A Canadian Marriage Certificate is a vital record issued by a government authority that proves that the couple listed on the certificate has a legally recognized marriage. This document is used to ensure the rights of spouses and children are respected, to apply for certain social benefits, to settle an estate, to change or hyphenate a surname, to apply for a divorce, or simply to document your family history.
A Marriage Certificate is a different type of document from a Marriage Licence. Marriage Licences are issued to couples before they marry, whereas Marriage Certificates are issued as records of marriages that have already occurred.
The solemnization of Marriage Act requires that you obtain a Marriage Licence before getting married in Prince Edward Island. The licence does not mean that you are married, but that you may get married. A Marriage Licence is valid for three months from the date of issue.
Applications for a Marriage Licence can be completed at some Access PEI sites. However, the Charlottetown and Montague Access PEI sites do not offer this service. Appointments should be made in advance.
Marriage Licence Requirements:
Common Questions About Marriage Licence Requirements in PEI
For more information, please contact:
Vital Statistics, Montague Office
Tel: (902) 838-0880
Toll-free: 1-877-320-1253
Contact Information:
Montague
126 Douses Road
Access PEI Montague
Alberton
Access PEI Alberton
Charlottetown
Access PEI Charlottetown
O’Leary
Access PEI O’Leary
Souris
Access PEI Souris – Johnny Ross Young Services Centre
Summerside
Access PEI Summerside
Tignish
Access PEI Tignish
Wellington
Access PEI Wellington
Immediately after the marriage ceremony, the couple may receive a Record of Solemnization of Marriage from the person who performed the ceremony. This document includes the couple’s names, the date of the marriage, the names of the witnesses and whether the marriage was performed under the authority of a licence or the publication of banns. This is not a Marriage Certificate or a legal record. You still need a Marriage Certificate.
The person who performed the marriage must forward a completed and signed Marriage Licence to the provincial Vital Statistics office for registration. The marriage must be registered before you may apply for a Marriage Certificate.
Apply for a Marriage Certificate online:
Please note: Marriage Certificates are issued using the information from the original Registration of Marriage, completed at the time of Marriage. If a record cannot be found, a search for a three year period is carried out automatically and the applicant will be notified.
You may order a replacement Marriage Certificate in the same way as a first time Marriage Certificate (see above). The application form is the same for both types of orders.
Your Marriage Certificate will be sent to you directly from Prince Edward Island Vital Statistics Agency. It will arrive in the mail with the Regular Service option, or by courier with the Rush Service option.
You must be at least 18 years old to be married in Prince Edward Island without parental consent. If you are 16 or 17 years of age, you may marry if you have the written consent of both parents. Persons under the age of 16 cannot be issued a marriage licence or have their marriage solemnized in Prince Edward Island, except in the case of a female who is shown by a certificate from a duly qualified medical practitioner to be either pregnant or the mother of a living child.
Small Marriage Certificate (9.5 cm x 6.4 cm):
The Small Marriage Certificate contains the following information: name of spouse/partner 1/groom, name of spouse/partner 2/bride, date of marriage, place of marriage, registration number and registration date.
Large Marriage Certificate (12.6 cm x 17.8 cm):
The Large Marriage Certificate contains all the same information as the Small Marriage Certificate, plus the birthplace of spouse/partner 1/groom and spouse/partner 2/bride (province/country only).
Please Note: Those applying for a marriage certificate must ensure that the information be provided exactly as it is recorded on the marriage registration or the certificate will not be issued.
Marriage Certificates are issued using the information from the original Registration of Marriage, completed at the time of marriage. If you are not certain of the date of marriage, you are required to fill out the estimated date of marriage on the Marriage Certificate application. If a record cannot be found, a search will automatically be carried out and the applicant will be notified.
Yes. You must have an original government issued Marriage Certificate or Certified Copy of Marriage Registration to apply for a divorce in Canada. The certificate you received at the church (or any other place you were married) will not be accepted by the Divorce Registry.
Regular Service (15-25 business days)
Short Form Marriage Certificate: $60.00
Long Form Marriage Certificate: $70.00
Rush Service (5-7 business days)
Short Form Marriage Certificate: $125.00
Long Form Marriage Certificate: $135.00
The only payment currently accepted is credit card (Visa and MasterCard).
It will take 15-25 business days with the Regular Service option or 5-7 business days with the Rush Service option.
Bill C-38 codifies a definition of marriage for the first time in Canadian law, expanding on the traditional common-law understanding of civil marriage as an exclusively heterosexual institution. Bill C-38 redefines civil marriage as “the lawful union of two persons to the exclusion of all others,” thus extending civil marriage to conjugal couples of the same sex.
Bill C-38 was passed by the Senate on July 19, 2005, by a vote of 47-21. The Civil Marriage Act then came into effect with Royal Assent on July 20, 2005, as Chapter 33 of the Statutes of Canada. With its enactment, Canada became the fourth country to legislate same-sex marriage, the others being the Netherlands (2001), Belgium (2003) and Spain (2005).
Federal vs. Provincial Jurisdiction
There is some confusion about the roles of different levels of government involved in the marriage issue.
The federal government can pass legislation to define marriage and to set out who can marry whom, which means that a Province must recognize any marriage that is valid in Canada.
Although Provinces do not have the freedom to choose which marriages may be solemnized, they are required to provide a process by which people can be married. This means that provincial governments must provide a process for the solemnization of same-sex marriages.
If you are following up on the status of an already ordered certificate, as the applicant, you will need to contact the government agency directly. They will only discuss the status of the application with the applicant. Please contact Prince Edward Island Vital Statistics at:
Toll Free: 1-877-320-1253 (PEI only)
Telephone: 902-838-0880
You can apply for a Prince Edward Island Marriage Certificate if you are:
No. Changing a last name upon marriage is a custom only and it has never been a legal requirement. When you get married, there are several options available to you. You may keep your own last name, you may take your husband’s name, or combine both of your last names into a hyphenated last name.
It is also possible to use your husband’s last name for social purposes while continuing to use your own last name for legal purposes, such as your passport, bank accounts, driver’s licence and so on. The important thing is that you must not use both names in an attempt to defraud someone.
The benefit of assuming a married name instead of doing a legal name change is that it does not change your last name on your Marriage Certificate. Later, if you wish to use your own last name again, it is already on your Marriage Certificate and you won’t have to pay to change it back.
If you do decide to use your husband’s last name, it is not necessary to inform the Department of Vital Statistics. However, you will have to arrange to have all your personal documents changed to reflect your new name. You should contact your bank to arrange to change your name on your accounts, credit cards and banking cards, and the federal government to deal with documents such as your social insurance number and passport. Your driver’s licence should also be changed. Do not forget such important documents as insurance policies and your health care number. Note also that marriage automatically invalidates a will, unless the will specifically mentions that it has been made with an upcoming marriage in mind. You should make a new will immediately after marriage.
Yes. You may marry in a foreign country as long as you meet all the requirements of the authority responsible for marriage in the country where you want to get married. If you are getting married overseas, most countries will require a statement in-lieu of certification of non-impediment to marriage abroad. You can apply for one by mail to the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade Authentication and Service of Documents section before your departure. If you are already abroad, you may obtain a “Statement in lieu of Certificate of Non-impediment” from the nearest Canadian government office abroad.
Additional information regarding marriage in a foreign country is available on the Canadian Consular Affairs website.
Please note, only marriages that took place in Prince Edward Island are registered by Prince Edward Island Vital Statistics. Your marriage will be registered in the country where it took place as long as you met all the local requirements. Your Marriage Certificate, issued by the country’s authority responsible for marriage, is proof of your marital status.
No. There are certain procedures that must be followed before a non-Canadian citizen can reside in Canada. For more information, see the Citizenship and Immigration Canada website.
Marriages in Canada can be either civil or religious. Marriages may be performed by members of the clergy, marriage commissioners, judges, justices of the peace or clerks of the court.
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