Getting Married in Las Vegas From Abroad
A Complete Las Vegas Wedding Guide for International Couples
Coming to Las Vegas from another country to get married?
Welcome to one of the easiest — and most unforgettable — places in the world to say “I do.”
Couples travel to Las Vegas from around the globe for romantic chapel weddings, elegant celebrations, iconic Vegas ceremonies and incredible desert elopements.
And despite crossing an international border for your wedding, the Nevada marriage process itself may be much simpler than you expect.
At Love Story Wedding Chapel, we welcome couples from around the world and help them plan their Las Vegas weddings before they ever arrive in Nevada.
Here’s what international couples need to know.
Coming to Las Vegas to Get Married?
From intimate chapel weddings to desert adventures, we’ll help you find the Las Vegas wedding that feels like you.
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Planning from another country? Talk to our wedding team
Can Tourists Get Married in Las Vegas?
Yes!
You do not have to live in Las Vegas, Nevada or even the United States to legally get married here.
International visitors can obtain a Nevada marriage licence and have a legal wedding ceremony in Las Vegas as long as they meet Nevada’s marriage requirements.
And Nevada makes the process remarkably straightforward.
There is no Nevada residency requirement and no waiting period after receiving your marriage licence.
For many international couples, the basic process looks like this:
1. Complete your marriage licence pre-application
2. Arrive in Las Vegas
3. Visit the Marriage License Bureau together
4. Receive your Nevada marriage licence
5. Have your legal Las Vegas wedding ceremony
6. Your officiant files the marriage paperwork
7. Order your certified marriage certificate after it has been recorded
So yes:
You really can fly to Las Vegas on holiday and come home married.
Want to understand the entire process? Read our Complete Guide to Getting Married in Las Vegas
What Documents Do International Couples Need to Get Married in Las Vegas?
This is one of the biggest concerns we hear from couples planning from overseas.
Fortunately, Nevada does not make international couples navigate an entirely separate marriage licence process simply because they live outside the United States.
Both partners must appear together to obtain the marriage licence and provide identification accepted by the Clark County Marriage License Bureau.
For most international travelers, a valid passport is the obvious identification to have with you but they also recognise any Government-Issued Photo Identification.
Read Our Las Vegas Marriage Licence Guide
Do We Need to Live in the United States to Get Married in Vegas?
No.
There is no requirement to be a US citizen or Nevada resident to obtain a Nevada marriage licence.
That is one of the reasons Las Vegas works so beautifully for destination weddings.
You don’t need to move here.
You don’t need to establish Nevada residency.
And Nevada does not require you to spend a certain number of days in the state before your wedding.
You can come to Las Vegas for your trip, obtain your marriage licence and have your ceremony while you’re here.
Is There a Waiting Period to Get Married in Las Vegas?
No.
Nevada does not impose a waiting period after your marriage licence is issued.
That means once you have your licence and have arranged your legal ceremony, you can get married.
Love Story Tip
Even though Vegas makes spontaneous weddings possible, international couples should give themselves some breathing room.
Flights get delayed. Jet lag is real. And collecting your marriage licence shouldn’t be the stressful part of your wedding day.
If you’re planning your trip around the wedding, arranging your Love Story ceremony before you travel means there’s one very important thing already waiting for you when you land.
Will Our Las Vegas Marriage Be Legal in Our Home Country?
This is the question where the answer becomes more individual.
Your Las Vegas ceremony must first satisfy Nevada’s requirements to create a legal Nevada marriage.
What happens when you take that marriage documentation back to your home country can depend on that country’s laws and your individual circumstances.
Some countries recognise legally performed foreign marriages without requiring couples to “register” the marriage again. Others may have particular documentation, translation, authentication, registration or reporting requirements.
That’s why we recommend checking the current official government guidance for the country where you live before travelling.
And it’s also why we’ve started creating dedicated guides for couples travelling to Las Vegas from different parts of the world.
Getting Married in Las Vegas From Your Country
Planning from overseas comes with different questions depending on where you’re coming from.
Choose your country below for more specific guidance.
🇬🇧 Getting Married in Las Vegas From the UK
Coming from England, Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland?
Our UK guide covers planning your Las Vegas wedding from Britain, Nevada marriage requirements, marriage certificates, UK recognition considerations and what to think about before travelling.
Getting Married in Las Vegas From the UK — Complete Guide
More International Wedding Guides Coming Soon
As we create additional country-specific resources, you’ll find them here.
Future guides may include couples travelling from:
Canada • Australia • Ireland • New Zealand • Germany • France • Mexico • Spain and beyond
Don’t See Your Country?
That’s okay!
Love Story welcomes couples from around the world.
Tell us where you’re travelling from and what kind of Las Vegas wedding you’re imagining. Our team can help you understand the Nevada side of your wedding and point you toward the official resources you’ll need to check for requirements back home.
ASK US ABOUT PLANNING FROM ABROAD
What’s the Difference Between a Marriage Licence and Certified Marriage Certificate?
This is important for international couples.
Your marriage licence and marriage certificate are the documents that gives you permission to legally marry in Nevada.
You’ll obtain those before your ceremony.
After your legal ceremony, your officiant completes and files the appropriate marriage paperwork.
Once your marriage has been recorded, you can order a certified copy of your marriage certificate.
The certified marriage certificate is the document you may need later when you are asked to provide official evidence of your marriage.
For international couples, that distinction matters:
Marriage Licence/Marriage Certificate = before the wedding
Certified Marriage Certificate = official record after the wedding
What Is an Apostille — and Will We Need One?
If you’ve been researching an international Las Vegas wedding, you may have encountered the word apostille.
An apostille is a form of authentication used for certain public documents when they need to be presented in another country.
But here’s the important part:
Not every international couple should assume they need one.
Whether an apostille or another form of authentication is required depends on the country and organisation where you intend to use your marriage document.
That’s another reason we recommend checking your own country’s current requirements rather than relying on generic advice for “international weddings.”
If an apostille is required for your situation, Love Story can assist with apostille services.
Do We Need to Register Our Las Vegas Marriage When We Get Home?
Maybe — but this is another question that depends on where home is.
Different countries handle foreign marriages differently.
Some do not require a separate registration process simply because you married abroad. Others may have procedures involving foreign marriage documents.
The safest approach is simple:
Before travelling, check the official government guidance for your country regarding marriages performed abroad.
Don’t rely on advice intended for another nationality simply because that couple also married in Las Vegas.
Planning a Las Vegas Wedding From Another Country
The legal process might be straightforward.
The planning can feel like the intimidating part.
You’re choosing a wedding venue you’ve possibly never visited.
You’re coordinating flights and accommodation.
Your friends and family may be travelling internationally with you.
You’re working across time zones.
And you may be trying to figure out what’s actually included in a Vegas wedding package from thousands of miles away.
That’s where we come in.
Our goal is to make the Las Vegas part feel easy.
At Love Story, you can choose and arrange your wedding before travelling so you aren’t arriving in Nevada wondering what happens next.
What Kind of Las Vegas Wedding Can We Have?
One of the best parts about flying to Vegas to get married is that you aren’t limited to one version of a “Las Vegas wedding.”
An Intimate Las Vegas Chapel Wedding
Romantic, simple and unmistakably Vegas.
Perfect if the two of you are travelling alone or bringing a small group of your favourite people.
Explore You + Me Chapel Wedding Packages
A Chandelier Chapel Wedding
Bringing friends and family from home?
Our Chandelier Chapel gives couples an elevated Las Vegas chapel experience with room to celebrate with the people who’ve made the journey with you.
Explore Chandelier Chapel Wedding Packages
An Elvis or Themed Vegas Wedding
Sometimes you’ve flown halfway around the world to Vegas because you want your wedding to feel like Vegas.
Make it fun. Make it iconic. Give everyone at home a story they’ll never stop hearing.
Explore Elvis & Themed Wedding Packages
A Las Vegas Desert Wedding
The Nevada landscape gives international couples something completely different from the traditional chapel experience.
Think dramatic desert scenery, incredible photography and a wedding day that doubles as a Las Vegas adventure.
Explore Outdoor & Nature Wedding Packages
A Helicopter or Adventure Wedding
If you’re already travelling thousands of miles to get married, why stop there?
For couples who want an experience they’ll remember forever, explore Love Story’s helicopter and adventure wedding options.
Explore Helicopter & Adventure Wedding Packages
Your Wedding. Your Trip. Your Las Vegas Story.
Tell us where you’re coming from, who’s coming with you and what you’re imagining.
We’ll help you find the Love Story experience that fits.
START PLANNING YOUR LAS VEGAS WEDDING
When Should International Couples Book Their Las Vegas Wedding?
If you’re building an international trip around your wedding, earlier planning gives you more choices.
We especially recommend booking ahead when:
you have a specific wedding date
guests are booking international flights
you want a particular ceremony time
you’re planning an outdoor ceremony
you’re coordinating transportation or dinner plans
your date falls on a particularly popular Las Vegas wedding date
your trip is being planned specifically around getting married
Vegas can absolutely be spontaneous — and Love Story welcomes same-day weddings when availability allows.
But if you’ve just spent ten hours on an aeroplane to get here, knowing your wedding is already arranged feels pretty wonderful.
Frequently Asked Questions for International Couples
Can foreigners legally get married in Las Vegas?
Yes. International visitors can legally marry in Nevada provided they meet Nevada’s eligibility and marriage licence requirements.
Do we have to be US citizens?
No. US citizenship is not required to obtain a Nevada marriage licence.
Do we have to be Nevada residents?
No. Nevada does not require couples to establish residency before getting married.
Can we get married while we’re on holiday in Las Vegas?
Yes. Many international couples combine their Las Vegas wedding with their holiday or honeymoon.
Is there a waiting period?
No. Nevada does not have a waiting period after the marriage licence is issued.
Should international couples bring passports?
International travellers should bring appropriate identification accepted by the Clark County Marriage License Bureau. A passport is an accepted and practical form of identification for many international visitors.
Do we receive our certified marriage certificate immediately?
No. Your officiant must first file the marriage paperwork. After the marriage is recorded, you can order certified copies of the marriage certificate.
Is our Las Vegas wedding automatically legal in our country?
Do not assume that every country handles foreign marriages identically. Your marriage must be legally performed under Nevada law, and you should check your home country’s official requirements regarding recognition and use of foreign marriage documents.
Do all international couples need an apostille?
No. Whether you need an apostille depends on where and how you need to use your marriage certificate after your wedding.
Can Love Story help us plan before we arrive?
Absolutely.
We want the exciting part of landing in Las Vegas to be “We’re getting married!” — not “Now we have to figure out a wedding.”
Come to Las Vegas. Leave With One Incredible Love Story.
Maybe you’re flying two hours.
Maybe you’re flying twelve.
Either way, when you arrive in Las Vegas, we’ll be here.
Choose an intimate chapel ceremony, gather your favourite people at the Chandelier Chapel, embrace an iconic Vegas wedding or head into the Nevada landscape for something completely unforgettable.
You bring your love story to Las Vegas. We’ll help you celebrate it here.
EXPLORE LAS VEGAS WEDDING PHOTOS
Coming from outside the United States? Tell us your home country when you contact us so our team knows you’re planning internationally.