General information
When a citizen of the Republic of Azerbaijan gets married in a foreign country, the registration of the marriage is carried out by the diplomatic missions and consulates of the Republic of Azerbaijan in foreign countries chosen by one of the parties or their parents.
In the Republic of Azerbaijan, the marriage age is set at 18 for men and 17 for women. In order to conclude a marriage, it is necessary to have the written consent of the parties entering into the marriage and their age of marriage. If there are valid reasons, the consular office of the area where the persons who wish to enter into marriage and who are under the age of marriage live can reduce the age of marriage by no more than 1 year at their request.

Documents required for marriage registration

In order to register the marriage of a citizen (citizens) of the Republic of Azerbaijan in foreign countries, the following documents must be submitted to diplomatic missions and consulates (consulates) of the Republic of Azerbaijan:
1. written consent of the persons entering into marriage;
2. copy of the documents confirming the identity of the persons entering into marriage;
3. a document confirming permanent or temporary residence in a foreign country;
4. Certificate of celibacy;
5. receipt of payment of state duty
6. previously married persons - a certificate (copy) on the dissolution of marriage or a death certificate (copy) of the husband (wife), or a legally binding resolution of the court declaring the previous marriage invalid or an extract from it (only previously married persons);

Rules for registration of marriage

Application procedure.

Citizens of the Republic of Azerbaijan who wish to enter into marriage must apply to the consulates in person. The official of the consulate gives permission to the application for the conclusion of the marriage by writing it.
If one of the persons wishing to enter into marriage is unable to come to the consulate for the purpose of filing an application due to a valid reason (severe illness, going on a long-term business trip, living in a distant place, etc.), the second party who has arrived can submit a joint application or separate submits applications. The authenticity of the absent party's signature on the application must be confirmed by the consulate.

Application processing period.

The marriage is concluded by the consulate in the presence of persons who wish to enter into marriage not earlier than 1 month from the day of submission of the application.

In the case of the following valid reasons, the time of marriage can be reduced by the consulate or extended for a period of no more than 1 month:
1) urgently go on a long-term business trip;
2) moving to another place for permanent residence;
3) having joint children;
4) the woman who wants to get married is pregnant;
5) serious illness of married persons or their close relatives;
6) conscription;
7) in other cases.
The above-mentioned cases must be confirmed by submitting the relevant documents (travel card, medical certificate, birth certificate, etc.) to the consulate.

In special cases (pregnancy, having a joint child, both of the parties wishing to enter into marriage are over 50 years of age, or in other cases) the marriage can be concluded on the day of filing the application.

Other persons may participate in the registration of the marriage upon the wish of the persons entering into the marriage. There should not be more than two witnesses who sign the record of the marriage act.
When the marriage is recorded, a marriage certificate is issued. The rights and duties of the spouses arise from the date of state registration of the marriage by the consulate.

If the persons who wish to enter into marriage do not come at the specified time and the reason for not coming is not considered valid, the application for registration of marriage is canceled. Those wishing to enter into marriage must re-apply if they do not change their mind. The consulate must set a period of 1 month again to register the marriage.

If the consulate receives an application stating that there are legal obstacles to the registration of the marriage before the day appointed for the marriage, the registration is postponed, the persons wishing to enter into the marriage are informed about it, and the applicant is given no more than 1 month to submit documentary evidence confirming the application. If evidence is presented confirming the existence of obstacles for marriage registration, the consulate refuses to conclude the marriage and informs the persons who wish to enter into marriage about it in writing.

When foreigners or stateless persons who wish to get married apply for marriage, they are required to provide a certificate of marital status (valid for 6 months from the date of issuance) issued by the competent authorities of the country of their citizenship or permanent residence.

Persons who were in a de facto marriage relationship before July 8, 1944 can formalize their marriage by indicating and recording the time of actual cohabitation. When one of the persons who were in a de facto marriage relationship until July 8, 1944 dies or goes missing without notice, the consulate indicates the time of commencement of the marriage relationship based on the court decision confirming the fact of the de facto marriage relationship.
The day and time of marriage registration is determined by agreement with the parties. After receiving the application, the consulate determines the day and time of marriage, including the day off, with the consent of the parties. The time of marriage should not be performed at the same time as the registration of death and dissolution of marriage in the same building. If one of the persons wishing to enter into marriage is seriously ill and cannot come to the building (room) where the consulate is located (confirmed by a doctor's certificate), marriage registration can be conducted at home or in medical institutions with the presence of both parties entering into marriage.

People who want to get married have the right to solemnize the marriage. In addition, the marriage can be registered at the wedding ceremony based on the request of the persons who wish to enter into marriage.

Refusing to register a marriage

Consulates may refuse to register a marriage, and the applicant(s) must be notified in writing. When the consulate refuses to register the marriage, the persons who want to enter into marriage (one of them) can appeal to the court in an administrative manner and (or).
Marriage between the following persons is not allowed:
1) close relatives (parents and children, grandparents and grandchildren, biological and step-brothers and sisters);
2) close adopters and adoptees;
3) one or both of the persons applying for the conclusion of marriage are married to another person;
4) one or both of the persons who applied for the conclusion of marriage are considered incapacitated by the court as a result of mental illness or incapacity.
At the same time, the persons applying for the conclusion of marriage must indicate how many marriages they have entered into and how many children they have, the surname they want to bear after the conclusion of the marriage, and must answer the questions specified in the application form.

For marriage registration and related transactions
State duty

According to Article 16.3 of the Law of the Republic of Azerbaijan dated 2001 "On State Fee", the state fee for marriage registration and related transactions is determined at the following level:

1) registration of marriage and about it
 for issuing a certificate - 10 US dollars

2) by VVAQ bodies of foreign countries
 for the purpose of marriage registration
 for issuing a certificate of celibacy - 10 US dollars

3) changes in the marriage act record,
 making corrections, additions and
 regarding the recovery of deed records
 for issuing certificates - 10 US dollars

4) registration of acts of civil status
 according to archival materials about
 for issuing repeated certificates - 10 USD