How to Get a Marriage Licence in Ontario: A Step-by-Step Guide for Couples
Getting married is exciting. Paperwork? Maybe not quite as exciting.
Your marriage licence is one of those important details that can easily get lost among all the other things you're planning for your wedding day. The good news is that once you know what to do, the process is pretty straightforward.
As a wedding officiant, I've also learned that the licence itself is something couples should pay close attention to. A small mistake or an unnecessary change can create an issue later, so taking a few extra minutes to make sure everything is correct can save you a lot of stress.
Here's what you need to know.
1. Know When to Get Your Marriage Licence
An Ontario marriage licence is valid for 90 days from the date it is issued.
While you can get your licence within that 90-day window, my recommendation is to aim for approximately 60 days before your wedding.
Why 60 days?
It gives you some breathing room. You're close enough to your wedding that the licence will still be valid, but you're not leaving an important piece of paperwork until the last minute.
And trust me, the last thing you want to be thinking about in the final weeks before your wedding is whether you have your marriage licence sorted out.
Krysti's Tip
Put your marriage licence on your wedding planning checklist about two months before your wedding.
One less thing to worry about means more time to focus on the things you're actually excited about.
2. Choose Where to Apply
One thing that surprises some couples is that you don't have to get your marriage licence from the municipality where you live or where you're getting married.You can obtain your marriage licence from any municipality in Ontario.That means it can be worth checking a few convenient options before you apply. Municipalities can have different fees and different application processes, so take a look at the options available to you.
Krysti's Tip
Check the municipality where you live, where you work, or another convenient municipality to see what works best for you.
A few minutes of research could save you some money or make the application process more convenient.
3. Apply for Your Marriage Licence
There are a few ways to complete a marriage licence application in Ontario.
You can apply:
Online through the ServiceOntario marriage licence application
Online through your municipality, where available
Using a paper application through your municipality
Because application options and requirements can vary, I recommend checking the official Ontario information before you start.
Visit the Ontario government's Getting Married page →
It contains the most up-to-date information about the application process, requirements, identification, fees, and other things you'll need to know.
Once you've completed the application process, you'll receive your marriage licence from the issuing clerk.
And this is where I want to give you one very important piece of advice.
4. Once You Receive Your Licence, Don't Change It
This is probably the most important thing I want couples to know.
Once your marriage licence has been issued and signed by the clerk, do not make changes to it yourself.
Even if you notice something that seems like it should be updated, leave it alone.
For example, if your address or age has changed since the licence was issued, do not update the information yourself.
Your licence reflects the information that was valid when it was issued.
What if there is an actual mistake?
If you notice an error, such as an incorrect name spelling or an actual error in a birthdate, do not correct it yourself.
Corrections need to be made by the issuing clerk.
This means you'll need to go back to the same clerk or municipality that issued your licence.
Please don't cross anything out, add information, or make your own corrections.
Changes made to the licence can invalidate the document.
5. Pay Attention When You Pick Up Your Licence
When you pick up your marriage licence, the clerk will administer an oath and the person attending will sign the appropriate section.
If only one person attends to pick up the licence, only that person should take the oath and sign.
The other person should not add their signature later.
If you get home and notice that your partner's signature isn't there, don't assume something was forgotten.
It may be intentional.
Do not add another signature yourself.
An additional signature can invalidate the marriage licence.
This is one of those situations where it's important to follow the clerk's instructions exactly as given.
6. Leave Part 3 Alone
Here's another important one.
Part 3 of the marriage licence is completed at the wedding.
You don't complete this section when you receive your licence.
Part 3 is completed once you are at your wedding and the marriage has taken place. The officiant, the couple, and the two witnesses complete the appropriate sections after the couple has consented to the marriage and the officiant has solemnized the marriage.
So if you're looking at your licence and wondering why Part 3 isn't completed yet...
That's exactly how it should be.
Leave it alone until your wedding day.
7. Send Your Licence to Your Officiant
Once you receive your marriage licence, here's something I recommend doing:
Send a copy to your officiant.
If you're getting married with Love & Honour, you're welcome to send me a copy of your licence once you receive it.
I'll take a look to make sure everything appears to have been completed correctly and that there aren't any obvious issues we need to address before your wedding day.
You may think the licence is straightforward, and for the most part it is. But you're also probably looking at it in the middle of one of the most exciting times of your life.
It's easy to accidentally fill in a section you weren't supposed to, add a signature, or make a correction that seems completely harmless.
I'd rather catch something early than have us discover an issue when we're standing at your wedding.
Krysti's Tip
Send your officiant a copy as soon as you receive your licence.
It's a small step that can give you one less thing to worry about.
A Quick Marriage Licence Checklist
Before your wedding day, make sure you:
Apply for your marriage licence within the appropriate timeframe
Remember that the licence is valid for 90 days
Compare convenient Ontario municipalities for fees and application options
Follow the issuing clerk's instructions carefully
Don't alter Parts 1 or 2 after the licence has been issued
Don't add signatures that aren't requested
Don't make your own corrections
Leave Part 3 for your wedding day
Send a copy of your licence to your officiant
Need More Information?
Marriage licence requirements and processes can change, so always check the official Ontario government information for the most current requirements.
And if you're working with Love & Honour, I'm always happy to help you understand what needs to happen from the officiant side.
After all, your wedding day should be about celebrating your love, not worrying about paperwork.
You've got enough to think about. Let me help make this part a little easier.
Last updated: August 2026