To get married in Las Vegas, each of you needs to show up together at the Clark County Marriage License Bureau with an original government-issued photo ID, your Social Security number if you’re a U.S. citizen, the exact end date of any prior marriage, and $102 in cash for the license. Those are the core documents needed to get married in Vegas. Nevada imposes no waiting period, no blood test, and no residency requirement, so you can land in the morning, pick up the license, and have the ceremony the same afternoon.
Photo ID That the Bureau Accepts
Each applicant must present an original, physical, government-issued photo ID. Photocopies and digital images are not accepted. Clark County recognizes several forms:
- U.S. driver’s license or state-issued ID card from any state, D.C., or U.S. territory
- A current, unexpired U.S. or foreign passport
- Active-duty military ID or a military dependent card
- USCIS immigration documents: Certificate of Citizenship, Certificate of Naturalization, Permanent Resident Card, or Temporary Resident Card
- Foreign government-issued ID, including a foreign driver’s license or Matricula Consular Card, provided it shows your date of birth and photo
The photo must be a clear, current likeness, and whatever name appears on your ID is the name that will appear on your marriage license and certificate. If you’ve changed your name recently and your ID hasn’t caught up, bring documentation of the change.
If you don’t have any of the documents above, the Bureau may accept an original certified birth certificate along with a secondary document showing your name and photo. Foreign birth certificates must be translated into English by a qualified translator, and the translation must be signed and notarized.1Clark County, NV. Clark County Clerk – Marriage License Requirements
One quirk: if you clearly appear to be over 25, Nevada law doesn’t technically require you to prove your age. You still have to prove your identity, but the clerk has discretion to waive the age documentation.2Nevada Legislature. Nevada Revised Statutes Chapter 122 – Marriage
Information to Have Ready Beyond Your ID
The application asks for a few things you should know before you get to the counter.
- Your Social Security number, if you’re a U.S. citizen. Non-citizens without one can still apply.
- The exact date any prior marriage ended, whether by divorce, annulment, or the death of a spouse. You don’t need to bring the decree or death certificate itself, but the date has to be precise.
- Age: both applicants must be at least 18. A 17-year-old can marry only with written parental or guardian consent and an order from a Nevada District Court judge.
Nevada also prohibits marriage between anyone more closely related than second cousins or cousins of half-blood.
Where You Go and What It Costs
Both of you must appear together in person at the Clark County Marriage License Bureau at 201 East Clark Avenue in downtown Las Vegas. The Bureau is open every day of the year, including holidays, from 8:00 a.m. to midnight.3Clark County, Nevada. Office of the County Clerk – Location and Hours
Fill out the online pre-application on the Clark County Clerk’s website before you go. It stays in the system for a year, and you can correct anything in person when you pick up the license.4Clark County. Marriage License Application – Clark County
The license costs $102 in cash. Paying by card adds a small convenience fee. Once you reach the counter, the whole process takes about 15 minutes.5Clark County, Nevada. Frequently Asked Questions
No Waiting Period, No Blood Test, No Residency Requirement
Nevada imposes no waiting period after issuance, so you can walk from the Bureau straight to a chapel.1Clark County, NV. Clark County Clerk – Marriage License Requirements There’s no blood test, no medical exam, and no requirement that you live in Nevada. Visitors from any state or country can marry here.2Nevada Legislature. Nevada Revised Statutes Chapter 122 – Marriage
How Long the License Is Good For
Your license expires one year after it’s issued. Miss that window and you’ll have to apply and pay again. The ceremony itself must take place inside Nevada for the marriage to be legally valid under a Clark County license.2Nevada Legislature. Nevada Revised Statutes Chapter 122 – Marriage
Who Can Perform the Ceremony
Nevada authorizes a wide range of officiants. On the government side, Supreme Court justices, Court of Appeals judges, district court judges, justices of the peace, municipal judges, civil marriage commissioners, and certain mayors can all officiate.6Nevada Legislature. Nevada Revised Statutes Chapter 122 – NRS 122.080 Outside government, licensed or ordained ministers, other religious officials, notaries public, certified marriage officiants, and military chaplains stationed in Nevada may also perform ceremonies. Each of them must hold a certificate of permission to perform marriages from the county clerk.2Nevada Legislature. Nevada Revised Statutes Chapter 122 – Marriage
If you’re booking a chapel or hiring an independent officiant, confirm they hold a current certificate. Most established Vegas chapels handle this routinely, but it’s worth asking if you found someone online.
Witnesses and Filing
At least one witness must be present at the ceremony, and both the witness and the officiant sign the marriage certificate. Afterward, the officiant is responsible for delivering the signed certificate to the county clerk’s office within 10 calendar days.2Nevada Legislature. Nevada Revised Statutes Chapter 122 – Marriage That filing is the officiant’s legal obligation, not yours, but a missed filing turns getting your official certificate into a slog. A reputable chapel or officiant files promptly.
Getting a Certified Copy of Your Marriage Certificate
The document your officiant files is the marriage certificate of record. To get a certified copy with a raised seal, which is what you’ll need for name changes, insurance updates, and other legal matters, you order it separately from the Clark County Clerk’s Office.
Each certified copy costs $20. You can request copies online, by mail, or in person.7Clark County. Fees – Clark County Mail and online orders take up to three weeks for delivery within the U.S. and up to six weeks internationally. The Clerk’s Office ships by standard USPS mail, with no expedited option.8Clark County, NV. Marriage Certificate (Ordering Marriage Certificates)
Order at least two or three certified copies. Different agencies often need them at the same time, and having extras keeps you from waiting weeks when one copy is tied up.
If You Need an Apostille for Use Abroad
If one of you is a citizen of another country, or you need the marriage recognized outside the U.S., you may need an apostille. An apostille is an authentication stamp certifying that the marriage certificate is a legitimate government document under an international treaty.
First order the certified copy from the Clark County Clerk’s Office. Then submit it to the Nevada Secretary of State with a completed Apostille/Certification Order Form. Each apostille costs $20, and standard processing runs about four weeks.9Nevada Secretary of State. Fees Your request must include the country where the apostille will be used, a valid return address, and an email address. Without a prepaid return shipping label, the Secretary of State’s office returns the document by first-class international mail without tracking.10Nevada Secretary of State. Apostille