NOIM Australia: Notice of Intended Marriage Guide 2025

The Notice of Intended Marriage (NOIM) is mandatory for all marriages in Australia, with a minimum 1-month notice period (Attorney-General's Department, 2024)¹. This legal declaration must be filed between 1 and 18 months before your wedding date, regardless of whether you're marrying in a religious ceremony or civil service. Failure to lodge your NOIM at least 30 days before your wedding means your marriage cannot legally proceed.

Understanding the NOIM process prevents costly delays and ensures your wedding meets all legal requirements under the Marriage Act 1961. This guide covers timelines, document requirements, witness qualifications, costs, and special circumstances for 2025.

What Is the Notice of Intended Marriage?

The NOIM is an official declaration form stating your intention to marry in Australia (Attorney-General's Department, 2024)¹. Under Section 42 of the Marriage Act 1961, both parties must complete this form and have it witnessed by an authorised person before submitting it to your celebrant or minister of religion.

The form collects essential information including full legal names, dates of birth, places of birth, current addresses, occupations, and conjugal status (never validly married, divorced, divorce pending, or widowed). Both parties must declare the accuracy of this information, with Section 104 of the Marriage Act making it a criminal offence to provide false or misleading details.

Your chosen marriage celebrant or religious minister receives and verifies the NOIM along with your identity documents. They retain this form as part of the legal marriage file, which must be maintained for at least six years after the marriage takes place.

NOIM Timeline Requirements 2025

The NOIM must be filed within a specific timeframe to comply with Australian marriage law. Planning your NOIM lodgement carefully prevents last-minute complications and potential postponements.

Critical deadline: The 1-month minimum is calculated from the date your authorised witness signs the NOIM, not from when you first contact your celebrant (BDM Victoria, 2024)². If you're planning a March wedding, your NOIM must be witnessed and lodged no later than early February.

The 18-month expiry means couples planning long engagements should avoid filing too early. If your circumstances change and you haven't married within 18 months, you must complete and lodge a new NOIM form with updated information and fresh identity document verification.

Step-by-Step NOIM Filing Process

Filing your NOIM involves several sequential steps, each with specific requirements. Following this process systematically ensures smooth legal preparation for your wedding.

1. Choose Your Authorised Marriage Celebrant

Select a registered Commonwealth marriage celebrant or religious minister authorised to solemnise marriages in Australia. Confirm they are currently registered by checking the Attorney-General's Department register of marriage celebrants. This person will guide you through the NOIM process and conduct your ceremony.

2. Obtain the NOIM Form

Request the official Notice of Intended Marriage form from your celebrant. The form is standardised across Australia and available from celebrants, registry offices, or the Attorney-General's Department website. Some states provide online lodgement options through their Births, Deaths and Marriages (BDM) registries (Service NSW, 2024)³.

3. Gather Required Identity Documents

Collect your original or certified identity documents before your witness appointment. Each partner needs proof of identity and proof of date/place of birth. Document requirements are detailed in the next section.

4. Complete the Form

Fill in all sections of the NOIM accurately using your full legal names as they appear on official documents. Include your residential addresses, occupations, and details of any previous marriages. Both partners complete separate sections but can do so together.

5. Arrange Witnessing Appointment

Book an appointment with an authorised witness to verify your identity and witness your signatures. As of 2024, this can be done face-to-face or via videoconference with an approved remote witnessing arrangement. Both parties must be present (physically or virtually) when signing.

6. Have NOIM Witnessed and Signed

Present your identity documents to the authorised witness. They verify the documents match the information on your NOIM, watch you both sign the form, and then sign as the authorised witness. Remote witnessing requires all participants to be clearly visible on camera throughout the process.

7. Submit to Your Celebrant

Provide the witnessed NOIM and copies of your identity documents to your marriage celebrant. Most celebrants handle this immediately after witnessing if they are the authorised witness. If witnessed by someone else (such as a JP or solicitor), you deliver the completed NOIM to your celebrant.

8. Celebrant Verification and Lodgement

Your celebrant reviews all documents for accuracy and completeness, then officially lodges the NOIM. They provide you with confirmation of lodgement and the date from which the 1-month period begins counting.

9. Wait for Minimum Notice Period

Allow at least one full calendar month from the witness signature date before your wedding can legally proceed. Use this time for other wedding preparations while your celebrant prepares the marriage certificates and ceremony documentation.

Document Requirements and Checklist

The NOIM process requires specific identity documents to verify your legal right to marry in Australia. Document requirements vary slightly depending on your birth location and citizenship status.

Standard Document Options (Choose One Set)

Option 1: Birth Certificate + Photo ID

• Original birth certificate or certified copy issued by an Australian registry
• Current government-issued photo ID (passport, driver's licence, proof of age card)

Option 2: Citizenship Certificate + Photo ID

• Australian citizenship certificate (original or certified copy)
• Current government-issued photo ID

Option 3: Passport Only

• Valid Australian passport (contains both birth information and photo ID)

For Overseas-Born Applicants

If you were born outside Australia, you need an official birth certificate from your country of birth plus a current photo ID. Foreign birth certificates not in English require an official translation by a NAATI-certified translator. Some countries require apostille authentication for overseas documents.

Additional Documents for Specific Circumstances

Previously Married (Divorced)

• Final divorce order (Decree Absolute) issued by an Australian court, or
• Foreign divorce decree recognised under Australian law, or
• Decree of Nullity if marriage was annulled

Previously Married (Widowed)

• Death certificate of former spouse (original or certified copy)
• Marriage certificate from previous marriage may be requested

Change of Name

• Change of name certificate if your current legal name differs from birth certificate
• Marriage certificate if name changed through previous marriage
• Deed poll documentation for other name changes

Document Certification

When originals are not available, certified copies must be produced within the preceding 12 months by an authorised certifier. Acceptable certifiers include justices of the peace, lawyers, notaries public, police officers, Australia Post employees authorised to witness statutory declarations, and celebrants themselves in some cases.

Document Checklist

• Valid proof of date and place of birth
• Current government-issued photo identification
• Divorce decree or death certificate (if previously married)
• Official English translations (if required)
• Certified copies within 12 months (if not using originals)
• Change of name documentation (if applicable)

Who Can Witness Your NOIM?

Only specific categories of professionals can act as authorised witnesses for your Notice of Intended Marriage. The Marriage Act 1961 prescribes these categories to ensure proper identity verification.

Authorised Witness Categories

Legal Professionals

• Barrister or solicitor currently practising
• Notary public

Marriage Officials

• Registered marriage celebrant (Commonwealth or religious)
• Minister of religion registered to solemnise marriages

Government Officials

• Justice of the Peace (JP)
• Commissioner for Declarations
• Registrar or Deputy Registrar of Births, Deaths and Marriages
• Member of Parliament (federal or state)

Medical Professionals

• Medical practitioner currently registered

Police and Emergency Services

• Australian Federal Police officer
• State or Territory police officer (sergeant or higher rank in some states)

Remote Witnessing Since 2024

Australian regulations now permit remote witnessing via videoconference for NOIMs, expanding access for couples in remote areas or with mobility constraints. Remote witnessing requires secure video technology showing all participants clearly, simultaneous viewing of identity documents via camera, and real-time signing visible to all parties.

The authorised witness must be satisfied they can properly verify identity documents through the video connection. Both parties and the witness must retain a copy of the signed NOIM immediately after the remote session. Remote witnessing follows the same legal standards as in-person witnessing.

What Witnesses Cannot Do

Regular wedding guests, family members, and friends cannot witness your NOIM unless they hold one of the authorised professional qualifications listed above. This differs from wedding day witnesses, where any two adults can serve as witnesses to your marriage ceremony itself.

NOIM Costs in Australia 2025

The financial aspects of lodging a Notice of Intended Marriage vary depending on who witnesses the form, whether you need special services, and which state you're in.

Celebrant Fee Breakdown

Marriage celebrant fees in Australia averaged $874-$1,031 AUD for 2024-2025 (Easy Weddings, 2024)⁴. This typically includes NOIM processing, ceremony planning meetings, personalised ceremony creation, travel to your venue within reasonable distance, presentation of the ceremony, and lodgement of marriage paperwork with the registry.

NOIM witnessing and verification are standard components of celebrant services rather than separate charges. When you book a celebrant, clarify what's included in their quoted fee to avoid unexpected costs.

Additional Cost Factors

Couples marrying overseas partners may incur translation and authentication costs for foreign documents. Apostille certification for overseas documents costs approximately $150-$200 AUD through the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

Emergency shortening of the notice period requires prescribed authority approval and government fees. Only exceptional circumstances justify shortening applications, such as serious illness, unexpected military deployment, or imminent unavoidable travel.

Special Circumstances and Exceptions

Several situations require modified NOIM procedures or additional considerations beyond the standard process.

Shortening the 1-Month Notice Period

Exceptional circumstances may permit reducing the minimum 1-month waiting period through application to a prescribed authority. In Victoria, the Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages charges $60.40 AUD for shortening applications (BDM Victoria, 2024)².

Approved reasons typically include serious illness of a party or close family member, unexpected military deployment, work posting overseas that cannot be delayed, or similarly urgent situations. The prescribed authority examines evidence supporting your application and decides whether to grant authorisation.

Applications for shortening must be submitted through your celebrant with supporting documentation. Processing times vary, but urgent applications may be decided within days. Not all applications are approved, so couples should file standard NOIMs within normal timeframes whenever possible.

Overseas Applicants and International Marriages

If one or both parties reside overseas, you can complete and witness your NOIM outside Australia. Australian embassies, consulates, and high commissions have officials authorised to witness NOIMs for Australian marriages. Contact the nearest diplomatic post to arrange an appointment.

The witnessed NOIM is then sent to your Australian celebrant, who verifies it meets requirements before accepting it for lodgement. Allow additional time for international mail and processing. The 1-month minimum period begins when the overseas witness signs the form, not when your Australian celebrant receives it.

Some couples choose to complete their NOIM during a pre-wedding visit to Australia, which simplifies the process and allows face-to-face document verification with their celebrant.

Previous Marriages and Divorce Requirements

If either party was previously married, you must provide documentary evidence that the previous marriage legally ended. For divorces, the final divorce order (Decree Absolute) from an Australian court serves as proof. Allow 31 days after the divorce order for it to become final before you can legally remarry.

Foreign divorces must be recognised under Australian law. Countries that are parties to the Hague Convention on Recognition of Divorces typically have their divorce decrees recognised automatically. For countries outside this system, additional verification may be required through the Attorney-General's Department.

Widowed applicants provide the death certificate of their former spouse. If the previous marriage ended through annulment, the Decree of Nullity serves as the required evidence.

Non-Binary and Gender-Diverse Individuals

Australian marriage law requires parties to marry as individuals but does not specify gender requirements in ways that exclude non-binary, gender-diverse, or transgender people. You complete the NOIM using your legal name and details as they appear on your identity documents.

If your current gender identity differs from your birth certificate, consider applying for an updated birth certificate through your state or territory BDM registry before beginning the NOIM process. Updated identity documents simplify the marriage process and ensure documents reflect your correct details.

Underage Marriage

Australian marriage law sets the minimum marriage age at 18 years. Marriages involving persons aged 16-17 can only proceed with court authorisation under exceptional circumstances, following Section 12 of the Marriage Act 1961. Applications for underage marriage authorisation are extremely rare and require compelling reasons beyond parental consent.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Understanding frequent NOIM errors helps couples avoid delays and complications in their wedding preparations.

Filing Too Late

The most common mistake is contacting a celebrant less than one month before the desired wedding date. The 1-month period is legally mandated and cannot be waived except through formal shortening authorisation. Wedding venues, caterers, and other vendors typically have strict cancellation policies, making postponement expensive.

Book your celebrant and begin the NOIM process at least two months before your wedding date. This provides buffer time for unexpected document issues, processing delays, or the need to obtain certified copies.

Using Incorrect Identity Documents

Photocopies of identity documents are unacceptable for NOIM purposes. You must present original documents or certified copies produced within the preceding 12 months. Expired passports or driver's licences cannot serve as current photo ID.

Birth certificates issued as commemorative or souvenir versions may not meet legal requirements. Standard-format birth certificates from official registries contain all required information and security features.

Wrong Witness Category

Having your NOIM signed by someone not in an authorised witness category invalidates the form. Friends, family members, or colleagues cannot witness your NOIM unless they hold one of the prescribed professional qualifications.

Verify your witness's authorisation before the appointment. Some professionals, such as pharmacists or teachers, are authorised for statutory declarations but not for NOIMs.

Incomplete Previous Marriage Information

Failing to disclose previous marriages or not providing required divorce/death documentation prevents your NOIM from being accepted. Your conjugal status declaration must be accurate and supported by appropriate documentation.

If you're unsure whether a previous relationship constituted a legal marriage (such as de facto relationships or overseas traditional marriages), consult your celebrant for clarification. Not all relationship types require disclosure on the NOIM.

Name Inconsistencies

Discrepancies between the name on your NOIM and your identity documents create verification problems. If you changed your name through marriage, deed poll, or other means, provide change of name documentation linking your birth name to your current legal name.

Women who use their former husband's surname after divorce should clarify which name appears on their current photo ID and provide documentation showing the name history.

Ignoring the 18-Month Expiry

Couples who complete their NOIM early in a long engagement sometimes forget the 18-month validity period. If your wedding date falls more than 18 months after your original NOIM lodgement, the NOIM expires and you must complete a new one.

Mark your NOIM expiry date on your wedding planning calendar to ensure you file a fresh NOIM if plans change or delays occur.

After Filing Your NOIM

Once your celebrant accepts and lodges your NOIM, several administrative steps follow leading up to your wedding day.

Confirmation of Lodgement

Your celebrant provides written or electronic confirmation that your NOIM has been lodged successfully. This confirmation includes the lodgement date, which establishes when the 1-month minimum period expires and when the 18-month maximum period ends.

Keep this confirmation with your wedding documents. Some states and territories allow couples to verify NOIM lodgement through the registry's online portal using reference numbers provided by the celebrant.

Wedding Planning Continues

With your NOIM properly lodged, you can confidently proceed with other wedding arrangements. Book your venue, confirm catering, arrange photography, send invitations, and plan ceremony details knowing your legal requirements are in order.

Schedule ceremony rehearsals and planning meetings with your celebrant. Discuss ceremony structure, vows, readings, music, and any cultural or religious elements you wish to include.

Preparing for the Ceremony

Your celebrant prepares the necessary marriage certificates and official paperwork during the notice period. The Marriage Act requires several declarations and certificates to be completed in addition to the NOIM.

You'll need to arrange two adult witnesses for your wedding ceremony itself. These ceremony witnesses do not need special qualifications and can be family members, friends, or anyone over 18 years who understands what they're witnessing. This differs from the authorised witness required for your NOIM.

Marriage Registration After the Wedding

Following your ceremony, your celebrant completes the official marriage documents including the Official Certificate of Marriage and registers your marriage with the state or territory Births, Deaths and Marriages registry. This typically occurs within 14 days of the ceremony.

You can then order official marriage certificates from the registry for legal name changes, passport updates, and other administrative purposes. Most registries offer online ordering with certificates delivered within 1-2 weeks.

Legal Marriage Recognition

Your marriage becomes legal at the moment the celebrant pronounces you married, provided all requirements including the NOIM have been properly completed. The marriage registration process that follows provides official documentation but does not create the legal marriage itself.

Once registered, your Australian marriage is recognised internationally under reciprocal arrangements between most countries. Some nations require additional registration or authentication for recognition of foreign marriages, particularly for immigration purposes.

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