Is it legal to mail order a bride? Can you get in trouble for marrying a foreign woman? How do you get her to join you? In this post, we’ll provide definitive answers to men from the US, Canada, Australia, the UK, and the EU.
Here’s a quick recap of the main points if you don’t have the time to read the full post:
- A mail order bride site is the best legal way to get a mail order bride
- SofiaDate, SakuraDate, and LatiDate are the top legitimate mail order bride sites
- The US, UK, Canada, Australia, and the EU states recognize mail order marriages
- IMBRA and VAWA regulate international marriage and protect mail order brides
- In 2023, the US issued 19,825 K1 fiance visas to foreign women
Is it legal to buy a bride?
The biggest question about mail order bride legality is how it can be possible to buy women. The issue arises from dated terminology. Mail order brides have nothing to do with human trafficking, nor are they cross-border sex workers. There’s no exchange of humans (or sexual services) for money.
So the question should not be whether or not you can buy a bride. There’s no buying. There’s only online dating, mutual attraction, and marriage entered with full understanding and consent. Therefore, mail-order brides are 100% legal in the States and most Western countries.
US laws regarding mail order brides
Is a mail order bride legal in the US? Yes, it is!
Americans can marry foreign women in possession of K-type visas (K-1 for fiances, K-2 for their children). Under these terms, foreign ladies must marry within 90 days of entering the US.
At the same time, US legislators recognize that foreign women married to Americans are often more vulnerable to domestic abuse than local women, as the abuse rate is almost twice as high for immigrants. Currently, there are two laws reducing crime rate and ensuring the safety of mail order brides: IMBRA and VAWA.
IMBRA
The International Marriage Broker Regulation Act (IMBRA) is designed to protect mail order brides. The law requires marriage agencies and other organizations to perform background checks and provide women with relevant information about their potential spouses. For example, marriage brokers must disclose criminal records, including domestic abuse charges against men looking for foreign brides.
Additionally, IMBRA specifies that Americans can only file petitions for alien fiances two times, with an interval of at least two years.
VAWA
The latest iteration of the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) was passed in 2022. It includes multiple provisions for preventing domestic and sexual abuse and providing relevant care to its victims. The regulation covers everything from legal and medical assistance to abuse survivors, safe homes, violence reduction practices, and economic safety provisions. There are even specific clauses for cybercrime and violence against young victims.
Mail order bride regulations across the world
What if you’re outside the US? Are mail order brides legal in your country? Find your country in the list below to learn the answer and links to relevant legislation.
Canada
International marriage with a mail order bride is legal in Canada.
The same rules apply to all weddings. The bride and groom should not be blood relatives, must be above the age of majority (18 or 19, depending on the province), and be free of other legal unions (previous marriages).
Any marriage ceremony must be officiated by an authorized individual and have witnesses to be recognized as legal in Canada.
UK
International marriage with a mail order bride is legal in the UK under the Marriage with Foreigners Act 1906.
A mail order bride can apply for a family visa and gain entry into the UK if she fulfills several conditions, including:
- Evidence that the relationship has lasted at least two years
- Passable knowledge of English
- Ability to financially support herself
- Evidence of the dissolution of past marriages
- Intention to get married within six months of entering the UK
Once a mail order bride comes to the UK, the bride and groom will need to fulfill other legal requirements to get married.
Australia
International marriage with a mail order bride is legal in Australia. It falls under the same regulations as marriages between Australian citizens. The future spouses must be past the age of majority, single, and not related by blood.
Mail order brides can apply for a Prospective Marriage Visa (Subclass 300). It lets foreign women stay in Australia between 9 and 15 months to plan and host a wedding. Besides, this visa allows ladies to study and work in Australia.
Germany
Germans can legally marry foreign mail order brides in Germany and abroad, as long as both partners fulfill the conditions of the German Civil Code. These cover the legal age of marriage and the absence of impediments, such as previous legal unions.
Foreign women can apply for a visa to join their partners or spouses in Germany. The basic requirements include evidence of accommodation and financial support, as well as a basic understanding of German (A1). The conditions differ depending on the spouse’s residency status in Germany.
New Zealand
International marriages with mail order brides are legal in New Zealand under the Marriage Act 1955. The country recognizes marriages solemnized outside New Zealand and marriages with foreigners.
Mail order brides can apply for a Partner of New Zealander visa. There are multiple options, including visitor, work, and other types of visas. Processing typically takes a few months and requires evidence of a stable relationship prior to entering New Zealand.
Ireland
You can legally marry a mail order bride in Ireland. The country recognizes international marriages officiated locally or abroad.
If a foreign lady wants to join her Irish fiance, she’ll need to apply for a Type C short-stay visa. It will grant a 90-day stay to plan and formalize the wedding. Once the visa elapses, the lady can apply for a Join family long-stay visa. As is typical for European countries, the necessary paperwork includes evidence of a prior relationship, proof of financial support, accommodation evidence, etc.
France
Like other EU states, France recognizes legal marriages between French nationals and mail order brides. The latter can apply for a short-stay visa (under 90 days) to join their fiances and formalize the marriages. After that, they can apply for a long-term stay visa by providing the required paperwork and evidence of financial support and accommodation.
There’s a convenient online visa wizard designed to help identify necessary paperwork for applying for different visa types.
Netherlands
Dutch citizens can legally marry mail order brides, as long as both partners fulfill standard marriage requirements of legal age, freedom of previous unions, etc. Mail order brides will need to apply for a short-term visa (90 days) and a residence application. The procedure is known as TEV (Toegangs- en Verblijfsprocedure). For more details, check out the handy Q&A form.
Where are mail order spouses illegal?
Are mail order spouses illegal anywhere? The few exceptions include the Philippines, Syria, Afghanistan, North Korea, and a few other states.
The Republic Act No 10906 in the Philippines prohibits marriage agencies from operating on a “mail order basis”. The law is designed to protect local girls from predatory services and human trafficking rings. Still, it does not limit the operation of international dating sites, and Filipina ladies remain extremely popular among Americans looking for Asian brides.
Many Muslim states prohibit women from marrying foreigners of other religions. These countries include Afghanistan, Iran, etc. As a result, no marriage between a Christian and an Afghani woman would be considered legal in her homeland, even if it would be perfectly legal in the US, Canada, Australia, and the EU.
So, are mail order spouses legal?
Are mail order spouses legal in the US, Canada, or the UK? Yes, they are perfectly legal. Most countries, with a few exceptions, recognize international marriage, even if foreign brides need to jump through hoops to secure their visas to join their future husbands. If your relationship is real, and you’re both free to enter a new marriage, there should be no legal obstacles in your way, whether you’re in the States, the European Union, or Australia.