You can apply for a New York marriage license online if you are getting your license from the New York City Clerk: both applicants fill out the application through the City Clerk’s portal, then meet a clerk together on a video call to swear to the information and receive the license. Outside New York City, most town and city clerks still require an in-person visit, though a few accept online pre-applications. The New York City fee is $35, and a 24-hour waiting period applies before you can hold the ceremony.1Office of the City Clerk – NYC Marriage Bureau. Fees – City Clerk
Who Can Apply
Both applicants must be at least 18. New York eliminated all under-18 marriages effective July 2021, including the earlier exception for 17-year-olds with parental and judicial consent.2New York State Senate. New York Domestic Relations Law DOM 15-A – Marriages of Minors Under Eighteen Years of Age
There is no residency requirement. You can apply through any town or city clerk in the state, and a license issued anywhere in New York is valid for a ceremony held anywhere in New York.3New York State Department of Health. Information on Getting Married in New York State No blood test or premarital medical exam is required.
Marriages between close relatives are void: parent and child or any ancestor and descendant, siblings of whole or half blood, and an uncle or aunt with a niece or nephew.4New York State Senate. New York Domestic Relations Law DOM 5 – Incestuous and Void Marriages
What You Need Before You Start
The application is a sworn affidavit, so accuracy matters. Once filed, the information becomes part of the permanent public record. Each applicant provides:5Office of the City Clerk – NYC Marriage Bureau. Marriage License – City Clerk
- Full legal name, date of birth, current address, and country of birth
- Social Security number
- The name and country of birth of each parent
Both applicants also need valid photo identification. Accepted forms include a driver’s license, passport, permanent resident card, or U.S. military ID. A birth certificate alone does not qualify as photo ID, though the clerk may ask for one as a supplemental document to confirm your date of birth or a parent’s name.
If either applicant has been married before, you need proof that every prior marriage ended. That means a final divorce judgment for a divorce, or a certified death certificate listing you as the surviving spouse if a former spouse died.
Applying Online Through the NYC City Clerk
New York City’s virtual application program began during the COVID-19 pandemic under the name Project Cupid and remains in place.5Office of the City Clerk – NYC Marriage Bureau. Marriage License – City Clerk The process has two stages: an online application, and a live video appointment with a clerk.
Both applicants start at the City Clerk’s online portal, enter their biographical information, and upload images of their identification.6Office of the City Clerk. Marriage License Application Upload clear, legible scans; blurry images slow the review. After submission, you receive a confirmation number and schedule the video appointment. The $35 fee is paid by credit or debit card through the portal.1Office of the City Clerk – NYC Marriage Bureau. Fees – City Clerk
Both applicants must appear together on the video call, at the same time, from a device with a working camera, microphone, and stable internet.5Office of the City Clerk – NYC Marriage Bureau. Marriage License – City Clerk The clerk verifies your identities, reviews the application, and has each of you confirm under oath that the information is correct. The clerk then issues the license.
Outside New York City
Most town and city clerks elsewhere in the state still require both applicants to appear in person at the clerk’s office. Some suburban and upstate jurisdictions accept an online pre-application that lets you enter your information in advance, but you generally still have to visit the office for identity verification and the sworn statement. Availability varies and changes, so confirm with the specific clerk’s office where you plan to apply. Fees outside the city typically fall in the $35 to $40 range; most offices accept credit cards, debit cards, or money orders, though smaller offices may take only cash or checks.
The 24-Hour Wait and the 60-Day Window
Once the clerk issues your license, you cannot hold the ceremony for at least 24 hours. The waiting period is set by New York’s Domestic Relations Law. If circumstances require marrying sooner, such as a medical emergency, a judge of the Supreme Court, a county court, or a family court can issue an order waiving the wait.7New York State Senate. New York Domestic Relations Law DOM 13-B – Time Within Which Marriage May Be Solemnized
The license itself is valid for 60 calendar days, counting from the day after it is issued. If you don’t hold the ceremony in that window, the license expires and you have to apply again and pay the fee again. Active-duty military personnel get 180 days, but you need to show proof of military status when you apply.3New York State Department of Health. Information on Getting Married in New York State
Who Can Perform the Ceremony
New York law authorizes a broader list of officiants than many couples expect:8New York State Senate. New York Domestic Relations Law 11 – By Whom a Marriage Must Be Solemnized
- Any ordained minister, priest, rabbi, or other clergyperson of any religion. Clergy cannot be compelled to perform a marriage that conflicts with their religious beliefs.
- Any justice or judge in the state’s unified court system, federal judges sitting in New York, and certain retired judges.
- The governor (current or former), mayors, county executives, the New York City clerk and designated deputies, and members of the state legislature.
- Senior leaders of recognized Ethical Culture Societies in New York.
- A friend or family member who registers as a one-day officiant with the town clerk that issued your license.
The one-day officiant option lets someone personally meaningful to you perform the ceremony. That person must be at least 18, does not need to be a New York resident, applies through the same clerk that issued your license, and pays a $25 fee. The authorization covers only your specific wedding and expires with your marriage license, but during that window the officiant can perform the ceremony anywhere in the state.
After the Ceremony
Your officiant completes the license with the ceremony details and files it with the issuing clerk within five days. The clerk records the marriage and sends you a marriage certificate, which is the official proof that the marriage took place. It typically arrives about 15 days after the clerk receives the completed license from the officiant.3New York State Department of Health. Information on Getting Married in New York State
Order at least two certified copies of your marriage certificate. You will need them for name changes, insurance updates, and other administrative tasks. Certified copy fees vary by clerk’s office, typically between $10 and $30 per copy.