Weddings in Serbia for foreigners: How to get legally married

When we help our couples plan their wedding, we always communicate a lot, discuss every detail, and find out what truly matters to them. And of course, we ask many questions – including one of the most important: why did you choose Georgia? What other countries did they consider for their wedding? And among the popular alternatives, Serbia often comes up. However, in most cases, Georgia ends up winning the comparison.

Today, we want to explain why. We’ll walk you through the specifics of getting married in Serbia as a foreign couple, so you can compare the process and decide whether Serbia’s approach works for you – or whether Georgia, with its extremely liberal legislation and minimal requirements for international couples, turns out to be the more convenient and advantageous option.

Can foreigners get married in Serbia?

Yes, foreigners can legally get married in Serbia, and the country is open to couples from abroad. Serbian law allows couples to marry without needing a residence permit – entering the country legally is enough. However, both partners must be physically present at the marriage registration. There is no such thing as a “marriage power of attorney” or remote registration.

Requirements for foreigners to get married in Serbia

To register a marriage in Serbia, foreign couples must meet several basic requirements:

• Both partners must be legally competent and not currently married to anyone else.
• Marriage is permitted only between a man and a woman; same-sex marriages are not recognized in Serbia.
• The minimum legal age for marriage is 18.
• Both partners must submit the marriage application in person at the local civil registry office.
• Two witnesses must be present at the ceremony.
• If one or both partners do not speak Serbian, an interpreter is required to translate the official part of the ceremony.

In other words, foreigners can legally marry in Serbia as long as they comply with these standard legal requirements and are physically present for the registration process.

What documents do foreigners need to get married in Serbia?

To officially register a marriage in Serbia, foreign couples must prepare a set of documents. All documents must be translated into Serbian and notarized. In addition, any documents issued abroad must be legalized or apostilled, depending on the country of origin.

The standard list of required documents includes:

• Passports of both partners.
• Birth certificates with a certified translation into Serbian.
• A certificate of marital status confirming that each partner is not currently married.
• Divorce decree or proof of dissolution of a previous marriage, if applicable.
• If necessary, proof of a name change after a previous marriage.
• In some cases, confirmation of temporary residence in Serbia (a copy of the local registration) may be required.

It is important to check the specific requirements in the city where the marriage will be registered, as certain municipalities may have slight variations in document formatting or submission deadlines.

Stages of marriage registration in Serbia for foreign couples

Getting legally married in Serbia is possible for foreign couples as long as they meet all legal requirements. The process is generally straightforward, but it does require careful document preparation and adherence to formal procedures.

1. Collecting and preparing documents. To register a marriage, you must gather the full set of required documents and ensure they are properly translated and legalized.
2. Submitting the application at the registry office. The marriage application must be submitted in person at the selected registry office (Matična služba). Here, the officials review your documents and verify that there are no legal obstacles to the marriage.
3. Setting the ceremony date. Once all documents are verified, the registry office schedules the wedding date. The waiting period can range from a few days to a month, depending on the workload of the specific municipality. Foreign couples are free to choose any registry office in Serbia, which is why many recommend smaller towns where the process is usually faster.
4. Marriage ceremony. The ceremony takes place inside the registry office or in a designated ceremonial hall. Two witnesses are required, as well as an interpreter if you do not speak Serbian. During the ceremony, the official marriage record is prepared.
5. Obtaining the marriage certificate. After the ceremony, the marriage is entered into the official registry, and you receive your marriage certificate. To use this document abroad, it must be translated and notarized to ensure legal recognition in your country of residence.

Why is it easier to get married in Georgia than in Serbia?

When you compare the marriage registration process in Serbia and Georgia, the difference becomes clear from the very first steps of preparation. And it’s not only about legal requirements – the key advantage of Georgia is that in recent years it has developed one of the most advanced wedding industries in the region. This is reflected in the number of professional wedding agencies, the competition between them, and the overall level of service they offer. The more companies in the market, the higher the quality, flexibility, speed, and fairness of pricing.

Georgia also stands out thanks to its incredible variety of options. Couples can choose their preferred wedding style, ceremony format, and location – fully customizing the experience to their wishes. From a quick, simple legal registration to a beautiful ceremony in the mountains, at a winery, by the sea, or in a historic Tbilisi courtyard – there are so many venues that everyone finds something that resonates with them.

Minimum document package

While Serbia requires a fairly extensive set of documents – including certificates of marital status, apostilles, notarized translations, and the presence of sworn interpreters – the process in Georgia is much simpler. The only document you are required to have is a valid international passport. All translations and notarizations are done locally, without bureaucracy and without waiting for documents from your home country.

Processing time

One of Georgia’s key advantages is speed. There’s no need to wait weeks for authorities to review your documents. With our assistance, you can submit your application in the morning and have your marriage registered by the afternoon. The full cycle – from application submission to receiving a marriage certificate with an apostille – usually takes 24 hours, and at most two days. This makes Georgia one of the fastest countries for legal marriage registration.

Ease of entry

Although entry to Serbia is also possible without a visa, Georgia offers a longer visa-free stay. Most foreigners can remain in the country for up to 365 days without a visa. This gives couples the freedom to plan ahead: arrive early, enjoy a post-wedding vacation, travel around the country, or return for a photoshoot – all without time restrictions or the need to extend documents.

Cost

A wedding in Georgia is not only beautiful but also affordable. The developed competition among agencies ensures reasonable pricing rather than inflated rates.

Our agency offers:

• Minimal registration package – from $435
• “All-Inclusive” package – from $2,990

Each budget is calculated individually, so it’s always possible to choose an optimal option without compromising quality.

Locations, atmosphere, impressions

Georgia is a country that naturally sets the mood for a wedding. Mountains, vineyards, wineries, historic estates, the sea, cozy old streets – here you’ll find an incredible number of natural backdrops that don’t need to be invented or artificially created. Couples receive ready-made fairy-tale locations, unique local charm, delicious cuisine, Georgian hospitality, and an atmosphere that stays in memory for a lifetime.

Georgia or Serbia for a wedding?

Where to get married is entirely up to you. Every couple looks for something different: some are drawn to Serbia, others to Georgia. But from the perspective of simplicity, absence of bureaucracy, speed of registration, affordability, and the widest choice of locations, Georgia clearly takes the lead. It’s a country where you can be sure that everything will go beautifully, quickly, stress-free, and exactly as you’ve dreamed.