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This article was created in collaboration between AIC and Shira Hofesh, an Israeli civil marriage activist involved in the recognition breakthrough of Utah Zoom weddings in Israel. Check her nonprofit initiative website מתחתנים בארץ!
The state of Utah in the USA allows people worldwide to get married remotely, via video conferencing on the Zoom app. This is a completely legal way to get married in the USA without the hassle of flying there. The marriage certificate is identical to the one couples receive if they physically marry in Utah, and it doesn’t mention that the ceremony was held via Zoom. For more information on Utah weddings visit the Official Website of Utah County Government.
For Israelis and Israeli-international couples who are unable or unwilling to marry through religious ceremonies in Israel, Utah Zoom weddings offer a convenient and affordable alternative. After a long legal battle, it is now possible to register Utah marriage certificates just like any other marriage certificate from abroad. Additionally, further legal action has ensured that Utah Zoom weddings are fully recognized for spouse visa applications in Israel.
So, how do you get married in Utah via Zoom? All the details are here.
Steps Breakdown:
- Apply for single-status certificate (for immigration to Israel only)
- Apply for a marriage license online
- Receive your marriage license
- Schedule your ceremony within 33 days
- Get married via Zoom
- Order your certified marriage certificate with an Apostille
Step 1: Apply for Single-Status Certificate (International Couples Only)
This step is not part of the Utah Zoom wedding procedure. However, it is essential for international couples (Israeli and non-Israeli) to complete this step in order to register their Utah marriage in Israel and, potentially, apply for the immigration of the non-Israeli partner to Israel.
Couples where one side is non-Israeli must present a personal status certificate from before the marriage in order to register the marriage in Israel, proving that the non-Israeli was in fact available to be married.
Therefore, it is crucial for the non-Israeli partner to issue a single-single status certificate from their home country before they marry.
Find more information about this certificate on our dedicated article about international documentation for the partner visa process.
Step 2: Apply for a Marriage License Online
A Utah marriage license must be obtained before you can schedule your remote Zoom wedding. Only apply for a marriage license if you’re within 33 days of your desired wedding date.
Required Documents
- A valid government-issued ID of each of you, such as a passport or driver’s license (it must have your full name in English and your picture).
- an Israeli ID (Teudat Zehut) does not include English and therefore it is not accepted.
- A valid email address of each of you.
- A credit or debit card to pay the fee.
- A smartphone to take a selfie and scan your ID card/passport.
Application
- Go to the Utah County Marriage License application page.
- Choose a date. This date is not guaranteed to be your wedding date; it is only to verify you’re planning to get married within the next 33 days.
- Enter a valid email address to which you will receive an email with a direct link to start your application.
- Follow the application directions. You will need to enter your and your spouse’s full names and a few other personal details, including your mother’s maiden names and the address where you currently live.
Note: The name of the city and country where you currently live will appear on the marriage certificate. Partners can live in different countries.
Important! Shipping Address:
This address will be used to automatically ship your marriage certificate after the ceremony. For your certificate to be recognized in Israel, it must be stamped with an Apostille. To save on international shipping fees, it is recommended to have your marriage certificate sent directly to the relevant office in Utah that grants Apostilles. Use the following address as your shipping address:
Office of Lieutenant Governor
350 North State Street
Suite 220
City: Salt Lake City
State: Utah
Zip Code: 84114
Your marriage certificate will automatically be sent to this address. When you later order your certified marriage certificate with an Apostille, you will provide your actual shipping address and pay the applicable international shipping fee.
- Once you’ve completed the application and confirmed both email addresses, you will need to pay a fee of $71. Note that the option to waive $20 off the fee is not relevant if you don’t live in Utah.
- After paying the fee, a screen will appear with a box to fill in the email address of the officiant. This page is only relevant for those using an external officiant. If you don’t, you can leave it blank.
Step 3: Receive the Marriage License
The marriage license will be sent to you via email.
Take a moment to ensure all details are correct (including the address). If there is any error or if you encounter a bug that turns the letters into question marks, write a correction request to the Utah office at this email address: marriage@utahcounty.gov.
It is important that all the details are correct, as your marriage certificate is a legal document.
In the same email, there will be a red rectangle that says “Send Digital Marriage License to Officiant.” This is only relevant for those using an external officiant (see more information on step 4), and can be ignored by couples who are going for the default option for the marriage.
Once you receive your marriage license, you have 33 days to get married.
Step 4: Schedule the Marriage Ceremony
There are two options for the ceremony;
- Default – A Zoom ceremony conducted by Deputy Clerks from the Utah Clerk’s Office. This option costs $35, and scheduling is available on the official Utah County Clerk website.
- Private officiant – A Zoom ceremony conducted by a private authorized officiant. Fees vary; see details below.
In this article we focus on option 1, the default ceremony conducted by Utah clerks.
Required Documents
- Your marriage license number.
- Full names of two witnesses.
- Your valid government-issued IDs.
Scheduling Process
- Go to the Utah Country Marriage Ceremonies scheduling webpage
- Choose a date and time for your ceremony:
- There are two calendars for remote ceremonies, ceremonies within 30 days or ceremonies within 7 days. You can use either one. The only difference is the availability of dates and times, so choose based on your preference.
- The website will automatically choose your time zone based on your location and display the hours according to your time zone. In case the website did not locate you correctly, choose your time zone manually.
Note: The time is displayed in the 12-hour format commonly used in the USA:
* AM is any time from midnight to noon (ex. 12:30 AM is 00:30).
* PM is from noon to midnight (ex. 9:00 PM is 21:00).
- Fill in your personal details, your and your spouse’s names, and upload pictures of your IDs.
- Fill in the names of two witnesses.
- A witness can be any person over 18 years old with a valid government-issued ID in English, including family members.
- Their names must be spelled exactly as they appear on their IDs.
- Witnesses must attend the ceremony (they can join online and don’t need to be physically with you).
- Once you’re done, you will receive a confirmation email which includes the Zoom link that will be used for the ceremony.
- About 24 hours before your ceremony, you will receive an email with a payment request. You must pay the $35 fee before the ceremony.
Private Officiant
Utah marriages are normally conducted by a randomly-allocated officiant from the Utah Deputy Clerk’s office. If you prefer to have your ceremony conducted by a specific officiant—for reasons such as needing a specific religious or spiritual officiant, someone who speaks another language, or if the Clerk’s available dates don’t work for you—you can choose a private authorized officiant.
Private officiants are not Utah Clerk’s Office employees but are authorized to perform marriages in Utah, including via Zoom. Fees vary, and scheduling is handled directly with the officiant.
View the list of authorized officiants here: Authorized Officiants List. Make sure to select someone from the “Remote Appearance” tab and contact them directly to arrange your ceremony. Note: If you use a private officiant, there’s no need to schedule a ceremony on the Utah County website as described above.
After your ceremony, the officiant will submit your signed marriage certificate to the Utah County Clerk’s Office. You can then order your apostille through the Utah County website (see Step 6).
Step 5: The Ceremony
It’s time to get married!
Access the Zoom link that was sent to you in the confirmation email at the designated hour. The same link should also appear in the payment request that was sent to you 24 hours before the ceremony.
The officiant will log in (short delays are expected), and guide you through the stages of the ceremony.
- The officiant will recite a declaration of intent (“Do you take this person to be your lawfully wedded spouse…”), to which you have to respond “I do“. This is mandatory step for the legalization of the marriage.
- You can exchange rings and/or vows if you want to, but it’s not mandatory.
- You can wear whatever you feel comfortable in.
- Most ceremonies last about 15 to 30 minutes.
- You’re allowed to forward the Zoom link to anyone you’d like to invite. Up to 100 devices can connect to your ceremony.
- During the ceremony, you and your witnesses might be asked to show your IDs or spell your names.
You, your spouse, and your witnesses are not required to be in the same physical location. You can all connect from different locations.
After the ceremony, the officiant will leave the Zoom, allowing you to celebrate virtually with your guests.
Congratulations on your Utah Zoom wedding!
Step 6: Apostille
After the ceremony, you will receive your online marriage certificate via email, along with a direct link to order your Apostille. This email typically arrives within one business day.
Take a moment to make sure that all personal details and spellings are accurate. If they aren’t, submit a correction request to marriage@utahcounty.gov.
- Access the link to order the Apostille
- Fill out the form with your personal details and a picture of your ID.
- Enter your real shipping address.
- Pay the $45 apostille fee and the international shipping fee of $75.
Once completed, you will receive a confirmation email with a tracking link. It usually takes about 3–4 weeks for the certificate to arrive via FedEx.
Important: Your marriage certificate will arrive attached to the Apostille. Do not separate them, as this will void the Apostille.
Step 7: Registration of the Marriage in Israel
It is now time to register your marriage in Israel, and possibly in additional countries (such as the home country of the non-Israeli partner).
Officially, the registration in Israel must be completed within 30 days of the marriage; however, this rule is not strictly enforced and you can proceed normally even outside of this timeline.
International Couples in an Active Partner Visa Process
If you are already in the process of applying for a partner visa:
- Inform Your Assigned Visa Department: Notify the Population and Immigration Authority office where your partner visa case is being handled about your marriage. The visa department may instruct the Israeli partner to update their marital status at the registry department and return to the visa department once the update is complete.
It is crucial that your partner visa file is converted to marriage as soon as possible, as this usually has significant impact on the eligibility for Israeli residency (A5 visa).
- Follow our guide: Getting Married While In the Gradual Process
Registration of Marriage Without Partner Visa Process
If you are not pursuing a partner visa yet and simply want to update the marital status of the Israeli partner to “married,” follow these steps:
- Go to the designated PIBA office of your place of residence*
- Prepare the following documents:
- Original marriage certificate attached to Apostille (+ copies).
- Original personal status certificate of the non-Israeli partner from before the marriage, with apostille and notarial translation to Hebrew (when applicable) (+ copies).
- Form MR6
*If the application includes a name change, your ID card and passport will need to be replaced, requiring you to schedule an appointment in advance. If no name change is involved, the registration can be completed as a walk-in service without appointment.
