There are more and more Irish couples who live abroad coming back to Ireland to get married. The process of organising a church wedding from abroad and completing your papers in your new home is relatively simple for the couple. After you book the church and arrange for a priest to marry you, make initial contact with the Catholic Parish where you now live, this is easier in some countries than others but other 'Ex-Pats' who have gone through the process will point you towards the local parish. Or if all else fails consult Google.

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The local Parish where you live will be able to point you towards an accredited Pre-Marriage Course in the area, which can be completed at any time, but the sooner the better.

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You should follow all the steps laid out in the relevant sections of this website, pertaining the completion of Marriage Papers and Civil Registration of your Marriage. Once you come within six months of the date of Marriage you can begin the paperwork. The first thing needed are copies of Baptismal Certificates and Confirmation Certificates from the Parishes where both parties were Baptised and Confirmed. These must be dated within six months of the date of Marriage and should NOT be photocopies.

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In the case that either party is not Baptised then an original copy of their Civil Birth Certificate should be provided. Please note that Civil Birth Certificates need only be provided by people who are not Baptised as proof of age. It is essential that each party to the Marriage complete an Affidavit/Statutory Declaration Form and have it included with their papers. 

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Please consult the Checklist section of this website to ensure that you have all the required documents for completion of your papers by the local priest. Please note that not having the required documents will impede processing of your papers. The priest where you are completing your Marriage Papers may tell you that you need certain documents and not need others. 

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ALL DOCUMENTS LISTED IN THE CHECKLIST ARE MANDATORY FOR THE PROCESSING OF DOCUMENTS IN THE ARCHDIOCESE OF TUAM AND MUST BE COMPLETED.

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ALL PAPERS BEING PROCESSED THROUGH THE DIOCESAN OFFICE MUST INCLUDE A SIGNED AFFADAVIT WHICH CAN BE DOWNLOADED HERE

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You can advise your priest that the papers should be forwarded to:

Fr. Charlie McDonnell, Adm.,
St. Mary's Presbytery,
South Mall,
Westport,
Co. Mayo
F28 TN28

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Through the Tuam Diocesan Office, the details of ehivh are:
Sr. Mary Lyons,
Chancellor,
Archbishops House,
Tuam,
Co. Galway.
H54 HP57

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PLEASE NOTE THAT ALL MARRIAGE PAPERS COMING FROM OUTSIDE THE ISLAND OF IRELAND MUST BE PROCESSED THROUGH THE DIOCESAN OFFICES BOTH OF THE PARISH WHERE THE PAPERS ARE COMING FROM AND THE PARISH WHERE THE PAPERS ARE COMING TO. THIS IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE PRIESTS.