Get Your Marriage License with NYC’s Project Cupid
Photo by Megan and Kenneth
Since the pandemic, the marriage license process has changed drastically. Walk-ins are no longer permitted so the NYC Clerk’s Office created an online platform known as Project Cupid to schedule in-person appointments with the City Clerk in all five boroughs or virtual appointments. YES, there are still virtual appointments to obtain your marriage license.
How to apply for your marriage license in NYC?
1) Complete the online marriage license application. This is where you fill in all of your identifying information along with your parents' names, birth place, previous marriages, etc.
2) Once you submit your application process, you'll visit Project Cupid to book either an in-person or virtual appointment.
3) If you’d like to obtain your marriage license in person, click the ‘Marriage License (in-person)’ button and choose your preferred City Clerk’s Office from the the drop down.
4) If you’d prefer a virtual appointment to obtain your marriage license, click ‘Marriage License (virtual). This will lead you to create a NYC.ID account before creating a virtual appointment.
5) (For virtual appointments) When creating that NYC.ID, you'll need to upload photo identification like a driver's license or passport. CLICK HERE to review all the acceptable forms of ID.
6) (For virtual appointments) You'll pay the $35 fee online and schedule a date/time to meet with the City Clerk virtually to review the accuracy of the information you input during step one, to verify that you really do match your photo IDs, and that you're both currently in New York State. The City Clerk will send your marriage license online and you’ll email that to your wedding officiant. We will then bring your marriage license with us on your behalf.
7) (For in-person appointments) You’ll pay the $35 fee in person during your scheduled appointment; the City Clerk will ask you to verify the accuracy of the information provided in the application. Please double and triple check the accuracy of each field. One wrong digit in your mailing address, for example, can lead to a lost marriage license.
What if I can’t secure an appointment through Project Cupid? I’ve heard it’s hard to secure appointments.
During peak seasons, like spring and fall, appointments do become a bit more scarce. But we are no longer living in peak pandemic season where appointments were so hard to come by. Now The New York City Clerk’s Office has appointments up to three weeks in advance so as long as you don’t procrastinate too badly, you should be in the clear. If you don’t see a date that works for you, check in every Monday and Thursday mornings at 9AM EST. That’s typically when they release new appointments.
If you’re unable to secure an in-person appointment at your preferred City Clerk location for your preferred date/time, consider visiting a neighboring borough like Brooklyn or Queens.
When are new appointments released?
In-person appointments are released every Monday morning at 9AM EST and virtual appointments are released every Thursday morning at 9AM EST. You can also check out the City Clerk Twitter page to review their updates.
Important Reminders:
Marriage Licenses are valid after 24 hours and for only 60 days. Please plan accordingly. The time stamp of your marriage license will be on the top right corner of your marriage license. It is time stamped once you meet with the NY City Clerk during your scheduled in-person or virtual appointment.
Marriage Licenses are $35 and can be paid with credit/debit card.
Your marriage license is NOT your marriage certificate. You will receive your marriage certificate within 4-6 weeks by mail if you allow your wedding officiant to submit the license of your behalf. If you’d like to receive your marriage certificate sooner, we recommend making an appointment within 5 days of your wedding ceremony through Project Cupid and choose ‘Record Room - in person’.
If you have any other questions, feel free to contact us and we’ll hold your hand along the way.