Same-sex marriage in Spain

Same-sex marriage in Spain

Same-sex marriage in Spain was legalized on the 3rd of July 2005 by the social democratic government led by President José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero.
It followed in the footsteps of the Netherlands and Belgium making it the third country in the world to recognize same sex marriages. Although the ratification of this law came up against some criticism, 66% of the population were in favor, along with the King of Spain who gave his Royal Assent.
Under Spanish law, the country’s same-sex marriage law permits a Spanish citizen to marry a non-Spaniard irrespective of whether the partnership is recognized in that persons homeland.
Gay Poster shutterstock_35189605In order to marry, at least one partner must be a Spanish citizen. However, two non-Spanish citizens can legally marry if they both have legal residence in Spain.
Unfortunately, two non-resident foreigners cannot legally marry in Spain.
There is fear however, that Rajoy and his conservative Popular Party could pose a serious threat to the nation’s same-sex marriage legislation.
Rajoy has said “he supports civil unions for same-sex couples, but does not think they should be called marriages”.
The Popular Party has lodged an appeal against the nation’s 2005 law allowing gay marriage in the Constitutional Court.
This has caused a rapid increase of same sex marriages in Spain due to fear of the legislation being changed.
Gay marriage is recognized in Argentina, Belgium, Canada, Iceland, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, South Africa, Spain and Sweden.
It’s also recognized in some states of the USA, Brazil and Mexico.
Civil unions and registered partnerships are recognized in Andorra, Austria, Brazil, Columbia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Ecuador, Finland, France, Germany, Greenland, Hungary, Ireland, Isle of Man, Jersey, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, New Zealand, Slovenia, Switzerland, United Kingdom, Uruguay and some states of Australia, Mexico, United States and Venezuela.

Why choose Gran Canaria for your Same Sex Wedding?

OP Homoseksuelt ægteskab same sex marriage homo vielser bryllup tropisk bryllupGran Canaria is perfectly placed as the ideal locat
ion for a same sex union abroad. The island is renowned for its liberal, open-minded attitude towards the gay & lesbian community and the vibrant gay tourism sector on the island has flourished as a direct result of this. The cosmopolitan and wide reaching gay communities and social scene, coupled with the blissful year-round sunny weather, make Gran Canaria the perfect choice for a same sex wedding ceremony.
You will also find apartment complexes, bars, restaurants and beaches in Gran Canaria, which are focused around the gay and lesbian community.
There are two options for a Same Sex Wedding in Gran Canaria:
1) A Legal Civil Partnership/Same Sex Marriage
If you cover all the previously mentioned requirements to legally marry in Spain, a legal civil ceremony conducted at the Civil Registry Office or Town Hall can be arranged.
Requests can also be made for authorized Town Hall personnel to conduct ceremonies in establishments other than the town hall buildings.
2) A Blessing after a Civil Partnership or Marriage Ceremony
A blessing is a short ceremony that takes place after a legal civil partnership or same sex marriage ceremony, which would take place here or your country of origin.
Unlike a ‘gay marriage’ or civil partnership, a blessing is not legally binding; it’s a way of publically symbolizing your commitment to one another.
Many people view a blessing ceremony as their ‘actual wedding’, as this is the moment they express their love and union to one another in front of their family and friends.

Why choose a Blessing Ceremony?

lips-651339_640You would choose a blessing ceremony in Gran Canaria if you or your partner are not Spanish citizens or are non-residents of Spain, but would like to hold your wedding ceremony on the island. A blessing ceremony is the perfect way to introduce a spiritual or religious element to your celebrations after a legal civil ceremony. Blessings in Gran Canaria can also be conducted in a multitude of venues, from onboard luxury yachts, to country hotels, private villas, or even overlooking a white-sand beach, giving you flexibility and endless options.
If you are looking to express your love and commitment to one another in an open-minded and non-judgmental environment, with sunshine, beautiful beaches, stunning local scenery and a rich local culture alongside, Gran Canaria is the perfect choice for your same sex wedding abroad.
If you would like more information regarding same sex ceremonies in Gran Canaria then please contact me on the following email and I would be more than happy to answer any questions or queries you may have.
Bernadette Garside

Phone:             (0034) 653 642 208

Email:               [email protected]

Website:          www.perfectweddingcompany.com

Civil Ceremonies – The legal paperwork

In a former blogpost on “How to get married in Gran Canaria”, we explained that in order to legally marry in Gran Canaria via a Civil Ceremony, one or both of you need to be a resident on the island.
heart-631757_640I’m now going to go into greater detail as to the legal paperwork required in order to go about this.
As we have a multi-national readership we’re going to cover all nationalities as the necessary paperwork varies between countries.
If you follow this step by step guide, organizing the paperwork for your Canarian wedding isn’t as daunting as what you might initially think.
First you need to make an appointment to transmit all the necessary paperwork at the Civil Registry Office in your borough. They will give you a list of all the paperwork you need to bring to the appointment with you. It’s important you collect this list from them as processes and requirements may change from year to year.
As the appointment can take between 2 to 3 months to take place, it is advisable to make the appointment first and then prepare all the necessary paperwork.
legal paperworks wedding abroad destination gran canaria spain canary islandsAppointments can be made at the Civil Registry offices by calling between 09.00h and 13.00h Monday to Friday.
It’s also important to remember that Spanish is spoken in all official offices on the island so if you do not speak Spanish you are required to take a translator along with you.
If all the paperwork is correct by the date of your appointment, it takes around one month to receive the authorization to marry.
Once receiving the paperwork, it is then valid for up to
6 months so bear this in mind when setting a wedding date.
Citizens of France, Germany, Luxembourg, Austria, Italy, Portugal, Holland, Dutch Antilles, Switzerland and Turkey need to present:
1) Certificate of capacity to marry from your country
of origin (according to the Munich signed agreement 5 of September 1980), you can contact your consulate for more
information regarding this document.
2) An International Birth Certificate or an original Birth Certificate in its own language with the Hague Apostille Stamp and a legal translation into Spanish.
3) A Certificate of registration on the electoral role in your borough (municipio) “Certificado de Empadronamiento” in Gran Canaria.
4) The original and photocopy of your passport.
For citizens of other countries including the UK and Ireland you need a few more documents:
1) The original legalized and translated Birth Certificate (issued within one year of the wedding date).
2) A Certificate of being on the electoral role in Gran Canaria for at least 2 years, or a Consulate Certificate accrediting your residency for the last 2 years whether in Spain or another country. At least one of the couple wishing to marry must be registered on the electoral role here in the borough where they wish to marry and this must be proven with a “Certificado de Empadronamiento”.
3) A Consular Certificate accrediting the publication of the EDICTS (proclamations/bands) of civil marriage in Spain (if this applies to the law in your country).
4) A Certificate of marital status, applied for via your consulate or the appropriate authorities in your country.
5) The original and photocopy of your passport and residents certificate (the green A4 paper or the older plastic ID card).
6) A witness with their original and photocopy of their passport, DNI or residents certificate.
7) If you are divorced you need your legalized and translated marriage and divorce certificates.
8) If you are a widow, you need your legalized and translated marriage certificate and partners’ death certificate.
It’s important to remember that all the documentation that is not in Spanish needs to be translated by a “Traductor Jurado Oficial” (Official Sworn Translator) and legally authorized by the corresponding authorities.
More information can also be obtained from your corresponding embassy or consulate or visit our website www.perfectweddingcompany.com
If you have a Wedding Planner, they will help you with all your paperwork, the legalization and the official translation of all documents.
Gran Canaria is such a beautiful island to get married on. It’s well worth taking the time to organize the legal paperwork and celebrate your special day with your family and friends in
this magical place!
CIVIL REGISTRY OFFICES
San Bartolomé de Tirajana – 928 72 32 18
Las Palmas – 928 32 53 89
Telde – 928 13 87 38
If you have any questions or want more information about weddings abroad, please do not hesitate to contact us, we love to talk weddings!
Bernadette Garside

Phone:             (0034) 653 642 208

Email:               [email protected]

Website:          www.perfectweddingcompany.com

How to get married in Gran Canaria

If you’re thinking about getting married in Gran Canaria, you’re probably thinking ‘How exactly do we go
about this?’
Let us explain…

Non-Residents

There are two options available to non-residents in Gran Canaria; one is to be legally married via the Catholic Church and the other is in the form of a blessing, which would follow-on after a civil ceremony back in your home country.
Legal marriage via the Catholic Church
  • One of the couple must be of the Catholic faith.
  • Both persons must not have been married previously.
  • If you choose this option you will need to arrange a meeting with your local Parish Priest, a minimum of 6 months prior to your preferred wedding date.
  • Relate your plans to your Parish Priest; he will then forward the relevant information to your local Diocese.
  • This information will then be transferred to the Diocese here in Gran Canaria.
Religious Ceremony (blessing) in Gran Canaria
  • In most cases a small civil ceremony service is conducted in the couple’s home country, often with only 2 witnesses.
  • A religious or spiritual ceremony is then conducted in Gran Canaria and is considered as the actual wedding day by all involved.
  • There are many advantages to choosing this option; in particular, your legal paperwork will be in English. This avoids translation and legalization issues.
  • This tends to be the preferred option, as it allows the couple to tailor-make their wedding ceremony, location and overall theme. It offers you and your guests the utmost in flexibility and allows you to create the wedding of your dreams. It is also generally viewed by the wedding couple and their guests as their ‘true wedding day’, the one which they will remember for years to come.

Residents

If one of you is a resident here in the Canaries you can legally marry here via the civil registry office or town hall. We’ll be entering into this in more detail in the next edition of the Canary News.

Same sex marriages are also legal on the island. As with heterosexual marriages one of you needs to be a resident. If not, a spiritual union can be organized following a civil ceremony in your own country.
Your wedding ceremony is going to be one of the many highlights of your day so finding the best option for you is vital.
We can help you with all the paperworks and we will be guiding you through the process. If you have any questions or if you would like more information, please do not hesitate to contact us.
Bernadette Garside
Tel nº: 653 642 208
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