Marriage license · Free to use

Iowa marriage license: fee, waiting period and how to apply

What Iowa's official pages say about getting married there: the fee, the waiting period, how long the license lasts, witnesses, officiants, ID and where to apply. Each rule links its source.

By Wedding RemedyPublished November 12, 2026

Editorial standards

Iowa marriage license at a glance

Fee: $35, due at application, nonrefundable, and includes one certified copy of the marriage certificate. A waiver of the waiting period adds $5. Waiting period: License becomes valid after three calendar days from the date of application (application day not counted). A district judge can waive this for an extra $5. How long it is valid: The license does not expire once it has been picked up, per the Polk County Recorder. If it is not retrieved from the county registrar within six months of the application date, the application becomes void.

Iowa marriage license rules

The rules below restate official pages, linked with the date they were read. Last checked November 12, 2026. Rules and fees change, and this is not legal advice: confirm with the clerk where you apply before you rely on a rule.

Fee: $35, due at application, nonrefundable, and includes one certified copy of the marriage certificate. A waiver of the waiting period adds $5. (Source: hhs.iowa.gov, checked October 30, 2026)
Premarital education discount: None stated on the official pages we read. Check with your county clerk. Official page
Waiting period: License becomes valid after three calendar days from the date of application (application day not counted). A district judge can waive this for an extra $5. (Source: hhs.iowa.gov, checked October 30, 2026)
How long the license is valid: The license does not expire once it has been picked up, per the Polk County Recorder. If it is not retrieved from the county registrar within six months of the application date, the application becomes void. (Source: polkcountyiowa.gov, checked November 12, 2026)
Where the license can be used: Valid in any Iowa county. It can only be used for ceremonies held in Iowa. (Source: legis.iowa.gov, checked October 30, 2026)
Witnesses: Two witnesses must be physically present at the ceremony along with the couple and the officiant. Witnesses must be of legal age. (Source: hhs.iowa.gov, checked October 30, 2026)
Who may officiate: Iowa judges and magistrates, or a person ordained or designated as a leader of their religious faith. (Source: legis.iowa.gov, checked October 30, 2026)
Officiants ordained online: Not stated here. Ask the county clerk before you rely on an online ordination. Official page
Age: 18 or older. Ages 16 and 17 may marry only with special permission from a judge, using a consent form. (Source: hhs.iowa.gov, checked October 30, 2026)
ID and documents to bring: Both parties show satisfactory proof of identification to a notary when signing the application, preferably a valid U.S. government-issued ID. U.S. citizenship not required. (Source: hhs.iowa.gov, checked October 30, 2026)
Where to apply: Any county recorder's office (county registrar). The issuing county does not have to be the county where the ceremony takes place. (Source: hhs.iowa.gov, checked October 30, 2026)
Online application: State instructions say the application is obtained from a county registrar in person or by mail. No online application is described. Signatures must be notarized. (Source: hhs.iowa.gov, checked October 30, 2026)
Certified copy of the marriage certificate: One certified copy is issued after the officiant files the certificate. More copies come from the county recorder or state vital records office, with written application and photo ID. (Source: hhs.iowa.gov, checked October 30, 2026)

Common questions

How much is a marriage license in Iowa?

$35, due at application, nonrefundable, and includes one certified copy of the marriage certificate. A waiver of the waiting period adds $5.

Is there a waiting period to get married in Iowa?

License becomes valid after three calendar days from the date of application (application day not counted). A district judge can waive this for an extra $5.

How long is a Iowa marriage license valid?

The license does not expire once it has been picked up, per the Polk County Recorder. If it is not retrieved from the county registrar within six months of the application date, the application becomes void.

Do you need witnesses to get married in Iowa?

Two witnesses must be physically present at the ceremony along with the couple and the officiant. Witnesses must be of legal age.

Who can officiate a wedding in Iowa?

Iowa judges and magistrates, or a person ordained or designated as a leader of their religious faith.

How do you get a certified copy of a Iowa marriage certificate?

One certified copy is issued after the officiant files the certificate. More copies come from the county recorder or state vital records office, with written application and photo ID.

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