Previously Divorced? Here's How to Get Married Abroad (It's Easier Than You Think)
Updated February 2026 · 16 min read · Planning & Documents
Key Takeaways
- Being previously divorced does NOT complicate marriage abroad — many destinations prefer it because your divorce is already settled
- You need your decree absolute (final divorce judgment), apostilled and translated if necessary
- Most destinations have no waiting period after divorce; you can marry immediately with proper documentation
- If divorced in a different country than your residency, the process is slightly more complex but entirely manageable
- Multiple previous marriages require additional documentation but are not a barrier to getting married abroad
- Islamic divorce (talaq) recognition varies by destination; we advise on your specific situation
The Good News: Being Divorced Can Actually Make Things Easier
Many couples assume being previously married will complicate getting married abroad. Actually, the opposite is often true. Your divorce is final and settled — there's no ambiguity about your marital status. You have a clear decree absolute showing you're legally free to marry. This is often simpler than proving the marital status of someone who's never been married.
In fact, we've coordinated weddings for divorced couples in every one of our seven destinations without a single complication — as long as the correct documentation was in place. The key is understanding what documents are needed and planning to obtain them in advance.
What Is a Decree Absolute?
A Decree Absolute is the final court order that legally ends your marriage. It differs from a Decree Nisi (in UK terminology) or a preliminary judgment (in other countries) because it's the final stage — your marriage is completely dissolved, and you're legally free to marry again.
In the UK: The process goes Petition → Decree Nisi (6 weeks later) → Decree Absolute (8-10 weeks after that, or whenever you apply for it). Many people stop at Decree Nisi, thinking their divorce is complete. It's not — you need the Decree Absolute to remarry.
In the US: Most states issue a final divorce judgment that serves as the Decree Absolute. It's typically issued 30-60 days after the judge signs it.
In EU countries: The terminology varies — some use "final divorce judgment," others "execution of judgment." What matters is that it's the final, non-appealable judgment showing your marriage is dissolved.
Important: If you've lost your Decree Absolute or never received a copy, you'll need to obtain a certified copy from the court that issued it. This can take 1-4 weeks depending on the country. Don't delay — request this immediately.
Documents You'll Need for a Foreign Marriage After Divorce
Complete Checklist
1. Your Decree Absolute (or Final Divorce Judgment)
This is the single most important document. Get certified copies (not originals if you're worried about losing them). Most destinations want 1-2 copies.
2. Decree Absolute Apostille
Your Decree Absolute must be apostilled by the court that issued it (or the relevant government authority). In the UK, you apostille through the FCDO. In the US, through the state's Secretary of State. In EU countries, through the court directly or a local authority.
3. Certified Translation (if in a foreign language)
If your Decree Absolute is in French, German, Spanish, Italian, or another language, most destinations require a certified English translation. The translation must be done by a professional translator recognized in the destination country.
4. Certificate of No Impediment (CNI)
Even though you're divorced, you still need a CNI showing you're now free to marry. The CNI process is the same as for anyone else (see our CNI guide), but you'll reference your divorce in the application.
5. Birth Certificate
Your original birth certificate, apostilled and translated if necessary (same as any marriage abroad).
6. Passport
Valid passport with at least 6 months remaining.
7. Passport-Sized Photos
Typically 4-6 photos per person, specific dimensions vary by destination.
Waiting Periods After Divorce: By Destination
One of the best aspects of marrying abroad is that most destinations have minimal or no waiting periods after divorce. This is very different from some home countries where remarriage is restricted.
Georgia, Denmark, Cyprus, Gibraltar, Seychelles, Sri Lanka, Abu Dhabi
All our primary destinations allow immediate remarriage after divorce once you have your Decree Absolute. No waiting period. You can marry the day your CNI is issued if you choose.
France, Germany, Spain, Italy, Netherlands (EU)
Most EU countries have minimal waiting periods (0-30 days maximum) after divorce before remarriage. Some have none at all. We check the specific requirement for your destination during planning.
This is a major advantage: If you've been divorced for many years, or only recently divorced, all our destinations accept you immediately. There's no "cooling off" period.
Divorce in a Different Country Than Your Residence
Scenario: You're a British citizen, but you were married and divorced in Australia. You now live in the UK. Where do you get your documents?
This is more common than you'd think, and it's entirely manageable:
Decree Absolute Comes from Australia
Request a certified copy of your Australian Decree Absolute from the Australian court that issued it. You'll need to mail them a request, provide your case number, and pay a fee (typically AUD 25-75). Processing: 2-4 weeks.
Apostille from Australia
The Australian Registry of the court or the state Attorney General apostilles the Decree Absolute. Processing: 3-7 days in most Australian states.
CNI from UK (Your Current Residence)
You get your CNI from the UK (your current country of residence) through your local register office, presenting the apostilled Australian Decree Absolute as proof of divorce. This is standard — many divorced people from other countries live in the UK and follow this process.
Use Both for Your Destination Marriage
You'll take both the apostilled Australian Decree Absolute and the apostilled UK CNI to your destination. Simple and straightforward.
Timeline: Request Australian Decree Absolute (2-4 weeks) → Apostille (3-7 days) → Arrive UK, give 28-day notice for CNI → Collect CNI after 28 days → Apostille CNI (2-3 weeks) → Total: 8-10 weeks minimum.
Multiple Previous Marriages: The Process
If you've been married more than once, getting married abroad is slightly more complex but entirely doable. You'll simply need more paperwork.
Example: You've been married twice. Both marriages ended in divorce.
Documentation Required
For Your First Marriage (if it ended in divorce): Decree Absolute from Marriage 1, apostilled
For Your Second Marriage (if it ended in divorce): Decree Absolute from Marriage 2, apostilled
Current CNI: Your Certificate of No Impediment showing you're currently free to marry (includes reference to both previous divorces)
Key Point: You need the Decree Absolute from EVERY previous marriage. This proves you were legally divorced from each spouse before entering the next marriage. Without these documents, the destination country may suspect bigamy or other issues.
Waiting Periods: No destination adds extra waiting periods for multiple marriages. If you can document each divorce properly, remarriage is allowed.
Islamic Divorce (Talaq): Special Considerations
If you've experienced an Islamic divorce (talaq), the situation is more nuanced because Islamic law varies significantly by school and country, and recognition differs globally.
What We Recommend:
Obtain Documentation from Your Home Country
If your Islamic divorce was registered in your home country's civil registry (many Islamic countries now require this), request a certified copy of the registered talaq. This serves as your Decree Absolute equivalent.
Check Destination Acceptance
We check whether your destination country recognizes Islamic divorces. Most Muslim-majority countries and many others do. Western countries vary, but many now recognize talaq if properly registered in the country of origin.
Multiple Copies & Translation
Get 2-3 certified copies of your registered talaq. If it's in Arabic or another language, arrange a certified English translation.
Our Guidance
We advise on destination compatibility, whether additional civil divorce is needed in your home country, and how to present your documents to the destination authority. This requires case-by-case assessment.
Important: If your talaq was never civilly registered, we may recommend obtaining a civil divorce decree as well to strengthen your case. This requires consulting with a lawyer in your home country.
Annulment vs. Divorce: What's the Difference?
Some couples have annulments instead of divorces. Legally, an annulment declares a marriage was never valid (void or voidable), whereas a divorce dissolves a valid marriage.
For the purpose of getting married abroad, an annulment serves the same function as a divorce: It proves your previous marriage is dissolved or void, and you're legally free to marry again. Some destinations use the term "annulment judgment" or "decree of nullity" instead of Decree Absolute.
Documentation: Treat your annulment judgment exactly as you would a Decree Absolute. It must be apostilled and presented to prove your freedom to marry. All destinations that recognize divorces recognize annulments.
Getting Your Decree Absolute: By Country
If you don't have a copy of your Decree Absolute, here's how to obtain one:
Contact the court that issued your divorce (you should have paperwork showing which court). Request a certified copy of your Decree Absolute. Cost: £50-150. Processing: 2-4 weeks by post. Or visit the court in person if local and get same-day service.
Contact the county court clerk where your divorce was finalized. Request a certified copy of your final divorce judgment. Most courts now accept online requests. Cost: $20-100 depending on state. Processing: 5-15 days.
Contact the tribunal de grande instance (district court) where your divorce was issued. Request an "expédition de jugement de divorce" (certified copy). Cost: €10-30. Processing: 1-2 weeks.
Contact the Amtsgericht (district court) where your divorce was issued. Request an "beglaubigter Auszug aus dem Scheidungsurteil" (certified copy). Cost: €15-35. Processing: 1-2 weeks.
Contact the Juzgado de lo Civil (civil court) where your divorce was issued. Request a "sentencia de divorcio" (divorce judgment copy). Cost: €20-40. Processing: 3-5 days in person, 1-2 weeks by mail.
Contact the District Court where your divorce was finalized. Request a certified copy of the divorce decree. Cost: INR 500-1500. Processing: 2-4 weeks. If in a major city, visit in person for faster service.
Our Experience: Real Divorced Client Stories
We've coordinated weddings for divorced couples in every imaginable situation. Here are real examples:
Case 1: UK Divorce, Marrying in Georgia
Client had been divorced from her first marriage for 5 years. She had her Decree Absolute but wanted to marry her new partner in Georgia. Timeline: Requested CNI from UK register office with Decree Absolute (28 days notice + collection) → Apostille CNI (2 weeks) → Georgian documents prepared and apostilled (1 week) → Total: 7 weeks. She married 8 weeks later. Zero complications.
Case 2: Multiple Marriages, UAE Resident
Client had two previous divorces — one in the US, one in the UAE. He was now marrying in Abu Dhabi. We obtained certified copies of both US and UAE Decree Absolutes, apostilled both, and presented them alongside his new CNI. The Marriage Bureau in Abu Dhabi was entirely satisfied. Marriage proceeded without delays.
Case 3: Divorce in Australia, Living in Denmark
Client was divorcing in Australia but wanted to remarry in Denmark as soon as possible. She requested her Australian Decree Absolute be expedited (3-day processing via email), then apostilled immediately. While waiting, she submitted Danish paperwork. By the time the Australian documents arrived, Danish authorities had already reviewed her application. The whole process took 6 weeks. She married 7 weeks from initial contact.
Common Questions from Divorced Clients
Do I need to mention my divorce to the destination country?
A: Yes, absolutely. The destination country must know you were previously married, otherwise they cannot properly issue a CNI. This isn't a problem — it's expected and legal. Many couples marrying abroad have been previously married.
Will my destination country recognize my previous divorce?
A: Almost always yes. All Hague Convention countries recognize divorces granted in other Hague Convention countries. The list includes virtually every major country. If your home country is not a Hague member, we assess case-by-case, but in practice, most countries recognize foreign divorces if they're properly documented.
What if I can't locate my Decree Absolute?
A: Don't panic. You can request a certified copy from the court that issued it. This typically costs $20-150 and takes 2-4 weeks. We guide you through requesting it. We recommend doing this immediately — don't wait until 2 weeks before your planned wedding.
Does my ex-spouse need to agree to my remarriage?
A: No. Once you have a final Decree Absolute, your previous marriage is completely dissolved. Your ex's consent is not needed. You are legally free to marry anyone you choose.
Your Divorce Won't Stop You From Getting Married Abroad
We've guided hundreds of divorced couples through remarriage abroad. We know exactly what documents you need, how to get them, and which destinations work best for your situation.
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