Complete guide

A wedding in Spain from Germany: what the law and the German Embassy say

What Spanish law and the German Foreign Office require, what the Ehefähigkeitszeugnis is and when to marry in Germany and celebrate in Seville.

By Sara Díaz·23 October 2026·Last reviewed: 23 October 2026

I lived in Germany for a few years and I know this process from the inside. This guide gathers what the official pages say, with a link to each and its date. Where I have not found an official source, I do not claim it.

Can a German couple have a civil wedding in Spain without living here?

Under Spanish law, not through the ordinary civil route. Article 58 of the Civil Registry Act (Ley 20/2011, text in force since 3 April 2025) says that the notary handles the prior record at the place of residence of either of the spouses, and that the file is handled by the court clerk (letrado de la Administración de Justicia) or the Civil Registry of the residence of one of them.

The German Embassy in Madrid, on its page «Eheschließung in Spanien» (August 2026), says the same in other words: two foreign nationals can marry in Spain if at least one of them is registered in Spain, and someone who is just passing through, like a tourist, cannot. The same page notes that in Spain you can marry before the registry, before a notary or in church. Some law firms say otherwise on their websites; I stick to the law and the official guidance.

The Ehefähigkeitszeugnis: what it is and who issues it

According to the German Embassy in Madrid (page of August 2026), the Ehefähigkeitszeugnis (certificate of legal capacity to marry, also called Ledigkeitsbescheinigung) confirms that, under German law, there are no known impediments to marriage. What it says:

• It is issued by the Standesamt of your last or current German residence. If you have never lived there, the Standesamt I in Berlin is responsible.
• German embassies and consulates cannot issue it. They can certify your signature on the application form or prepare certified copies, for example of your passport.
• Spanish registries often ask for it, so it is best to check in advance with the office where you plan to marry.
• It is valid for six months from issue and is usually issued on a multilingual form.
• The documents needed vary by case (place of marriage, place of birth, earlier marriages, residences). The Standesamt tells you which.
• You send the complete application directly to the Standesamt, pay its fee and the certificate arrives by post.

Documents and timing

The exact list of what the Spanish side asks for is set by the office that handles your file (the Civil Registry or a notary): the Embassy refers you to it. I have summarised the usual list in the guide to the legal requirements for marrying in Andalusia.

None of the official sources I read gives a fixed time for the whole process. Between gathering documents, legalising and translating them, and processing the file, allow several months; and remember that the Ehefähigkeitszeugnis expires after six months, so it is best to request it once you have a date.

How a marriage held in Spain is recognised in Germany

In «Eheschließung im Ausland» (version of 30 June 2025), the Auswärtiges Amt explains that a marriage held abroad is generally valid in Germany if each of you meets the requirements of your own national law (for example, being single and of minimum age) and the form of the place of celebration is respected.

Registering it with the German civil registry (Nachbeurkundung) is not mandatory, according to the Embassy's page in Madrid (August 2026). To update your marital status in the German residents' register, the Spanish marriage certificate in international format is enough. If you do register it, the foreign document must be on a multilingual form, or carry an apostille and a sworn translation.

The Auswärtiges Amt also warns that the place of the wedding does not automatically determine the law that applies to your surname, your marital property regime or custody, and recommends legal advice beforehand.

The alternative: marry in Germany and celebrate in Seville

Many couples choose this route: you marry legally where you already live and in Seville you hold the ceremony you imagine, with an officiant, vows and family. That ceremony has no legal effect in Spain, which is why it needs no apostilles, sworn translations or certificates. I explain it in more detail in the article on the myths about marrying in Spain from abroad.

What I do and what you do

I accompany you through the process: I explain what is asked, coordinate appointments and documents with the authorities and make sure you do not queue at the wrong window. I do not replace the Civil Registry, a notary, your consulate or a lawyer. The certificates from your country and the steps that require you to appear in person are yours to do.

Official sources

• German Embassy in Madrid: Eheschließung in Spanien (in German, August 2026)
• German Embassy in Madrid: Ledigkeitsbescheinigung / Ehefähigkeitszeugnis (in German, August 2026)
• German Embassy in Madrid: Registrierung einer im Ausland geschlossenen Ehe in Deutschland (in German, August 2026)
• Auswärtiges Amt: Eheschließung im Ausland (in German, June 2025)
• Spanish Official State Gazette: Ley 20/2011 del Registro Civil, article 58, text in force since 3 April 2025 (in Spanish)

What now?

If you want to marry in Seville while living in Germany, tell me your situation on a free, no-commitment first call. I will tell you which route makes sense for you and how we would organise it.