How to Get a Marriage Licence in Toronto: 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 Toronto, from applying to collecting the licence, in plain steps.

At a glance

Where

City of Toronto Marriage Services, Toronto City Hall, 100 Queen Street West (1st floor), or North York Civic Centre, 5100 Yonge Street

Booking

Appointment only. After you apply online you book an in-person appointment through the City's site. The City says walk-in clients will not be accepted. The appointment takes about 15 minutes.

Fee

$180 (HST does not apply) The City's booking page still shows an older $160 figure, so confirm the amount when you book.

Payment

Debit or credit card only. The fee is non-refundable.

Who attends

Only one applicant must attend in person, but the application must be signed in original ink by both of you. If you cannot print it beforehand, both of you attend to sign.

Valid for

Valid anywhere in Ontario.

Step by step

1. Apply. Apply online first on the City's website.
2. Book or plan your visit. Appointment only. After you apply online you book an in-person appointment through the City's site. The City says walk-in clients will not be accepted. The appointment takes about 15 minutes.
3. Gather your ID and documents. See the list below. Bring originals.
4. Attend and pay. Only one applicant must attend in person, but the application must be signed in original ink by both of you. If you cannot print it beforehand, both of you attend to sign. Debit or credit card only. 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. Valid anywhere in Ontario.

What to bring

• Two valid original government-issued IDs per applicant (four in total). Photocopies, scans and phone images are not accepted.
• Names must match across your IDs, and expired IDs are not accepted.
• Health cards, SIN cards and Refugee Protection Claimant documents are not accepted.

Good to know

• The City says there are no gender, residency, citizenship or medical requirements.
• The minimum age is 16.

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 Toronto. Our Ontario licence guide and legal marriage vs religious-only nikah explain the rest.

A few common questions

Details come from the City of Toronto's own website, checked in October 2026. Fees, hours and booking rules change, so confirm before you go. Toronto's marriage licence page. City contact: marriage@toronto.ca. This guide is general information, not legal advice.