—often worry about whether they’re eligible to marry in the U.S. without citizenship or a visa.
✨ Good News:
- You do not need to be a U.S. citizen or a California resident to get married in California.
- Many international couples come to California each year to elope or secure a legally recognized marriage for immigration, medical, or legal documentation purposes.
📍 Visiting from abroad? Check out USCIS Marriage Information.
💍 How Get Married Today Can Help You—Fast & Legally
At Get Married Today, we specialize in helping couples who need a legal marriage with minimal delay—no matter where they are from.
We offer:
- Same-day marriage license issuance
- On-site wedding officiation
- Mobile officiant services
- Confidential marriage license option (no witnesses required)
- Apostille processing for international couples in partnership with Orange County Apostille
📍 Learn more about apostilles and international documentation at The Hague Apostille Convention.
🕒 Who Needs to Get Married Urgently?
Not everyone has the luxury of time when it comes to getting married. Our services are perfect for:
🪖 Military Couples
- Needing quick legal marriage before deployment
- Applying for BAH, TRICARE, and other military spousal benefits
📍 Explore military marriage benefits at Military.com
🌐 Immigration Cases
- Applying for K-1 fiancé visa or spousal green card
- Need urgent proof of marriage for USCIS
📍 USCIS marriage-based visa info at USCIS Marriage Green Cards
🏥 Medical Emergencies
- Needing legal next-of-kin rights for a spouse in the hospital
- Decision-making authority in critical situations
💼 Legal Name Changes
- Changing your last name after marriage
📍 Start your name change process at Social Security Administration and DMV California
🧾 What You Need to Get Married Today (Even if You’re Not a Resident)
Whether you’re visiting from another U.S. state or from abroad, here’s what you need:
✅ Valid Government-Issued Photo ID
- Passport (required for international visitors)
- Driver’s license (for U.S. citizens)
- State ID, military ID, or visa documents
✅ Be Over 18 Years Old
📍 Marriage age rules by state can be found at US Marriage Laws
✅ Not Currently Married
You cannot be legally married to someone else in any state or country.
✅ Marriage License Fee
Marriage license costs vary by county, but we make it simple by handling everything in one visit.
📜 Confidential vs. Public Marriage License
In California, couples can choose between two types of marriage licenses:
1. Public License
- Requires 1 witness
- Becomes part of public record
2. Confidential License
- No witness needed
- Not part of public record
- Ideal for immigration, military, and privacy-focused couples
📍 Learn about confidential licenses at Orange County Clerk
🗺️ Where We Offer Same-Day Marriages
We serve couples across Southern California, including:
- ✅ Los Angeles
- ✅ Orange County
- ✅ San Diego
- ✅ Riverside & Inland Empire
- ✅ Ventura & surrounding areas
📍 Looking for scenic wedding spots? Check out Wedding Spot California
Whether you want to marry at:
- 🏖 A beach
- 🏞️ A public park
- 🏠 Your private residence
- 🏨 Your hotel or Airbnb
We bring the wedding to you with our traveling officiant service.
🌐 What If You’re From Another Country?
Here’s how it works for international couples:
- Book a same-day marriage with us at GetMarried.Today
- Get married legally in California (no residency required)
- Receive your certified marriage certificate
- Use Orange County Apostille to legalize the certificate
- Present the apostilled document in your home country
📍 More info about marriage recognition abroad at Nolo – Marriage Recognition
🎯 Key Takeaways
- ❌ You do NOT need to be a resident of a U.S. state to get married there
- ✅ California allows same-day legal marriages for anyone—U.S. or international
- 🕒 We offer 24/7 service, including holidays and weekends
- 🧾 You only need valid ID and to be unmarried
- 💼 We help with apostilles so your marriage is recognized internationally
- 💑 We are the top choice for elopements, military couples, immigration cases, and last-minute weddings
💬 Testimonials from Happy Couples
“We were visiting from the UK and got married on the beach in Laguna the same day we called. Everything was legal, and our apostilled certificate was accepted back home!” – Hannah & Joe
“As a military couple, we needed to get married fast for benefits. Get Married Today took care of everything in under two hours!” – Marcus & Lisa
“We were from Mexico and needed to marry in the U.S. before filing immigration paperwork. This service was fast, legal, and professional.” – Roberto & Camila
📞 Book Your Same-Day Wedding Today
📍 Ready to get married now—even if you’re not a resident of California?
📍 Want legal documentation, apostille services, and total convenience?
✅ We’ve got you covered.
👉 Book your appointment now at GetMarried.Today
👉 And if you need apostille services, visit Orange County Apostille
💍 Start your forever—today.