How To: Get Your Marriage License in Las Vegas

To get your marriage license in Las Vegas, complete the Clark County application online, then visit the Marriage License Bureau together with your photo IDs. Once you collect your license, there is no waiting period before you can marry. Bring all your paperwork to your ceremony at That Chapel Downtown.

Marriage license in Las Vegas: the basics

Before you apply, check the official Clark County marriage steps. This guide follows the county guidance reviewed in October 2026. For your chapel plans, our guide to eloping at That Chapel Downtown explains how to choose a current package.

• You must both be unmarried and at least 18 years old.
• Bring government-issued photo identification that shows your current likeness, such as a passport or driver’s license.
• You don’t need a blood test, and there is no waiting period after you get your license.
• Your marriage license expires one year after the issue date.
• An officiant with Nevada authorization must perform your ceremony in Nevada.
• You need at least one witness other than your officiant.

1. Apply before you get to Las Vegas

First, follow the online application link in the county’s official guide. Each partner completes their own information. Your names must match the IDs you’ll present in person, so check the spelling carefully. Then save your confirmation number and bring it with you.

Completing the application is not the same as receiving your marriage license. You still need to collect it together in person when you arrive in Las Vegas.

Want a friend or family member to officiate?

Online ordination alone does not give someone permission to perform a legal Nevada marriage. Your chosen person must obtain the required county authorization before the ceremony. Review the official marriage officiant application guidance well before traveling, and confirm your plan with the chapel.

2. Collect your marriage license in Las Vegas

Next, visit the Clark County Marriage License Bureau together. No appointment is necessary. Bring your IDs and confirmation number, and check the county’s current location, hours and fee before leaving your hotel.

The clerk will verify your information and issue your paperwork. Before leaving, check every detail once more. Clark County says collection typically takes less than one hour, but allow extra time for travel and queues rather than treating that as a guarantee.

3. Bring your paperwork to the ceremony

Bring all your paperwork to your ceremony: your marriage license, marriage certificate and keepsake. You will say your vows before your authorized officiant and at least one other witness. If it’s just the two of you, arrange your witness with the chapel before the day.

Afterward, your officiant files the marriage certificate within ten calendar days. If you need proof of marriage sooner, discuss your options with the officiant before your ceremony.

4. Order your certified marriage certificate

Once the certificate is filed, you can order a certified copy online or purchase it in person through Clark County. A marriage license allows you to marry; the filed marriage certificate is your proof of marriage. Follow the county’s ordering instructions and check its current fees.

If you need an apostille for use abroad, check your government’s requirements first. The Nevada Secretary of State’s apostille information explains that separate process.

Marriage license questions

Can we get married immediately after collecting the license?

Yes. There is no waiting period once you receive your marriage license in Las Vegas. You still need a ceremony with a Nevada-authorized officiant and a witness.

Can only one of us collect the license?

For the standard process described here, you both visit the bureau together with your identification. Completing the online application does not replace that visit.

Is our keepsake certificate official proof of marriage?

Use a certified copy of your filed marriage certificate when you need official proof. Follow Clark County’s instructions for ordering it after your officiant files the paperwork.

Finally, keep your paperwork somewhere you won’t forget it on wedding morning. We want you thinking about your vows, not making a last-minute trip back to your hotel!

Love,
TCD