How can a Dutch citizen get married in California?

My dream of a wedding in California began with the question, “Can we could get married in the Golden State?” Fortunately, the State of California does not require that persons getting married in the state be residents of California, but there are other things to consider.

Important things to keep in mind when getting a marriage license:

• The bride and groom must both appear in person for the marriage license, but applicants need not be residents of California.
• A valid picture ID, including a driver's license or passport, as well as a certified copy of your birth certificate is required.
• For those who have been married before, a divorce decree or death certificate must also be submitted.
• Blood tests are required in some states, but not in California.
• The marriage certificate is issued on the spot, without a waiting period, but must be requested at least one hour before the office closes.

Flying to my new home

The check-in for our flight from LAX to Amsterdam took a bit longer than expected. We arrived with what we thought to be plenty of time to check-in at the airport, with four fully-loaded suitcases that contained anything I deemed important crammed into every imaginable space, plus as many winter clothes that would fit. We had tickets, passports, and luggage, but were missing one thing...

The Northwest Airlines ticket agent refused to check me into our flight because I had a one-way ticket to Amsterdam, but no visa. Why? Because according to the agent, if I decided to stay in the Netherlands without a visa beyond the allowed three months, the airline could be held accountable.

Both my husband and I had read countless articles online and contacted the Dutch Consulate in Los Angeles, and the American Embassy in Den Haag. But nowhere had we read about this small detail, which in hind-sight makes sense.
Thank goodness for credit cards

The solution was simple; pay for a ticket anywhere out of The Netherlands. With my American Express card in hand, I smiled at the agent and said, “No problem!” After a quick search of available flights, the agent supplied me with a first-class ticket (apparently the coach was completely sold out) from Amsterdam to Paris. The worst that could happen would be that I’d have to use the ticket and get to visit the City of Lights!

I was assured that I would be given a refund for the ticket, and one month later, I was.
Registering our marriage in The Netherlands

Upon moving to The Netherlands, you must register with your local City Hall. This is the first step to obtain a residency card that allows you to stay in the country for a determined amount of time.

The marriage certificate

• To get a marriage certificate, the following must be done:
  The marriage license must be signed by a witness and the official who performed the ceremony.
• The marriage certificate is not available immediately following a wedding ceremony. The license must be returned to the county clerk within four days of the wedding ceremony, and is then processed.
• A certified copy of a public marriage record can be requested directly from the County Recorder’s Office at a cost of USD 13.
• The all-important 'apostille' stamp

To have your marriage recognised in the Netherlands, you must submit a marriage certificate that has an apostille stamp.

The apostille is recognised by the United States and the Netherlands as acceptable proof of a document’s legalisation. But in order to get the stamp on a Californian marriage certificate, the document must be presented in person to the office of the Secretary of State – in California! This is not so easy when you are living across the Atlantic.

Nonetheless, The IND (Ministry of Immigration) requested a certified copy of our marriage certificate with an apostille stamp. Fortunately for me, California did not require that I be the one to present it, which meant that my father could request a copy of the marriage certificate for me. He was also able to go to the County Clerk’s Office to get the required apostille. Four days later, I had it in hand, and rapidly mailed it off to IND.

Moving is always stressful, but moving to another country as a newly wed is double the stress, but it is definitely worth it!

More information on getting married in California

Getting married in America
Netherlands Consulate – General, Los Angeles, California

2 November 2007

Olivia is a freelance writer based in The Netherlands.

[Copyright Expatica 2007]