Get married civilly at your Ayuntamiento

What you need

1. Expediente matrimonial aprobado at the Registro Civil or by a notary. No expediente = no wedding. The expediente checks identity and civil status.
2. Ayuntamiento schedule: check available dates before you start (high season fills fast).
3. Cl@ve or certificado digital to apply online and upload documents.

Documentation

1. DNI/NIE or passport of both (and of the two witnesses on the ceremony day).
2. Autorización del Registro Civil or from the notary (resolution of the expediente previo de matrimonio).
3. Justificante de empadronamiento if your Ayuntamiento requires it for priority or fees (downloadable from the municipal sede).
4. Proof of payment if you pick a room with a fee.
5. Special situations:
   • Divorce: certificación literal del matrimonio anterior with the divorce note or sentencia firme.
   • Widowed: certificado de defunción.
   • Foreigners: certificado de capacidad matrimonial/estado civil, traducción jurada and apostilla if needed.

Step by step

1. Close the expediente: if you need certificates, request the birth certificate here: https://sede.mjusticia.gob.es/es/tramites/certificado-nacimiento. Don't book a date until you have the autorización.
2. Log in to your Ayuntamiento's sede electrónica with Cl@ve and search “Solicitud de celebración de matrimonio civil”. Fill in details, propose dates and choose a room.
3. Attach the autorización del Registro Civil/notary and upload the DNIs. If there's a fee for the room, pay on the payment gateway and keep the receipt.
4. Registration receipt: you'll get confirmation by email or in your ciudadana folder. It will state date, time and place.
5. D-Day: both of you and the two witnesses attend with ID. Short ceremony, you sign the act. The Ayuntamiento sends the act to the Registro Civil.
6. Afterwards: when the Registro Civil registers the marriage, if you need documents request the certificado literal de matrimonio at the Ministerio de Justicia sede.

Tricks

1. Start the expediente early: in big cities it can take time. Don't reserve a room without it or you'll lose the date.
2. Be flexible with dates: offering several options gets you an earlier slot. Friday mornings often have more availability.
3. Try another browser: some sedes misbehave with Safari. Chrome or Firefox usually work better.
4. Have a backup witness: if one fails due to expired ID or an emergency, bring a third person ready.
5. Check the ordenanza fiscal: noble rooms or Saturdays usually have a fee. Better know beforehand than pay a surprise.

Common mistakes

1. Showing up without the expediente thinking the Ayuntamiento will sort it. They won't: the expediente belongs to the Registro Civil/notary.
2. Forgetting witnesses' IDs: without originals the act won't be signed.
3. Uploading blurry documents to the sede: they'll reject them and you may lose the date. Scan clearly.
4. Not checking the exact location: some ceremonies are in district offices (juntas de distrito), not the main casa consistorial.
5. Rushing the registration: if you need the marriage certificate to change surnames, benefits, etc. count a few days after the wedding.