NZ Marriage Licence: The Complete Guide

The short version

• Cost: NZ$240 (2026) for the licence itself.
• Time: Minimum 3 working days from application to issue.
• Valid for: 3 months from the date of issue.
• Form: Notice of Intended Marriage (BDM60), online or paper.
• Who issues it: Births, Deaths and Marriages (a part of the Department of Internal Affairs).

You do not need to be a NZ resident, you do not need a blood test, and you do not need anyone's permission once you're 18. You do need a licence , no licence, no legal marriage, no matter how good the celebrant.

What a marriage licence actually is

A NZ marriage licence is the government's permission slip to get married on a specific day, at a specific place, to a specific person. It's issued under the Marriage Act 1955 and is the document your celebrant relies on to solemnise the marriage legally.

It comes with two copies of the Copy of Particulars of Marriage , the form you, your partner, your two witnesses, and your celebrant all sign on the day. Your celebrant lodges one copy back with BDM within 10 working days; that triggers your official marriage certificate.

Who can get married in New Zealand

Both parties must:

• Be 18 years or older (16–17 needs Family Court consent).
• Not already be married or in a civil union (to each other or anyone else).
• Not be closely related , the prohibited-degrees list is in Schedule 2 of the Marriage Act.
• Understand what marriage is and freely consent.

Citizenship and residency don't matter. Overseas couples can absolutely fly in and get married here , and many do, especially in Queenstown and Wānaka.

Step-by-step: how to apply

Step 1 , Pick your date and place (roughly)

You'll list the planned date and place of marriage on the form. Both can be changed later if life happens, but you need a real address , "somewhere in Central Otago" won't fly. Always include a wet-weather backup address for outdoor weddings; it costs nothing to list and saves a panicked re-application.

Step 2 , Complete the Notice of Intended Marriage (BDM60)

Apply online at the BDM website, or download the paper form. You'll need:

• Full legal names of both parties (as on your passport or birth certificate).
• Dates and places of birth.
• Current addresses and occupations.
• Parents' full names (including mothers' maiden names).
• Previous marriages or civil unions , with date and how they ended (divorce, dissolution, death) and supporting documents.
• The planned date, place, and (if known) celebrant.

One party signs the form in front of an authorised witness , a registered celebrant, Justice of the Peace, lawyer, or BDM staff member. The other party doesn't need to sign or be present.

Step 3 , Pay the fee

NZ$240 (as of 2026) for the licence. Add NZ$280 if you want a Registrar to marry you at a BDM office instead of using your own celebrant. Pay online when you submit, or by internet banking if you've gone paper.

Step 4 , Wait the 3 working days

BDM legally cannot issue a licence in under 3 working days. In practice, allow a week for processing, and apply at least 4–8 weeks before the wedding so there's room to fix typos, missing documents, or name-change paperwork from a previous marriage.

Step 5 , Receive your licence and Copy of Particulars

BDM email (or post) you the marriage licence plus two copies of the Copy of Particulars of Marriage. Hand all three documents to your celebrant before the day. Most celebrants ask for them at the rehearsal or 1–2 weeks out , don't wait until the morning of.

Step 6 , Get married within 3 months

The licence is valid for three months from the date of issue. If your wedding moves outside that window (cyclone, lockdown, cold feet that warmed up six months later), you'll need to apply again. The fee is non-refundable.

Checklist , copy this into your planning doc

• ☐ Confirmed date and venue (plus wet-weather backup)
• ☐ Confirmed celebrant , and their full name on the form
• ☐ Both parties' passports/birth certificates to hand for legal names
• ☐ Divorce / dissolution / death certificates from any prior marriages
• ☐ Notice of Intended Marriage completed and signed in front of an authorised witness
• ☐ NZ$240 paid to BDM
• ☐ Licence and two Copies of Particulars received and forwarded to celebrant
• ☐ Two witnesses (16+) confirmed for the day
• ☐ Black ballpoint pen packed in the venue kit (felt tips bleed)

Common stuff-ups (and how to avoid them)

• Leaving it to the last week. 3 working days is the minimum, not the recommendation. Public holidays don't count. Apply at least a month out.
• Using nicknames on the form. Full legal names only. If your passport says Hemingway, the form says Hemingway , even if everyone calls you Hemi.
• Forgetting prior-marriage paperwork. BDM needs your divorce order or death certificate sighted. Order replacements early , they take time.
• No wet-weather venue listed. Pay $0 to list a backup address now, versus a re-application fee and a stressed celebrant if it pours.
• Handing the licence to the celebrant on the day. They need it earlier to check details against the script. Get it to them at the rehearsal.

Special cases

Overseas couples (destination weddings)

You don't need to be in NZ to apply. One party signs the form in front of a NZ embassy official, a notary public, or an equivalent authorised witness in your country. BDM accepts overseas-signed forms , just allow extra postage time.

Name changes after the wedding

The marriage certificate (ordered separately, NZ$33) is what banks, passports, and IRD want to see for name changes. Order it as soon as your celebrant has lodged the paperwork , usually 2–3 weeks after the wedding.

Marrying under 18

16 and 17 year-olds can marry with Family Court consent. The process is slower and takes a separate application , factor in 6–8 weeks minimum.

Civil unions

Civil unions use a different form (Notice of Intended Civil Union) but the same 3 working day rule and 3 month validity. Same cost. If you're choosing between the two, see our guide on civil union vs marriage (coming soon).

FAQ

How much does a NZ marriage licence cost?

NZ$240 (2026) for the licence. Add NZ$280 if you use a BDM Registrar at a registry office instead of your own celebrant.

How long does it take?

Minimum 3 working days from a complete application. Realistically allow 4–8 weeks to cover form corrections and prior-marriage document delays.

How long is the licence valid?

3 months from the date of issue. Miss that window and you re-apply (and re-pay).

Do I have to apply in person?

No , the whole thing is online. One party still needs to sign the form in front of an authorised witness (celebrant, JP, lawyer, or BDM staff).

Can overseas couples get a NZ marriage licence?

Yes. Apply from anywhere; have one party sign in front of a NZ embassy official, a local notary, or fly in and sign in front of a NZ celebrant or JP on arrival.

What if our wedding date or venue changes?

Contact BDM before the day , small admin fee for changes. New date outside the 3-month window means a new licence.

Do we need witnesses?

One authorised witness for the application. Two witnesses aged 16+ on the wedding day itself, to sign the Copy of Particulars of Marriage.

Is a marriage licence the same as a marriage certificate?

No. The licence is permission to get married. The certificate is proof you did. The certificate is a separate order (NZ$33) once the celebrant has lodged your paperwork.

What's next

Licence sorted? Get the ceremony itself locked in with our NZ wedding ceremony script template, and read up on why most Kiwi couples plan their own wedding (and what to lean on instead).