Marriage Requirements in Queensland

A practical guide to the legal requirements for getting married in Queensland, including ID, witnesses, translations, and the NOIM.

If you want to get married in Townsville or anywhere else in Queensland, the legal requirements are straightforward, but they do matter.

What You Need

To marry legally in Queensland, you generally need:

  • a valid Notice of Intended Marriage lodged at least one calendar month before the marriage
  • evidence of date and place of birth
  • current photo ID
  • evidence that any previous marriage has ended
  • authorised translations for non-English documents when required
  • two witnesses aged 18 or over
  • both parties present in person with the celebrant on the day

Identity and Birth Evidence

Most couples use:

  • a current passport, or
  • a birth certificate plus current photo ID

If your documents do not line up neatly, the celebrant may need extra material to connect your name history properly.

If Your Name Has Changed

You must use your current legal name on the marriage paperwork and support it with the appropriate documents, such as:

  • a change of name certificate
  • an earlier marriage certificate
  • another official linking document

If You Were Married Before

You must prove you are free to marry.

That usually means:

  • a divorce order, or
  • the death certificate of your former spouse

Documents in Another Language

If a required document is not in English, you will usually need an authorised English translation as well as the original document.

Witnesses

Australian law requires two witnesses aged 18 or over.

They do not need to be Australian citizens, but they do need to be present in person and capable of witnessing the ceremony and the signing.

The Ceremony Must Be In Person

The NOIM can now be witnessed remotely in some situations, but the marriage ceremony itself cannot be online.

For the ceremony, all of these people must be physically present together:

  • you
  • your partner
  • the celebrant
  • two witnesses

The Celebrant Must Meet You Before the Marriage

Current Commonwealth guidance requires the celebrant to meet separately and in person with each party before solemnising the marriage.

That is separate from the ceremony day itself and forms part of the legal preparation.

Registration and Certificates

After the ceremony:

  • the celebrant lodges the marriage paperwork
  • you receive a ceremonial certificate on the day
  • the official Queensland marriage certificate is ordered separately through the Queensland Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages

Helpful Next Steps