Marriage notification exemptions

  1. Before you start

    To get married in Ireland, you need to book a marriage notification appointment with the HSE Civil Registration Service and provide three months' notice.
    Read more about marriage registration and exemption order

  2. Decide where to make your application

    You and your partner can apply to the court in the county where you live, work, or intend to marry.
    Read more about where to apply

  3. Complete and submit application documents

    Get the application form, fill it out, and submit it to the court office. Be sure to explain why you couldn’t give three months' notice.
    Read more about completing and submitting documents

  4. Attend the court hearing

    Both parties must attend the hearing with photo ID. Let the court office know if either party cannot attend.
    Read more about attending the court hearing

  5. After the hearing

    Ask the court when your exemption order will be ready. It may take up to two weeks.
    Read more about after the hearing

  6. Meet registrar at HSE Civil Registration Service office

    If the exemption order is granted, you must meet a registrar to submit the order and get your marriage registration form.
    Read more about meeting the registrar

Before you start: Marriage registration

To get married in Ireland, you need to obtain a marriage registration form, also called a 'marriage licence.' This form is required for all civil, religious, or secular marriages. You can get the marriage registration form from a HSE Civil Registration Service.

To obtain the marriage registration form, you must provide at least three months' notice to the HSE Civil Registration Service. It’s recommended to book the appointment as early as possible, as waiting times may vary depending on the location.

Contact your local HSE Civil Registration Service to book an appointment

Both you and your partner must attend the appointment and bring the required documents. The HSE Civil Registration Service provides an appointment checklist with all the necessary documents. At the appointment, you will meet with a Registrar, and both of you will sign a declaration confirming that there are no legal reasons preventing you from getting married.

If you're unable to provide the required three months' notice, you can apply to the court for a marriage notification exemption order. This order allows you to apply for the marriage registration form without giving three months' notice.

Contact your local HSE Civil Registration Service for advice on how to begin the process, and they will inform you if an exemption order is needed.

Step 2 - Decide where to make your application

You and your partner can apply to the court in the county in which either of you live or work. If you intend to marry in a different county, you can also apply to the court in that county.

For example, if you and your partner live and work in Galway but plan to marry in Sligo, you can apply to the Circuit Court in either Galway or Sligo.

Find your Courts Service office here

Step 3 - Complete and submit application documents

Contact or visit the court office to request an application form. Make sure to fill out the form, ensuring it is signed and dated by both applicants.

Let the Courts Service staff know the reason you could not provide the required three months' notice of your intention to marry. Inform them of any time-sensitive concerns, such as serious illness of either partner or a family member. Courts Service staff will assist you in making your application as quickly as possible.

They will also inform you if any additional documents are required, such as:

  • An affidavit sworn by both applicants explaining why you were unable to give three months' notice to the Civil Registration Service.
  • A letter from the HSE Civil Registration Service confirming that you require an exemption order from the court.
  • A letter from the celebrant confirming the date and place of the marriage. For example, a letter from a priest if you are getting married in a church.
  • Other documents that support your application.

Step 4 - Attend the court hearing

Courts Service staff will inform you of the time and location for your court hearing. Both parties must attend the court hearing and present a form of photo ID, such as a driver's licence, passport, or Public Services Card.

If one of the parties is unable to attend, notify the court office in advance, especially if one of the parties or a family member is seriously ill.

Applications are generally heard by a County Registrar, but in some cases, they may also be heard by a Circuit Court judge. During the hearing, you may be asked to provide evidence on oath and offer additional information if necessary.

If the court is satisfied with the application, they will grant the order.

After the hearing, ask the court office staff when your marriage notification exemption order will be ready. In many cases, the order will be available on the same day, but in some cases, it may take up to two weeks. If you haven't received the order within that time, contact the court office for an update.

More information on preparing for Family Law court

Step 5 - Meet registrar at HSE Civil Registration Service office

If the marriage notification exemption order is granted, you will need to arrange a meeting with a registrar at the HSE Civil Registration Service office. You must provide them with the certified copy of the exemption order issued by the Courts Service.

This meeting must take place at least five days before your planned wedding date. In exceptional cases, the registrar may consider a shorter time frame.

If everything is in order and there is no legal reason preventing the marriage, the registrar will issue you a marriage registration form. This form serves as your marriage licence and gives you legal permission to marry.