Same-Sex Couples in Prague: How Partnership (Partnerství) Works for Foreigners

Since 1 January 2025, same-sex couples in the Czech Republic can enter a partnership (partnerství). It is concluded the same way as a marriage, in the same ceremony halls, and two foreigners can now enter one. Prague is therefore a realistic option for a same-sex wedding abroad. There is one important caveat: legally it is a partnership, not a marriage, and how your home country treats it varies.

This guide is based on the Czech Civil Code, the Ministry of the Interior’s guidance for registry offices and the Prague 1 registry office. Links are at the end.

The short version

• Partnership is “a lasting union of two people of the same sex, concluded the same way as marriage”. Unless a law says otherwise, the rules on marriage apply to it.
• Two foreigners can enter it. The old rule that one partner must be a Czech citizen no longer applies.
• Documents, witnesses, interpreter and fees are the same as for a marriage.
• The ceremony takes place in the same places, including the Old Town Hall in Prague 1.
• The main legal difference is adoption: a partner may adopt the other partner’s child, but the two cannot adopt a child together.
• Recognition abroad is not automatic. Check your home country’s rules before you plan.

Partnership compared with marriage

Requirements

You must both be at least 18, have legal capacity, not be in another marriage or partnership, and not be closely related.

Documents

Foreign partners hand in the same documents as foreigners who marry:

• the registry office’s questionnaire,
• birth certificate,
• proof of citizenship (a passport is accepted),
• a certificate of legal capacity to marry, if your country issues one, no older than six months on the day,
• a confirmation of marital status and residence, if your country issues one,
• a divorce decree or death certificate if you were in a union before,
• a valid ID.

Foreign documents need an apostille (or superlegalisation) and an official Czech translation by a Czech court translator. Partners from outside the EU, EEA and Switzerland also need a confirmation of lawful stay, no older than seven working days on the day of the ceremony. Our guides for US citizens a UK citizens explain these documents step by step, and they apply equally to a partnership.

Interpreter and witnesses

The declaration is made in Czech. If either of you does not understand Czech, an interpreter must attend, and you arrange it yourselves. Two witnesses with valid ID are required. See our guide to witnesses.

Fees

These are the same fees as for marriage.

Where the ceremony can take place

• Old Town Hall. The places and times set for weddings serve partnerships too. The ceremony hall at the Old Town Hall is free; you pay the registry fee. See our Old Town Hall guide for booking.
• Prague 1 office at Vodičkova 18, a smaller option without the fee for “another place”.
• Another suitable place in the district, such as a garden or a palace, with the registry office’s approval and the extra fee. See our venue guide.
• A church that is authorised to marry can also conduct a partnership, if its own rules allow it.

The ceremony

Like a wedding, the ceremony is public and solemn, before an officiant and two witnesses. Before you give your consent, you both declare that you know of no obstacles, know each other’s health and have thought about your property, housing and support. You then sign the record with your witnesses and interpreter. Rings and personal words are common at Czech ceremonies, but the official guidance does not describe them, so ask the registry office what is possible.

Will our home country recognise it?

This is the most important question, and the answer depends on your country.

• United Kingdom: the UK list of recognised overseas relationships still names only the old Czech registered partnership, not the new partnership. A relationship not on the list can still qualify if it meets the general conditions in the Civil Partnership Act. No official UK decision on the new Czech partnership exists yet.
• United States: for immigration, the US Embassy says only a relationship legally considered a marriage where it took place counts as a marriage. The IRS does not treat civil unions or registered partnerships as marriage for federal tax. A Czech partnership is therefore very likely not treated as a marriage for US federal purposes.
• Other countries: ask your own authorities or a lawyer before you book.

If you need a union that your country treats as a marriage, consider marrying legally where same-sex marriage exists, and holding your celebration or a symbolic ceremony in Prague. A symbolic ceremony needs no documents, witnesses or interpreter.

Already in a Czech registered partnership?

No new registered partnerships can be entered after 2024, but existing ones remain valid. The same couple can turn theirs into a partnership voluntarily, at any registry office and without a deadline, using the normal procedure.

Plan your Prague celebration

We plan partnerships, symbolic ceremonies and elopements in Prague for couples from abroad, including documents, interpreter, witnesses and photos. Tell us your date and plans.

Sources

• Czech Ministry of the Interior: partnership a guidance for registry offices no. 13/2024 (PDF, Czech)
• Czech law: Act 123/2024 (partnership amendment), Registry Act 301/2000, Act 634/2004 on fees
• Czech Ministry of Labour: pension changes 2024
• Prague 1: rules for marriages and partnerships
• UK: Civil Partnership Act 2004, Schedule 20 a section 214
• US: US Embassy Prague, post-DOMA FAQ a IRS Publication 555

Checked against these official pages in October 2026. This page is general information, not legal advice. For questions about recognition at home, ask a lawyer in your country.