Who Can Get Married in South Australia?

If you are planning to marry in Adelaide or elsewhere in South Australia, the eligibility rules are national. They come from Australian marriage law, not from a separate state marriage code.

You can usually get married if:

  • you are 18 or older
  • you are not already married to someone else
  • you are not marrying a prohibited close relative
  • you understand the nature of marriage
  • you freely consent to the marriage
  • you give the required notice and provide the right documents

Age Rules

Adults

If both parties are 18 or older, the normal process applies.

If One Person Is 16 or 17

This is rare and requires:

  • a court order
  • consent from parents or guardians in the required form
  • a genuinely exceptional reason

Someone under 16 cannot legally marry in Australia.

Citizenship and Residency

You do not need to be:

  • an Australian citizen
  • a permanent resident
  • a South Australian resident

Tourists, visitors, students, temporary visa holders, and overseas couples can all marry in Australia if they meet the legal requirements. Our page for overseas residents explains more.

Previous Marriage

You cannot marry again until any earlier marriage has legally ended.

If you were previously married, you will need evidence such as:

  • a divorce order, or
  • the death certificate of a late spouse

See marriage after divorce for common situations.

Close Relatives

Australian law does not allow marriage between:

  • parent and child
  • grandparent and grandchild
  • brother and sister

This includes relationships by adoption in the situations recognised by the Act.

Both parties must:

  • enter the marriage voluntarily
  • understand that marriage is a legally binding relationship
  • be capable of communicating consent

If a celebrant is not satisfied about consent or legal capacity, they must not proceed.

Same-Sex Couples

Marriage is available equally to all couples in Australia. The same legal rules apply regardless of gender.

Adelaide Practical Checklist

If you are eligible to marry, the next steps are:

  1. Complete or download your NOIM through NOIM Easy
  2. Review the legal requirements
  3. Check the one month notice period
  4. Choose between paperwork-only marriage or another service on our pricing page

If your circumstances are unusual, use the contact form and we will point you to the right next step.