Get a civil union licence
Before you get a civil union, you need to apply for a licence. A licence confirms it’s legal for you to have a civil union. It costs $150.
What you need to know
- You need to arrange your licence at least 3 working days before you have a civil union.
- It expires after 3 months.
- The ceremony is an additional cost which depends on the kind of ceremony you have.
- Only one of you needs to complete the application, but you need information about both of you.
Apply
Cost
Personalised ceremony
The licence costs $150.
Celebrants set their own fees, on top of the cost of the licence.
Who can get it
Most people can get a civil union licence. Same-sex civil unions are legal in NZ.
You do not need to be an NZ citizen. Visitors to NZ can marry or have a civil union here.
What happens after you apply for a licence
If you’re using celebrant
You’ll be sent the licence, and 2 copies of the “Copy of particulars of civil union” — a form with all the details of the people getting the civil union.
Give all 3 of these documents to your celebrant before your ceremony.
Tip: If you have a back-up venue.
Put your back-up venue in your application. You can only have the ceremony in the places you’ve put on the application.
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