Name Changes Before/After Marriage

[stenneeto]

I have a question in regards to name changes. I am a Canadian citizen and my girlfriend is a Belgium citizen. We are trying to find out first if the marriage will be recognized in Canada if we get married in Belgium along with the marriage licence purchased in Belgium. Does the official name change, from her last name to mine, will that happen at the wedding in Belgium through the marriage licence OR when we come back to Canada do we then go through the process of having her name changed? I would assume while going through the permanent residency process, that she will need to change everything ID related over to Canada (drivers licence, health care, banking information, etc).

 

[canuck_in_uk]

I have a question in regards to name changes. I am a Canadian citizen and my girlfriend is a Belgium citizen. We are trying to find out first if the marriage will be recognized in Canada if we get married in Belgium along with the marriage licence purchased in Belgium. Does the official name change, from her last name to mine, will that happen at the wedding in Belgium through the marriage licence OR when we come back to Canada do we then go through the process of having her name changed? I would assume while going through the permanent residency process, that she will need to change everything ID related over to Canada (drivers licence, health care, banking information, etc).

As long as the marriage follows the federal marriage laws of Canada and is legal in Belgium, it will be recognized.

No idea what laws Belgium has regarding name change. You'll need to look that up yourself.

The PR app uses the name in her passport. Unless she changes that, her PR card will be in that name as well.

As for everything else in Canada, she can use the marriage certificate to assume her married name or she can officially change her name.