How to get your marriage licence in Toronto
In order to get married, you will need a marriage licence from a Toronto City Hall.
It’s almost certainly the least exciting part of your wedding checklist but also one of the most important!
I recommend you make the appointment several weeks in advance, especially if you want an appointment during the busier summer months.
It’s a pretty straightforward process, but here are some guidelines and useful tips on how to go about it.
Check out our useful wedding legalities checklist to keep you on track as well.
When should I get my licence?
A licence is valid for 90 days from the date of issue and must be valid on your wedding day. Aim to apply for it a couple of months before the ceremony. We recommend bringing it along to your planning meeting with your officiant (about a month before your ceremony).
Where can I obtain a licence?
In Toronto, there are two locations:
Toronto City Hall
100 Queen Street West
North York Civic Centre
5100 Yonge Street
The fee is $180 (as of June 2026) and an appointment is required.
It’s also possible to obtain a licence at other locations in the GTA: Mississauga, Brampton, Caledon, Markham, among others. You do not have to purchase from the city hall closest to your wedding venue – any one in Ontario is fine. Fees vary from location to location so it can be worthwhile shopping around.
Some locations will only issue a licence if you have an officiant booked already. We can help with this!
How does the application process work?
- Complete, download and sign the application. It can be found here. Both of you will need to sign it. Bring it to your in-person appointment.
- Make an appointment. In order to make an appointment, you’ll need the marriage licence application number from the previous step. Make an appointment using this link. Only one person needs to attend the in-person appointment but must bring all required original ID.
- Attend the appointment. Bring along two pieces of ID for each of you, proof of divorce or previous spouse death certificate if applicable, your application form, and a payment method (debit or credit only). The appointment will take approximately 15 minutes. Please review all sections of the licence carefully before leaving to ensure that no mistakes were made and that everything is signed by you and the clerk.
If either of you were divorced in a country other than Canada, please skip ahead to read about the process. It involves different steps.
Four pieces of ID, but which ID exactly?
The city accepts a wide range of ID types (and from any country) but they must be valid and original. Even recently expired ID will not be accepted. If you’re using ID that isn’t in English, you’ll need to get a written translation done by a certified translator.
Currently, Toronto does not accept health cards, SIN cards, or Refugee Protection Claimant documents.
Here’s the complete list of acceptable ID types:
- Birth Certificate
- Passport
- Driver’s Licence
- Ontario Photo Card (purple photo ID card)
- Certificate of Canadian Citizenship (Canadian Citizenship Card)
- Conditional Release Identification Card
- United States Green Card
- Native Status Card
- Record of Immigration Landing
- Confirmation of Permanent Residency
- Permanent Residency Card
- Citizenship Card
- Identity Card
- Nexus Card
- Firearms Acquisition Certificate (FAC)
- Possession & Acquisition Licence (PAL)
What if I’ve been divorced?
There is an extra requirement (or two if the divorce was in a country other than Canada).
Canadian Divorce
You’ll need to bring an original certificate of divorce or final decree (Decree Absolute) to your appointment with City Hall. Copies are not accepted.
Non-Canadian Divorce
This process is a little trickier and time consuming. You will need to obtain a Foreign Divorce Authorization from the province of Ontario which involves hiring an Ontario lawyer. In our experience, it can take several weeks to complete so apply as soon as possible. You can review the entire process here.
Top Tips
Review the licence for accuracy before leaving your appointment. Has the clerk signed their section?
If only one of you attended the in-person appointment, do not sign the joint applicant section later.
If you notice any mistakes on the licence before your ceremony, go back to city hall for correction. This will reduce the chances of any delays in registration of your marriage.