Ontario Marriage Licence Guide

Most Ontario municipalities now accept online marriage licence applications through ServiceOntario, with in-person pickup at the local city hall or municipal office. You only need one licence per couple, and it is valid anywhere in Ontario regardless of where you applied.

1. Complete the online ServiceOntario marriage licence application (it takes about 25 to 30 minutes, save your documents in JPEG, PDF, or PNG format before starting).
2. Select a participating municipality near you for pickup.
3. Book an in-person pickup appointment at that municipality.
4. Both applicants do not need to attend pickup, but if only one goes, that person must bring two pieces of ID for both partners (four total).
5. Pay the municipal fee at pickup. Cash, debit, and credit are typically accepted.

If you need a marriage licence within 24 hours of pickup, contact your local municipality directly. Some support same-day issuance.

Each applicant must provide two pieces of original, valid, government-issued identification. One piece must include a photo. Information on both pieces must match. Documents not in English or French must be professionally translated.

Acceptable identification includes:

• Birth certificate (with any change-of-name certificates if applicable)
• Valid Canadian passport
• Valid driver’s licence (Ontario or other province/territory)
• Permanent resident card
• Citizenship card or certificate
• Canadian Forces identification
• Ontario photo card
• Photo identity card from another Canadian province or foreign country

Health cards are not accepted as either piece of ID.

You must provide official proof of how the prior marriage ended.

• Divorced in Canada: An original or court-certified Certificate of Divorce, OR an original or court-certified Decree Absolute. Digital divorce documents are accepted, but you must bring a printed copy.
• Divorced outside Canada: You must obtain a Foreign Divorce Authorization from the Office of the Registrar General before applying for a marriage licence. This can take up to four weeks.
• Widowed: No documentation is required.

In Ontario, only officiants registered under the Marriage Act can perform legal marriages. This includes:

• Religious officials registered with the Province of Ontario
• Civil officiants such as judges, justices of the peace, or municipal clerks authorized to perform civil marriages
• Indigenous officiants registered to perform marriages according to the customs and traditions of a band, First Nation, Métis, or Inuit organization or community

The Marry Mentors network is built around officiants who are all registered under the Marriage Act. You can browse them by region.

Your loved one can absolutely lead your ceremony. However, a registered officiant under the Marriage Act is still required to complete the legal paperwork: the required vows, declarations, and licence signing. The good news: the officiant does not need to attend the ceremony itself. The legal piece can happen separately, at a time that works for you.

Our Loved-One-to-Officiate service takes care of this. We pair your loved one with a registered Marry Mentor officiant who handles all the legal requirements on your schedule, while your loved one leads the ceremony your way.

These are two different documents and people often confuse them.

The marriage licence is what you apply for at your municipality before the wedding. It gives you the legal right to be married.

The marriage certificate is what you apply for after the wedding, from the Province of Ontario, as proof that you are married. You will need it for name changes, immigration applications, joint financial accounts, and so on. Apply through ServiceOntario after your wedding has been registered (typically six to eight weeks).

Costs vary across Ontario. The licence is valid province-wide regardless of where you applied. Below are recent fees for municipalities in our coverage areas. Always confirm with your local clerk before applying, as fees can change.

• Toronto: $180 (as of April 1, 2026)
• Mississauga: approx $156
• Brampton: approx $160
• Markham: approx $145
• Pickering: approx $145
• Ajax: approx $145
• Whitby: approx $145
• Oshawa: approx $145
• Peterborough: approx $145
• Cobourg: approx $145
• Port Hope: approx $145

Sources: City of Toronto, City of Ottawa, City of Barrie, City of Kingston, and ServiceOntario. Always verify current pricing with the issuing municipality.