To marry in New Brunswick, you two complete the Marriage Licence Application, then visit a Service New Brunswick service centre together with your ID and any supporting documents. The licence costs $115, it's valid for three months from the day it's issued, and it's for a wedding in New Brunswick. If either of you has been married before, bring proof that the marriage has ended.
My mom Debi and I have watched a lot of weddings come together, and the New Brunswick paperwork is very doable. The two details worth knowing before you go are that you'll need your officiant's name to apply, and that your witnesses have to be 19 or older. Let's walk through it, using the province's own guidance.
The short version
- ✦How: fill in the Marriage Licence Application, then visit a service centre together
- ✦Cost: $115
- ✦How long it lasts: three months from the date it's issued
- ✦ID: proof of age and identity for each of you
- ✦Who marries you: a registered cleric, a civil officiant or a clerk of the Court
- ✦On the day: at least two witnesses who have reached the age of majority, which is 19 in New Brunswick
How to apply
Start with the Marriage Licence Application on the Service New Brunswick website. The form says it plainly: it is not a marriage licence. It collects your details so your affidavits and licence can be prepared, and you still need to visit a service centre with all your supporting documents to finish.
The form asks for your wedding location, your wedding date and your officiant's name and address, so book your officiant before you apply.
At the service centre, the Marriage Act says you both attend in person. Each of you, separately, swears an affidavit covering things like where the wedding will be, who will marry you, your ages, your marital status and that you freely consent to the marriage. If one of you truly can't attend without undue hardship, the Act lets the issuer excuse that person in some cases, so call Vital Statistics first and ask.
What to bring
Each of you needs proof of age and identity, such as:
- ✦a birth certificate
- ✦a current passport
- ✦a Canadian citizenship card
- ✦a Record of Landing or Canadian Permanent Resident Card
If you've been married before, here's what the province accepts:
- ✦Divorced: a Certificate of Divorce, a Decree Absolute, or a Final Decree, Final Judgement or Order granting a divorce. These must be originals or copies certified by the stamp, seal or signature of an official of the judicial district where the divorce was granted.
- ✦Civil annulment: a court certified copy of the annulment.
- ✦Widowed: an original death certificate issued by a Vital Statistics office, or an original statement of death issued by a funeral director.
If your divorce or death documents aren't in English or French, the Marriage Act says they need a translation that satisfies the Registrar.
Age
You both need to be over 18 to marry without the consent of a parent or guardian, unless you've been married before. Anyone aged 16 or 17 who hasn't been married before needs parental consent, confirmed by affidavit, and no licence is issued to anyone under 16.
What it costs and how long it lasts
The licence fee is $115.
Your licence is valid for three months from its date of issue. If it expires before your ceremony, you'll have to apply again and pay the fee again, so don't pick it up too early.
You also need to get your licence in the province, territory or country where your wedding will take place. If you're marrying just over the border, our Nova Scotia marriage licence guide walks through that province's process.
Choosing who marries you
A legal marriage in New Brunswick can be religious or civil, and the ceremony can happen anywhere in the province, as long as the person performing it is authorized to.
Religious ceremonies are performed by clerics of churches and religious denominations recognized under the Marriage Act. The church or denomination applies to Vital Statistics to register them.
Civil ceremonies are performed by civil officiants, who can marry couples anywhere in the province. In New Brunswick, civil officiants are appointed from members of the Law Society of New Brunswick in current standing, and the province publishes a list of them. The Marriage Act also allows a clerk of the Court to marry you during the court's normal office hours, for a fee set by regulation.
Planning a civil ceremony and a religious one too? The statement of marriage from your civil officiant is enough for a cleric to perform a religious ceremony afterwards. And while churches can still publish banns, they don't replace a marriage licence in New Brunswick.
You can browse officiants on OpenDates as well. Whoever you choose, ask them to confirm they're registered in New Brunswick, because the province says officiants must be recognized by New Brunswick to perform marriages.
Your witnesses
The Marriage Act says a marriage needs at least two credible witnesses who have reached the age of majority, besides your officiant. In New Brunswick the age of majority is 19.
That catches some families by surprise. If you were hoping your 18-year-old sibling would sign, they can cheer from the front row while someone 19 or older signs.
After the wedding
Right after the ceremony, your officiant gives you a statement of marriage on the province's form. It shows your names, the date and place of the marriage and the names of at least two witnesses, and you and two of your witnesses sign it. Your marriage is then registered by the Vital Statistics Branch.
Once it's registered, you can order your marriage certificate. The fee is $45 in person or by mail and $40 online, and a photocopy of the marriage registration is $40. You'll want the certificate if either of you plans to update your name.
Frequently asked questions
How much is a marriage licence in New Brunswick?
$115.
How long is a New Brunswick marriage licence valid?
Three months from its date of issue. If it expires before the ceremony, you'll need to apply and pay again.
Do we both have to go to the service centre?
Yes, the Marriage Act says both of you attend in person. If one of you can't attend without undue hardship, the issuer may be able to excuse them, so call Vital Statistics first.
How old do our witnesses need to be in New Brunswick?
They need to have reached the age of majority, which is 19 in New Brunswick. You need at least two.
Who can marry us in New Brunswick?
A cleric registered under the Marriage Act, a civil officiant appointed by the province, or a clerk of the Court during court office hours.
Can we use a New Brunswick licence to marry in another province?
No. You need a licence from the province, territory or country where your wedding takes place.
Planning the rest of your New Brunswick wedding
With the licence on your list, 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.
Browse wedding venues across New Brunswick, or start with venues in Saint John and venues in Fredericton. Searching and asking businesses questions is free for couples.
Rules and fees can change. Please confirm the details with Vital Statistics (506-453-2385) or at a service centre before you apply.
Happy planning! Kristina
Sources
- ✦Marriage licences and certificates, Government of New Brunswick
- ✦Application for Marriage Licence, Service New Brunswick
- ✦Civil officiants, Government of New Brunswick
- ✦Marriage Act, New Brunswick Acts and Regulations
- ✦Age of Majority Act, New Brunswick Acts and Regulations
Checked October 2026.
Photos from Pexels.