How to Get a Marriage Licence in Richmond Hill: Step by Step

If you want your nikah to be a legal marriage in Ontario as well, you need a marriage licence first. Here is how it works in Richmond Hill, from applying to collecting the licence, in plain steps.

At a glance

Where

Access Richmond Hill, Municipal Offices (ground floor), 225 East Beaver Creek Road, Richmond Hill

Booking

Appointment required. Email access@richmondhill.ca with your name, phone number and application number to book. Licences are sold Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Fee

$179.00 (effective January 2026) Another section of the same City page mentions $160 by cheque, so confirm the amount when you book.

Payment

Cash, debit, Visa or Mastercard. The fee is non-refundable.

Who attends

Only one person can attend the appointment. Both of you must sign the application with original signatures, and the person attending brings ID for both of you.

Valid for

The licence expires three months from the date of issue.

Same day?

The City says licences are issued the same day if you have all the correct documents.

Step by step

1. Apply. Complete the City's online application and print it.
2. Book or plan your visit. Appointment required. Email access@richmondhill.ca with your name, phone number and application number to book. Licences are sold Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
3. Gather your ID and documents. See the list below. Bring originals.
4. Attend and pay. Only one person can attend the appointment. Both of you must sign the application with original signatures, and the person attending brings ID for both of you. Cash, debit, Visa or Mastercard. The fee is non-refundable.
5. Give the licence to your officiant. Your imam needs it before the ceremony, and he must be registered to perform legal marriages in Ontario. The licence expires three months from the date of issue.

What to bring

• Two original government-issued IDs for both applicants. No photocopies.

Good to know

• The City's page says a licence cannot be issued if you have already had a religious ceremony, in any country. If you have already held a nikah, check with the City before you book.

Your nikah and the licence

The licence is what makes your marriage legal. Your nikah is the religious ceremony. If your imam is registered with the province, one ceremony can be both. Browse registered officiants or see imams serving Richmond Hill. Our Ontario licence guide and legal marriage vs religious-only nikah explain the rest.

A few common questions

Details come from the City of Richmond Hill's own website, checked in October 2026. Fees, hours and booking rules change, so confirm before you go. Richmond Hill's marriage licence page. City contact: 905-771-8800 or access@richmondhill.ca. This guide is general information, not legal advice.