Notice of Intended Marriage (NOIM)

The Notice of Intended Marriage, or NOIM, is the form that tells your celebrant you intend to marry.

Every couple needs it.

When it needs to be done

The celebrant must receive the NOIM:

• at least one month before the marriage (unless a shortening of time is approved)
• no more than 18 months before the marriage

The easiest way to prepare it is with NOIM Easy.

What you usually need with it

You will usually need:

• proof of date and place of birth
• photo ID
• divorce papers or a death certificate if relevant
• translations if documents are not in English

Who can witness it?

That depends on where you are when you sign.

If you sign in Australia, the authorised witness must also be in Australia.

If you sign outside Australia, the authorised witness must also be outside Australia.

The law now allows the NOIM to be witnessed:

• in person, or
• remotely by audio and video

But the authorised witness still has to be the right kind of witness for your location.

What if one person cannot sign at the same time?

That can sometimes be managed.

One person’s signed NOIM can be enough to start the notice period in some situations, but the other person must still sign properly before the marriage.

If this applies to you, ask us before you assume it is sorted.

Important point

The NOIM is not the marriage itself.

You still need:

• the legal notice period
• the celebrant’s document checks
• the separate in-person meetings required before the marriage
• the marriage itself with two witnesses

You can prepare parts of the process online, but you cannot get legally married online in Australia. For the wider legal context, read the Marriage Act 1961 plain-English summary.

Helpful next steps

• NOIM witnessing in Melbourne
• One month’s notice
• ID requirements
• Fiancé visa letter
• Get married quickly