How Does Project Cupid Work? Here’s How to Get a Marriage License During Covid-19 in NYC
Wondering how to get a marriage license during Covid-19 in NYC? You can get a marriage license in-person at the New York City Clerk’s Office‘s office (by appointment only) or online through Project Cupid.
Here’s how to Project Cupid works to get a license virtually:
1. Sign up for Project Cupid and start your application for a NYC marriage license
Getting a marriage license during Covid-19 is a two-part online application process. First, go to Project Cupid at nyc.gov/cupid, click on the blue “Start Application Now” button and go through the steps of creating an account and entering your and your prospective spouse’s information. At the end of this part, you will receive a confirmation number (which will also be emailed to you).
2. Return to Project Cupid and finish your application
This is the second part of the two-part Project Cupid online application process. Go back to nyc.gov/cupid, click on the blue “Log In and Continue Application” button and log in using the credentials you created in Step 1. Input the confirmation number you were given in Step one. You will need to upload photos of your government IDs (such as driver’s license), answer a few personal questions, and pay the $35 Marriage License fee with a credit card. After this, you will be able to schedule your marriage license online appointment. You will receive an email confirming your date, as well as a Microsoft Teams link and conference ID to use on the day of your online appointment.
Note that currently it is currently quite competitive to get a marriage license appointment, and there may be no open appointment slots to choose from. The City Clerk’s Office regularly releases new online appointment dates every Thursday at 9am EST sharp, so set an alarm for that time and keep your finger on the refresh button. You can also check the City Clerk’s Twitter account for announcements for new dates have been released, or you can routinely check to see if new time slots due to cancellations have popped up.
If you are unsuccessful in getting an appointment and there is urgency to your marriage — for instance, expiring visa reasons — you can DM the City Clerk on Twitter or email them at officeservices@cityclerk.nyc.gov to plead your case. They may be able to grant appointments in emergency situations.
Lastly, if you are still unable to get a Project Cupid appointment, there are other City Clerk’s offices open on Long Island and upstate New York that you may be able to get your license at. Remember — if you’re getting married in NYC, you can get a marriage license from anywhere in New York state, not just NYC.
3. Have your online marriage license appointment
On your scheduled time and day, log onto your virtual appointment via the Microsoft Teams link in the email you received after you scheduled your appointment. The appointment time slot is for 45 minutes, but you’ll likely finish in around 30 minutes.
You will need to show the same government photo IDs you uploaded with your application, and confirm that you are both somewhere in New York state. Note that you must be together and in New York state during this online appointment. During the appointment you will use DocuSign to sign and digitally confirm your location. You will then receive a digital link to download your marriage license.
4. Get married in New York and sign the marriage license
As with pre-Covid marriage licenses, you will still need to wait at least 24 hours after you receive the license to get married. All marriage licenses are valid for 60 days.
After your in-person marriage ceremony, your officiant and witness(es) will need to sign the license, and you will need to upload the signed license back in the nyc.gov/cupid portal. Here’s a visual guide on how to complete a NYC marriage license. You will receive a confirmation email once you have successfully uploaded your completed license. If you do not receive a confirmation, you can also email the completed license to VMLreturns@cityclerk.nyc.gov. Congrats, you are married! You should receive your marriage certificate within 4 weeks.
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