I’m Attorney Sabrina Candela, and today I want to share a topic that surprises nearly every expat couple I meet: the importance of registering your foreign marriage in Ecuador.
If you were married abroad, chances are you already submitted your apostilled marriage certificate for your visa or cédula. That’s great… but here’s the truth most people don’t realize:
your marriage might not actually be registered in Ecuador.
And that difference can cost you thousands of dollars and create major legal complications down the line. Especially in cases involving property, inheritance, or even divorce.
Let’s dive into what marriage registration really means, why it matters, and how you can complete the process easily (and stress-free).
When you register your marriage in Ecuador, you’re essentially asking the Civil Registry, not the visa office, to officially recognize your foreign marriage as if it took place here.
Once this registration is completed, you receive an Ecuadorian marriage certificate.
This is a local, official document that serves as your legally valid marriage record within Ecuador’s national system.
Think of it as “translating” your foreign marriage into Ecuador’s legal language. This gives your marriage full legal standing before any notary, court, or public institution.
Most expats think registration is just a formality. In reality, it’s a strategic legal move that can save you enormous time, stress, and money. Here’s why:
Once your marriage is registered in Ecuador, you’ll never need to request or ship another apostilled certificate from your home country again.
That means:
Your Ecuadorian marriage certificate will be accepted for all local processes — from visa renewals to notarial acts, wills, and property transactions.
Many important legal procedures — like drafting marital agreements, creating wills, or arranging inheritance plans — require your marriage to be registered locally.
Without registration, your spouse may not have the legal standing needed to protect shared assets or execute your wishes in an emergency.
Once registered, you can download your Ecuadorian marriage certificate online 24/7 for just $3. Need a copy for a notary or bank? It’s ready instantly - no mailing or embassy requests needed.
In the event of death, a registered marriage makes the legal process smoother for your surviving spouse. This allows them to access property, bank accounts, and other rights without complex international paperwork.
While having an Ecuadorian will is still essential, marriage registration is the foundation that makes everything else possible.
Here’s something few realize:
If your marriage isn’t registered in Ecuador, you can’t get divorced in Ecuador.
Registering your marriage gives you the right to legally dissolve it within the Ecuadorian court system - which is often faster, cheaper, and simpler than doing so abroad.
The process is straightforward and far less bureaucratic than most people expect.
Here’s what’s required:
That’s it.
And at Expat Law Group, we can handle all of this for you — translation, formatting, appointments, and follow-ups — so you don’t have to worry about a thing.
To complete a marriage registration, at least one of the spouses must be a resident of Ecuador (either temporary or permanent).
If one spouse lives abroad, that’s fine — as long as the other resides in Ecuador, the registration can still be completed.
In fact, we can even complete the entire process for you through a Power of Attorney, meaning you don’t need to attend the Civil Registry in person.
Depending on your current cédula status, there are two paths:
Once complete, you’ll receive both a physical and a digital Ecuadorian marriage certificate which act as your official proof of marriage within the Ecuadorian system.
It’s easy to assume your marriage is already recognized here. After all, your visa or cédula lists your spouse, right?
But those records belong to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, not the Civil Registry.
The visa office only sends your marital information for printing on your cédula, not for legal registration.
That’s why you might be “married” in one database, but still considered “single” under Ecuadorian civil law.
Let’s recap the biggest takeaways:
For most couples, registering their marriage is one of the smartest and easiest legal steps they can take to build a secure future in Ecuador.
At Expat Law Group, we loving helping expats make their marriages fully recognized in Ecuador. Quickly, correctly, and without the stress of navigating government offices on your own.
If you’d like us to handle your registration from start to finish including translation, notary coordination, and Civil Registry filings we can even complete it without you attending a single appointment through a power of attorney.
Sabrina Candela is an Associate Attorney at Expat Law Group, specializing in helping expatriates navigate Ecuador's legal system. This article is intended for informational purposes only and should not be considered legal advice.
