Marriage / civil partnership

The registration for marriage in the registry office can be carried out six months before the desired wedding date at the earliest, as the document to determine the capacity to contract marriage is only valid for a maximum of six months.

In the course of this, the personal data of the engaged couple is recorded, declarations are made (sometimes that regarding the name after marriage), the two engaged persons sign (which is why both must be present), the fees are paid and other details are clarified.

Open responsibility in the determination of the capacity to enter into marriage
The engaged couple may select the registry office in which the capacity to enter into marriage is to be determined. The engaged couple may directly contact the registry office in which the wedding will subsequently take place.
 

Marriage registration

The following documents are required to register a marriage:

• Birth certificate
• Certificate of citizenship (passport for foreigners)
• Marriage certificates of all previous marriages
• In the event of a dissolved marriage: Divorce, marriage dissolution and annulment decrees (resolutions) with a validity clause or death certificate of the previous spouse (note: foreign marriage decrees sometimes require recognition by a domestic district court)
• Birth certificates and acknowledgement of paternity for shared children born out of wedlock
• Proof of degrees and official titles 
• Valid photo identification

For underage persons:

• Consent of the legal representatives and guardians
• Declaration of marriageable age (from the district court) if the person has reached their sixteenth birthday and the future spouse is of legal age)

For persons with (additional) foreign citizenship:

• Certificate of eligibility to marry or marital status certificate (depending on nationality)
• Foreign documents indicating marital status sometimes require certification or apostille
• Documents in foreign languages must be translated by an Austrian, sworn translator.

All documents to be presented to the registry office must be submitted in original form (copies cannot be accepted).
 

Resultant fees

Upwards of 50 EUR or upwards of 130 EUR upon presentation of foreign documents.
 

Capacity to enter into marriage

Capacity to enter into marriage exists if a person is of marriageable age and legally competent. Men and women are of marriageable age once they have reached their eighteenth birthday and obtain full legal capacity upon reaching legal age.

A legally effective declaration of marriageable age is required between the ages of 16 and 18. A court can declare someone to be of marriageable age upon request if

• the future spouse is already of legal age and
• the legal guardian consents.

 

• Procedure to determine the capacity to enter into marriage: 50 EUR
• Presentation of foreign documents: 130 EUR
• Issuance of marriage certificates: 2.10 EUR per document
• Weddings in the wedding hall of the registry office or in the former Parkhotel (from Monday to Friday 08:00–18:30): 5.45 EUR (10.90 EUR on Saturday)
• Weddings outside of the registry office and the former Parkhotel: 54.50 EUR
   

Wedding hall of the City of Villach Contact: T +43(0)4242 / 205-3951 E standesamt@villach.at www.villach.at/standesamt/

Parkhotel Villach Contact: T +43(0)4242 / 205-3600 oder +43(0) 664 / 60 205 3600  E gina.urschitz@villach.at www.villach.at/bambergsaal/

Palais 26 (former Romantik Hotel Post) Contact: T +43(0)4242 / 26 101 E office@palais26.at www.palais26.at

Hotel Holiday Inn Villach & Congress Center Villach Contact: T +43(0)4242 / 225 22 E bankett@hi-villach.at

Warmbaderhof Contact: T +43(0)4242 / 3001-1175 E veranstaltungen.wbh@warmbad.at www.warmbad.at

Landskron castle Contact: T +43(0)4242 / 41563 M +43(0)664 / 464 42 80 E office@burg-landskron.at www.burg-landskron.at/

A boat on Lake Ossiach Contact: T +43(0)4242 / 580 71 M +43(0)699 / 100 56 116 E drau@schifffahrt.at www.schifffahrt.at/drau

Melcher Hotel and Guesthouse Contact: T +43 (0)4254 / 2321 E office@hotel-melcher.at www.hotel-melcher.at

Hotel Karnerhof Contact: T +43 (0)4254 / 2188 E feiern@karnerhof.com www.karnerhof.com

The name after marriage depends on the respective law of the country of which a person is a national. A name can be taken before, during or after the marriage ceremony.
 

Austrian citizens have the following options:

• A shared surname for which one of the two names can be used.
• In the case of a shared surname, a double-barrelled name can be taken by the spouse whose surname is not the shared surname.
• A double-barrelled name consisting of the surnames of both spouses can be taken as the shared surname.
• If no shared surname is taken, the engaged couple or spouses will retain their previous names.

All further information on the name after marriage can be found under HELP.gv.at

Please remember that name changes may have to be made as part of your marriage.
You can execute the following transactions at the municipal authorities of the City of Villach:

Identity card:
A new identity card is required if it is used as a valid photo identification or travel document.

Passport:
A new passport is then required if it is used as a valid photo identification or travel document.

Certificate of citizenship:
Change the certificate of citizenship is not mandatory

You can find more information here:
HELP.gv.at