To get married in Manitoba, you two buy a marriage licence together, in person, from a registered licence issuer at least 24 hours before your ceremony. It costs $100, it's valid for three months, and it only works for a wedding held in Manitoba. Each of you brings valid, unexpired ID, plus proof that you're free to marry if either of you has been married before.
That's really the whole thing. My mom Debi and I have watched a lot of weddings come together, and the licence itself is rarely the hard part. The details worth getting right are the small ones: ID that hasn't expired, full legal names on the form, and that 24 hour gap. So let's walk through it step by step, using the province's own guidance.
The short version
- ✦Who goes: both of you, together
- ✦Where: a registered marriage licence issuer
- ✦When: at least 24 hours before the ceremony, and within three months of it
- ✦Cost: $100
- ✦Where it works: only for a marriage performed in Manitoba
- ✦Who marries you: a marriage commissioner or clergy member registered in Manitoba
- ✦On the day: two witnesses
Where to buy your licence
Manitoba marriage licences are sold by registered issuers. Vital Statistics publishes two lists on its website, one for licence issuers in Winnipeg and one for rural Manitoba, so you can find one close to home.
Both of you must be there to buy it. Pick a time that works for you both, and call ahead to check the issuer's hours before you make the trip.
What to bring
Each of you needs valid proof of identity, age and name. The documents can't be expired, and they need to be originals or confirmed or notarized copies.
Acceptable ID can include:
- ✦a Canadian driver's licence
- ✦a passport
- ✦a Permanent Resident Card
- ✦an MPI Identification Card
- ✦a Certificate of Indian Status
- ✦other photo identification
If the name on that ID isn't your full current name, you can pair it with your birth certificate, your Canadian citizenship certificate or a Canadian immigration document such as a study permit, work permit or visitor visa.
Two things to know. A Social Insurance Number is not accepted as ID for buying a licence. And every document has to be in English or French, or translated into one of them.
If you've been married before, bring a Divorce Certificate or Decree Absolute if you're divorced. If you're widowed, bring a death certificate, a funeral home statement of death or an obituary clipping from the newspaper.
Age and other rules
To marry in Manitoba, each of you needs to be single (never married) and over 18, divorced, or widowed. The province's guide adds that no one under 16 may marry in Manitoba, and that anyone aged 16 or 17 needs consent from their parent or guardian on a Consent to Marriage form from Vital Statistics, handed in when you buy the licence.
Both of you also have to give free and enlightened consent to the marriage.
What it costs and when to buy it
The licence fee is $100.
Timing is where a little planning pays off. You must buy the licence at least 24 hours before the ceremony, and it's only valid for three months. So your window runs from three months before your date to 24 hours before your ceremony.
Most couples feel calmer picking it up a few weeks ahead. You're not cutting it close, and there's no risk of it expiring before the wedding. Pop a reminder in both your phones.
Check every line before you sign
This step is easy to rush, so slow down. The province says your marriage licence and registration become a permanent legal document. Before you sign the oath on the Declaration of Parties (the green form), read the whole thing and make sure everything the issuer filled in is legible, accurate and complete.
Manitoba's own tips:
- ✦print legibly
- ✦don't use abbreviations, nicknames or initials
- ✦use your full legal names exactly as they appear on your government ID
If something is wrong, Manitoba law decides how, or even if, it can be fixed, and there are fees to do it. A mistake can also hold up your marriage certificate, because a certificate can't be issued until the registration is complete.
Choosing who marries you
In Manitoba you can be married by a marriage commissioner or by a clergy member, and either way they must be registered with Vital Statistics before your ceremony. Vital Statistics publishes lists of marriage commissioners in Winnipeg and in rural Manitoba.
The province lists the marriage commissioner fee as $50, plus reasonable fees for related expenses such as travel. Clergy fees are set by the religious group.
Before the day, make your arrangements with your officiant and give them your licence and the white self-addressed envelope. You can also browse officiants on OpenDates. Whoever you choose, just ask them to confirm they're registered to marry couples in Manitoba.
On the day, and after
After the ceremony, the two of you, your two witnesses and your officiant all sign the Marriage Registration. Your officiant then sends it to Vital Statistics to officially register your marriage, and the province's guide says that has to happen within five days.
Here's the part many couples miss: Vital Statistics doesn't send you a marriage certificate automatically. You apply for it yourselves, online or by mail, once the marriage is registered. The fee listed for each certificate is $30. You'll want one if either of you plans to change your name.
Your last name
In Manitoba you can keep your surname, take your spouse's, combine your surnames with or without a hyphen, or take your spouse's surname and keep yours as a middle name. If you were born in Manitoba, your birth certificate doesn't change. You simply take your marriage certificate to the organizations you have ID with.
Frequently asked questions
How much is a marriage licence in Manitoba?
$100, paid when you buy it from a registered issuer.
Is there a waiting period in Manitoba?
You need to buy your licence at least 24 hours before the ceremony, so plan for at least a day between buying it and getting married.
How long is a Manitoba marriage licence valid?
Three months, and only for a marriage performed in Manitoba.
Do we both have to be there to buy the licence?
Yes. Both of you must be present at the issuer.
How many witnesses do we need?
Two. They sign the Marriage Registration after the ceremony, along with the two of you and your officiant.
How much does a marriage commissioner cost in Manitoba?
The province lists $50, plus reasonable fees for related expenses such as travel. Clergy fees are set by the religious group.
Can we use a SIN card as ID?
No. Social Insurance Numbers are not acceptable identification for buying a marriage licence in Manitoba.
Planning the rest of your Manitoba wedding
Once the licence is on your calendar, you can get back to the fun part. The trickiest piece is usually finding a venue that's actually free on your date, which is exactly why we built OpenDates.
You can browse wedding venues across Manitoba or start with venues in Winnipeg, and our booking timeline shows what to lock in first. Searching and asking businesses questions is free for couples.
Rules and fees can change. Please confirm the details with Manitoba Vital Statistics (204-945-3701 or 1-866-949-9296) before you buy your licence.
Happy planning! Kristina
Sources
- ✦Getting Married, Manitoba Vital Statistics
- ✦Guide for Getting Married in Manitoba (PDF)
- ✦Fees and Services, Manitoba Vital Statistics
- ✦Online Certificate Application, Manitoba Vital Statistics
- ✦Surname after marriage, Manitoba Vital Statistics
Checked October 2026.
Photos from Pexels.