Marriage Licences

• Birth Certificate (Canadian or foreign)
• Canadian Citizenship Card
• Canadian Conditional Release Identification Card
• Canadian Department of National Defence Driver's Licence (Form DND 404)
• Canadian Government Refugee Travel Document
• Canadian Permanent Resident Card
• Canadian Possession and Acquisition Licence
• Canadian Record of Landing
• Canadian Status Card
• Driver's Licence (Canadian or foreign)
• Employment Authorization/Work Permit (Form IMM 1442)
• Nexus Card
• Ontario Photo Card*
• Passport (Canadian or Foreign)
• Photo Identity Card (other Canadian province/territory or foreign)
• Report Pursuant to the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act with photo (Form IMM 1442)
• Student Authorization/Study Permit (Form IMM 1442)
• Temporary Resident's Permit (Form IMM 1442) – formally
• Minister's Permit/Extension of Minister's Permit
• United States Green card
• Visitor Record (Form IMM 1442)

*The Ontario Photo Card is a type of government-issued identification card for Ontarians who do not have a driver's licence. Learn more about applying for an Ontario Photo Card at Service Ontario.

If you were divorced in Canada you must submit official proof of the divorce when you apply for a marriage licence. This can be the original or a court-certified copy of a:

• Final decree
• Certificate of divorce
• A certified copy of either of the above divorce documents may be obtained from the court office that granted the divorce. 

A Decree Nisi, Divorce Order or Judgement is not acceptable.

All documents will be returned.

If you do not know where your divorce was granted, you can contact the Central Registry of Divorce Proceedings or 613-957-4519.

If you were divorced outside of Canada, you will need to provide certain documents to prove that you are no longer married. The Office of the Registrar General for the province of Ontario needs to validate these documents and provide authorization in order for you to get a marriage licence. For more information, contact the Marriage Office at 1-800-461-2156 (toll-free) or visit Service Ontario.

If you have been widowed, you will need to provide one of the following original documents along with the application:

• Death Certificate of your spouse
• Funeral Director's Statement of Death
• Court order declaring that your spouse has died

Before completing an application for a marriage licence, please review the marriage licence requirements.

1. Download and print an application or visit the municipal office to obtain a paper copy.
   1. The application will take approximately 20-30 minutes to complete, and both applicants must provide their required personal information.
2. Schedule an appointment to have the licence issued. Please call 519-369-2200 x 243 to discuss staff availability.
   1. It will take approximately 30-45 minutes for the licence to be issued.
3. Attend your appointment and pay the required fee. If only one applicant can attend the appointment, you must bring identification for both applicants.

In order to issue a marriage licence, the Municipality will require:

1. A completed marriage licence application.
2. Two valid original pieces of identification for each applicant with at least one for each applicant having a photo. For a detailed list of acceptable identification documents, please review "What are the identification requirements?" found below.
3. Original divorce documents or death documents, if applicable.

Information required to complete your marriage licence application includes:

• The proposed date of your marriage, which must be within 90 days of the date you submit your application.
• The proposed place of marriage (city/town/reserve).
• The names, dates of birth, provinces/territories of birth, countries of birth (as it was known at the time of the birth, even if it is not longer used), addresses and contact information for both applicants.
• The marital status of each applicant.
• Divorce certificates are required for those who have been previously married.
• Death certificates are required for those who are widowed.
• The names and countries of birth (country name as it was known when parent was born) for each applicant's parent(s).
• Two valid pieces of identification for each applicant with at least one for each applicant having a photo.

1. Each partner must submit two valid pieces of government-issued identification including one with a photo (photocopies and screenshots will not be accepted).
2. The name on both pieces of identification must be the same.
3. If your identification is not in English, a written translation and affidavit from a certified translator is required.

The fee for a marriage licence is $150 and it is non-refundable.

Payment can be made by cash, debit, or a cheque made out to the Municipality of West Grey. 

If you have been divorced in Canada you will need to provide one of the following original documents to the municipality:

• the final decree (divorce or annulment)
• the final judgment (divorce or annulment)
• a certificate of divorce

A certified copy of either of the above divorce documents may be obtained from the court office that granted the divorce. All documents will be returned. 

If you have been divorced outside of Canada you will need to provide certain documents to prove that you are no longer married. This process can take up to four weeks. Please refer to the Service Ontario website for required documents to obtain a Foreign Divorce Authorization.

A Decree Nisi, Divorce Order or Judgement is not acceptable. 

If you have been widowed, you will need to provide one of the following original documents to the municipality:

• Death Certificate of your spouse
• Funeral Director's Statement of Death
• A court order declaring that your spouse has died

Once a marriage licence is issued, the couple will give the marriage licence to the person (religious official/civil wedding officiant) who is performing the wedding ceremony.

After the ceremony, the person who performed the wedding will send the completed licence to the province of Ontario to register the marriage.