If you’re planning to get married in Miami, one of the first steps is obtaining a marriage license. Whether you’re a local resident or traveling to Florida for a destination wedding, you’ll need to understand the application process, requirements, costs, and where to go. We also flag the details most guides skip: the sixty-day validity window, the three-day waiting period and how to waive it, and what changes if either of you was married before. If any part of your situation is unusual — a recent move, mismatched name spellings, or documents issued in another country — reach out and we will tell you exactly what to bring.
In this guide, we’ll walk you through everything you need to know about getting a marriage license in Miami, and how Notary Public Center can help you request.
What Is a Marriage License?
A marriage license is a legal document issued by a county that authorizes a couple to marry. In Miami-Dade County, this document is required before your wedding ceremony, and it must be signed and returned afterward to be officially recorded
Who Can Apply for a Marriage License in Miami?
You can apply for a marriage license in Miami if:
- Both parties are at least 18 years old
- You present valid, government-issued photo ID (passport, driver’s license, etc.)
- You provide your Social Security number (if applicable)
- You are not currently married
No residency or citizenship is required—foreign nationals can apply too.
How to Get a Marriage License in Miami
We take care of completing the forms and scheduling your appointment at the county courthouse that’s most convenient for you, so you can simply show up to receive your marriage license
Marriage License Requirements in Miami
- Valid photo identification (passport, U.S. or foreign ID)
- Social Security number (or declaration of not having one)
- No blood tests required
- If previously married, provide date of divorce or death of former spouse
- Both parties must appear in person
How Much Does a Marriage License Cost in Miami?
Service Cost, Marriage license (standard) $86.00
Note: If you plan to use the license internationally, you may also need a notarized copy and apostille
Where to Get a Marriage License in Miami
We’ll provide you with the addresses of county courthouses so you can choose the one closest to you, along with the schedule that best fits your availabilit
Can I Get My Marriage License Online?
We can start the process online, but you must appear in person to complete it. Florida law requires in-person verification before issuing the license.
At Notary Public Center, we can help guide you through the online pre-application and even assist in requesting a certified marriage certificate afterward.
Do I Need an Apostille for International Use?
Yes. If you’re planning to use your marriage certificate abroad (for immigration, dual citizenship, or legal recognition), you’ll need to request a certified copy and have it apostilled.
Notary Public Center can assist you with:
- Requesting the certified marriage certificate
- Notarizing supporting documents
- Processing the apostille with the Florida Department of State
Providing translations and international delivery if needed
Waiting Period and How Long the License Is Valid
Florida imposes a three-day waiting period between the license issue date and the wedding ceremony — unless both parties are Florida residents who complete a state-approved premarital preparation course, which waives the wait entirely. Once issued, a Miami-Dade marriage license is valid for sixty days; if your ceremony falls outside that window, you will need to apply again. We help you time the application so it lines up with your ceremony date, whether that is next week or next month.
What Happens After the Wedding?
The officiant who performs your ceremony is legally required to sign and return the completed license to the Miami-Dade County Clerk’s office within ten days. Once recorded, the county issues your official marriage certificate — the document you will actually need for name changes, immigration filings, or international recognition. If you already have a license and simply need to locate an existing record, see our dedicated guide on the Miami-Dade marriage license search.
How Can Notary Public Center Help?
Once you provide the required information, Notary Public Center will take care of requesting and obtaining your certified marriage certificate from Miami-Dade County on your behalf.
We also offer:
- Apostille services for international use
- Document notarization
- Bilingual support (English & Spanish)
Getting Married in Miami? We’re Here to Help
Don’t let paperwork delay your big day. Whether you’re getting married locally or need to prepare your documents for another country, Notary Public Center simplifies the process.
Documents to Bring to Your Appointment
- Valid government-issued photo ID for both parties — a driver’s license, state ID, or passport. Foreign nationals can use a valid passport; a visa is not required.
- Social Security number for each party who has one; those without one sign a declaration instead.
- Proof that any prior marriage has ended: a certified divorce decree or a death certificate for a deceased former spouse. Approximate dates are acceptable if you do not have the exact paperwork on hand — the clerk will guide you on what is sufficient.
- Witnesses are not required in Florida for the license application itself, though your officiant may want witnesses present at the ceremony depending on the venue.
Both applicants must appear together at the same appointment; the county does not allow one party to apply on the other’s behalf.
Common Reasons Applications Get Delayed
- Name mismatches: if your ID uses a different name than your birth certificate or a prior legal name change, bring the supporting document that connects the two.
- Incomplete divorce paperwork: a decree that is not final, or missing the finalization date, can hold up the application until the county verifies the marriage has legally ended.
- Language barriers: documents issued outside the U.S. sometimes need translation before the clerk will accept them — we provide bilingual support and can arrange certified translation in advance.
- Traveling for a destination wedding: visitors sometimes assume any Florida county works; while a Miami-Dade license is valid statewide, planning your appointment date around your travel itinerary avoids last-minute scrambling.
Marriage License vs. Marriage Certificate: Don’t Confuse the Two
These two documents are often used interchangeably in conversation, but they are legally distinct. The marriage license is the permission slip issued before the wedding, authorizing the ceremony to take place. The marriage certificate is the official record created after the ceremony, once the signed license has been returned to and recorded by the county. Immigration filings, name changes, and most international uses require the certificate — not the pre-wedding license. If your ceremony already took place and you need that recorded document, we handle the certificate request directly with Miami-Dade County on your behalf.
Need a Marriage Officiant Too?
If you still need someone to perform the ceremony itself, we also coordinate licensed marriage officiant services across Miami-Dade and Broward, so the license and the ceremony can be arranged through a single point of contact.
Divorced or Never Married? Special Documentation
If either party was previously married, Florida requires proof of how that marriage ended — a divorce decree or a death certificate for a former spouse. If you have never been married and need to prove that fact for a foreign registry (common for couples marrying abroad), a certificate of non-marriage may be required instead of or alongside your Miami license.
Prefer to Start Online?
Florida allows you to begin the marriage license application online, though both parties must still appear in person to finalize it. If you want the full walkthrough of the online pre-application before you visit the courthouse, see our guide to getting a marriage license online in Florida.
Planning a Destination Wedding in Miami?
Miami is one of the most popular destination-wedding locations in the country, and couples flying in from out of state or abroad face one extra layer of planning: everything has to happen inside that sixty-day validity window. We coordinate the timeline for you — scheduling the courthouse appointment, confirming the waiting period exception if you qualify, and lining up the officiant — so your paperwork is ready well before your guests arrive. If your ceremony and honeymoon travel are tightly scheduled, tell us your dates as early as possible; courthouse appointment availability can tighten up during peak wedding season. Once your ceremony is complete, we can also help you obtain certified copies of the recorded certificate and, if you need it recognized outside the United States, manage the apostille with the Florida Department of State as part of the same engagement. From the courthouse appointment to the final apostilled certificate, our goal is to keep the paperwork off your plate so you can focus on the wedding itself.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long is a Miami-Dade marriage license valid?
Sixty days from the date it is issued. If your ceremony will take place after that window, you will need to reapply and pay the fee again.
Is there a waiting period before I can get married in Miami?
Yes, three days for most applicants, unless both parties are Florida residents who complete an approved premarital course, which waives the waiting period entirely.
Can foreign nationals get married in Miami without a Social Security number?
Yes. No residency or citizenship is required to obtain a Miami-Dade marriage license, and applicants without a Social Security number simply sign a declaration to that effect.
Do I need an apostille on my marriage certificate to use it abroad?
In most cases, yes. If the certificate will be presented to a foreign government, embassy, or registry, it typically needs to be apostilled by the Florida Department of State after being certified by Miami-Dade County — a process we handle together with the certificate request.
Can I apply for my marriage license entirely online?
The application can start online, but Florida law requires both parties to appear in person to complete it. See our guide to the online pre-application in Florida for the full process.
The information contained in this publication is provided for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Reading or using this content does not create and is not intended to create an attorney-client relationship. No reader or user should act or refrain from acting based on the information presented herein without first consulting an attorney duly licensed to practice law in their jurisdiction.
