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

What Virginia'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 October 30, 2026

Editorial standards

Virginia marriage license at a glance

Fee: $30 (cash or card; cards carry a 4% fee). Waiting period: None once the license is issued; no blood test. How long it is valid: Valid for 60 calendar days. The marriage must take place in Virginia.

Virginia marriage license rules

The rules below restate official pages, linked with the date they were read. Last checked October 30, 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: $30 (cash or card; cards carry a 4% fee). (Source: fairfaxcounty.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: None once the license is issued; no blood test. (Source: fairfaxcounty.gov, checked October 30, 2026)
How long the license is valid: Valid for 60 calendar days. The marriage must take place in Virginia. (Source: fairfaxcounty.gov, checked October 30, 2026)
Where the license can be used: Any circuit court in Virginia can issue it, with no residency rule. The marriage must take place in Virginia. (Source: fairfaxcounty.gov, checked October 30, 2026)
Witnesses: Check with your county clerk. Official page
Who may officiate: Ministers with a circuit court order, persons authorized by a clerk order, and listed judges and officials. (Source: law.lis.virginia.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: Minimum age is 18. (Source: law.lis.virginia.gov, checked October 30, 2026)
ID and documents to bring: Valid photo ID (driver license, passport or military ID), each applicant Social Security number, and parents full names. (Source: fairfaxcounty.gov, checked October 30, 2026)
Where to apply: Both applicants appear together in person at a circuit court clerk office; Fairfax County Courthouse is one. (Source: fairfaxcounty.gov, checked October 30, 2026)
Online application: Fairfax offers an Online Marriage License Pre-Application; applicants still appear in person within 60 days. (Source: fairfaxcounty.gov, checked October 30, 2026)
Certified copy of the marriage certificate: Fairfax certified copies are $2.50 each, in person or by mail, for licenses it issued. State Vital Records can help if the court is unknown. (Source: fairfaxcounty.gov, checked October 30, 2026)

Common questions

How much is a marriage license in Virginia?

$30 (cash or card; cards carry a 4% fee).

Is there a waiting period to get married in Virginia?

None once the license is issued; no blood test.

How long is a Virginia marriage license valid?

Valid for 60 calendar days. The marriage must take place in Virginia.

Who can officiate a wedding in Virginia?

Ministers with a circuit court order, persons authorized by a clerk order, and listed judges and officials.

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

Fairfax certified copies are $2.50 each, in person or by mail, for licenses it issued. State Vital Records can help if the court is unknown.

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