What you need to know

A marriage certificate is a record of a marriage. It lists the date and place of the marriage, and names of the people who were married.

A record of solemnization of marriage is not the same as a marriage certificate.

Before you can get a marriage certificate, your marriage needs to be registered. The officiant who performed the marriage will send your completed and signed marriage licence to ServiceOntario so the marriage can be registered. You can order a marriage certificate about 6-8 weeks after this happens.

If you are unsure if you need a marriage certificate or certified copy of marriage registration, please check with the Ministry, government agency, or person requesting the document before you order.

Who can order a marriage certificate

The married couple, children of the married couple, parents of the parties to the marriage or an authorized representative acting on behalf of any entitled individual can apply for a marriage certificate.

Only the married couple can apply for a certified copy of the marriage registration unless a court order allows another person to apply.

If one of the parties in a marriage is deceased, the surviving party, the next of kin including the parents of either party, children of the married couple and siblings of either party or an authorized representative acting on behalf of any entitled individual may apply for a marriage certificate or a certified copy of the marriage registration. If all the next of kin are deceased, an extended next of kin may apply.

Extended next of kin relationships are:

  • aunts
  • uncles
  • first cousins
  • grandchildren
  • grandfathers
  • grandmothers
  • nephews, or
  • nieces

Legally authorized representatives acting on behalf of these individuals are entitled to apply. Authorized representatives will be required to provide proof of authorization.

Order a marriage certificate online

To order a marriage certificate you need:

  • the marriage to be registered in Ontario
  • first and last names or single names of both parties to the marriage
  • dates of birth of both parties to the marriage
  • date of marriage, and
  • name of city, reserve or town where the marriage took place in

There may be delays as your order is processed due to higher than normal volumes of requests. We will do our best to complete your order in a timely manner and apologize for any inconvenience.

If you have an urgent request, please provide proof of urgency.

Order a marriage certificate online

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Check your order status

Cost and delivery

There may be delays as your order is processed due to higher than normal volumes of requests. We will do our best to complete your order in a timely manner and apologize for any inconvenience.

If you have an urgent request, please provide proof of urgency.

Payment

  • Online: Visa, Visa Debit, Mastercard ou Debit Mastercard
  • In-person at 47 Sheppard Avenue East, Toronto: cash, money order, Visa, Visa Debit, Mastercard, Debit Mastercard and Interac®

Note: personal cheque payments are no longer accepted at our retail locations for any vital events transactions.

Marriage certificate

Marriage certificateProcessing and deliveryCost
Regular service (online)

15 business days plus delivery by Canada Post

No service guarantees apply

$15
Premium service (online)

5 business days including delivery by courier

No service guarantees apply

$45
Emergency service (in-person at 47 Sheppard Avenue East, Toronto)5 business days including delivery by courier (Proof of urgency is required)$45

Certified copy of marriage registration

Certified copy of marriage registrationProcessing and deliveryCost
Regular service (online)

15 business days plus delivery by Canada Post

No service guarantees apply

$22
Premium service (online)

5 business days including delivery by courier

No service guarantees apply

$52
Emergency service (in-person at 47 Sheppard Avenue East, Toronto)5 business days including delivery by courier (Proof of urgency is required)$52

Search letter

Search letterProcessing and deliveryCost
Regular service (online)

15 business days plus delivery by Canada Post

No Service Guarantee

$15 for each 5-year period
Premium service (online)Not applicableNot applicable
Mailed applications6 - 8 weeks, document is mailed to you by Canada Post$15 for each 5-year period

Replace a lost, stolen or damaged marriage certificate

To replace a lost, stolen or damaged marriage certificate you can use the online application to order a replacement marriage certificate.

Order a marriage search

You can request a search if you do not know the exact date of marriage.

A search will verify that the marriage took place and has been registered with the province of Ontario.

You will receive a letter in the mail giving you information that matches the criteria within the years you searched. If no registration of a marriage is found, you will still receive a letter stating that no registration was found.

If you live in Ontario and are planning to get married outside Ontario or Canada, you may need to order a search that lists any previous marriage you have had in the Province of Ontario. You should check with the province, territory, state, or country where you are getting married to determine if this is needed and what years would need to be searched.

To request a search you can use the same online service as a certificate application but you will select the search option and indicate for how many years you would like to search.

Note: The online service guarantee offered for a certificate is not offered for a search and there is no emergency service offered for a search.

Historical certificates

Older events, such as deaths prior to 1991, marriages prior to 1991, and births prior to 1930 may not be in electronic format.

When applying for a death certificate prior to 1991, marriage certificate prior to 1991 or a birth certificate prior to 1930, it can take up to an extra 6 to 8 weeks for the registration to be converted into an electronic format before processing can be completed.

Check your order status

You can check the status of your online application 1 business day after you submit it.

To check the status online, you need:

  • to indicate the type of certificate you requested (birth, death or marriage)
  • applicant’s name and telephone number
  • name of the subject (the person to be listed on the certificate)
  • date of the event, and
  • order/file number, if available

If you are unsure that your online application was successfully submitted, please contact ServiceOntario on the next business day.

Emergency service

The ServiceOntario centre at:
47 Sheppard Avenue East, unit 417, 4th Floor
Toronto, ON
M2N 5N1

For this, you will also need to bring:

Delivery

Certificates are delivered to you within 5 business days

Payment

Money order, Visa, Mastercard

Note: personal cheque payments are no longer accepted at our retail locations for any vital events transactions, including regular, emergency and expedited services.

Apply in-person or by mail

Download and complete the Request for Marriage Certificate application.

In-person

In person at the following ServiceOntario centres:

Toronto
47 Sheppard Avenue East, unit 417, 4th Floor
Toronto, ON
M2N 5N1
Ottawa
110 Laurier Avenue West, 1st Floor
Ottawa, ON
K1P 1J1

Mail

Completed applications can be mailed to:

ServiceOntario
189 Red River Road, PO Box 4600
Thunder Bay, ON
P7B 6L8

Delivery

6 to 8 weeks

Payment

Cheque, money order, Visa, Mastercard

Who can perform a marriage in Ontario

Anyone registered with the Office of the Registrar General as a marriage officiant and anyone authorized under the Marriage Act can perform a marriage in Ontario.

Find out more information about who can marry you.

Proof of urgency

To qualify for an emergency or expedited marriage certificate or for an expedited marriage search, the marriage must be registered in Ontario and you must provide proof of urgency along with your complete and correct applications forms and fee.

Proof of urgency may include:

  • documentation of a medical emergency
  • a letter confirming new employment
  • a letter from a consulate or embassy confirming an appointment
  • travel reservations including airline tickets, reservations or travel itinerary
  • a letter confirming an appointment for an immigration hearing
  • a wedding invitation, where the applicant is a party to the marriage
  • other situations subject to review

To submit an urgent request for a marriage certificate, you can:

  1. Download and complete a Request for marriage certificate application
  2. Complete and submit a Request for certificate services with payment (Download as PDF)
  • attach your completed Request for marriage certificate application to this request
  • attach your proof of urgency documents
  • attach your supporting documents (for example, court documents) if applicable
  • submit your payment

Note: Do not include credit card information in your application form. Once you have completed your form, you will be directed to a payment page where you can submit your payment information and complete your request. 

This service is only available for urgent requests. 

If your request is not urgent, you may order a marriage certificate through the online certificate application or submit your application by mail.