Utah Online Marriage Guide for Israeli Couples

In Israel, religious courts (primarily the Orthodox Rabbinate) handle marriage, and no domestic civil weddings are performed. This left many couples – secular Jews, interfaith partners, converts, and same-sex couples – without an easy way to wed legally. Utah County (USA) now offers a groundbreaking alternative: fully legal weddings via Zoom video call. The Utah County Clerk issues a standard U.S. marriage license and certificate for these ceremonies, identical to what in-person couples receive. Importantly, Israeli law requires that any valid foreign marriage (properly documented and apostilled) be registered at home. In 2022–2023, Israeli courts confirmed that Utah Zoom weddings meet all legal criteria. The Population and Immigration Authority must register a Utah online marriage “just like any other valid overseas marriage”. In practice, this means thousands of Israelis who cannot (or prefer not to) marry under the Rabbinate can now wed via Utah and have it fully recognized in Israel.

Utah’s remote weddings let couples marry by video call. Utah issues a regular marriage certificate that Israel will accept as a civil marriage.

Why Utah Online Weddings Are Legal in Israel

Utah explicitly allows couples worldwide to marry by virtual video conference. After the Zoom ceremony, Utah County gives the couple a legal marriage certificate — with no mention of Zoom — the same as any in-person wedding certificate. Under Israeli law, foreign marriages conducted according to the host country’s law must be registered at home if the certificate is properly authenticated (usually with an apostille). After recent appeals, Israeli courts have applied this rule to Utah Zoom weddings. In 2023, the Supreme Court upheld that Utah Zoom marriages “have the same status as any other civil marriages of Israelis abroad” and must be recorded by the Interior Ministry. Essentially, Utah Zoom weddings have become a fully legal civil-marriage avenue for Israelis. A Jerusalem court even called this a “creative and innovative solution” allowing couples “to be registered as married in Israel, without having to physically leave the country’s borders”.

Before the Ceremony: What to Prepare

Israeli couples planning a Utah online wedding should prepare the following before the Zoom ceremony:

Eligibility

Both partners must be at least 18 and not already married. Utah also requires two adult witnesses (age 18+) to attend the Zoom ceremony with you. Arrange these two witnesses in advance (they need valid IDs in English but can participate from anywhere), or use Vowed and Clear. We’re happy to provide witnesses for your ceremony at no extra charge.

Valid IDs & Tech

Each person needs a government-issued photo ID with their name in English (e.g. passport or a foreign driver’s license). An Israeli Teudat Zehut cannot be used for the Utah application because it lacks English text. You will also need a smartphone (to scan the ID and take a verification selfie) and a working email address and credit/debit card for the application.

Marriage License Application

Apply online on the Utah County Marriage License website once you’re within 33 days of your desired wedding date. The application collects your details (names, mother’s names, addresses, etc.) and your witness names. The fee is about $71–$72. After you submit and pay, Utah County will email you a digital marriage license; you then have 32 days from the license date to complete the wedding.

Scheduling the Ceremony

In order to solemnize the wedding remotely according to Utah state law, it’s required that couples use a registered officiant residing in the state of Utah. You can find a list here.

At VowedAndClear.com, we can assist by coordinating these steps and providing an officiant who will conduct the ceremony and handle local requirements. Our service simplifies the entire process for Israeli couples, ensuring all Utah legal requirements are met.

Foreign Partner Documents

If one spouse is not an Israeli citizen, that partner should obtain a “single status” or freedom-to-marry certificate from their home country before the wedding. This document, once apostilled and translated, will be needed later for Israeli registration. (Israeli citizens are by default considered single unless already married in Israel, so they typically do not need a pre-wedding document.)

The Zoom Ceremony

During the Utah video ceremony, an officiant (from the Utah County Clerk’s Office or through a service like VowedAndClear.com) leads the weddings. The couple says “I do” on camera, just as in a traditional ceremony.

On the wedding day, log in to the Zoom link at the scheduled time. The Utah officiant will guide you through the ceremony. When asked “Do you take this person to be your lawfully wedded spouse?”, each partner should answer in the affirmative. You can then exchange vows or rings if you wish, though this is optional. Your two witnesses (who have joined the Zoom call) simply watch and can unmute briefly to confirm your names or IDs if requested. The officiant will fill out and sign the marriage license online. Once the vows are complete, the officiant will file the signed license with Utah County.

Immediately after the ceremony, Utah County will send you (via email) a digital marriage certificate. This official certificate proves you are married under Utah (and now Israeli-recognized) law. You will use this in the next step.

After the Ceremony: Apostille and Registering in Israel

Order an Apostille

Utah requires an apostille stamp on the marriage certificate to make it legally valid abroad. Utah County emails you a link to order the apostille online. You fill in your details and pay a $45 apostille fee (plus about $75 for international FedEx shipping). Utah will then mail you the printed marriage certificate with the apostille attached – do not detach them, or the apostille becomes void. Expect delivery in 3–4 weeks.

Israeli Registration

Once you have the apostilled certificate, update your status at the Population and Immigration Authority (Misrad HaPnim). Go to the PIBA office serving your address and bring:

The original Utah marriage certificate with apostille (plus copies)
If one spouse is foreign, also bring their original pre-marriage single-status certificate, with its apostille and a certified Hebrew translation
Form MR6 (Change of Personal Status), which you can download from gov.il

The clerk will enter your marriage in the civil registry and update your Teudot Zehut. If you’re adding a spouse, they will issue an updated ID showing marital status. Israeli rules suggest registering within 30 days of marriage, but this deadline is often treated flexibly. (If you were in the process of a partner visa, notify the visa office immediately so they can convert your case to the marriage track.)

Who Can Benefit and Why Utah is the Best Choice

Utah Zoom weddings are particularly valuable for Israelis barred or uncomfortable under the Rabbinate. An estimated 700,000 Israeli citizens – such as secular Jews, immigrants (e.g. many from the former USSR whose Jewishness Orthodox authorities don’t accept), Reform or Conservative converts, or couples considered non-kosher by Halacha – cannot marry in Israel at all. Same-sex couples are also in this category. (By law, Israel must recognize foreign same-sex marriages with full rights, but cannot perform them domestically.)

Now, all these couples can legally wed via Utah without leaving Israel. As Hiddush notes, Israelis “whose marriage is forbidden according to Halacha … are now able to marry through Utah County’s online platform”. Attorney Alex Zernopolsky likewise points out that Utah’s option is “suitable for non-halakhic Jews and representatives of different religious denominations” and “suitable for queer couples” who want to legalize their union. In short, Utah Zoom marriages offer freedom of choice: a civil, egalitarian wedding in everyone’s own city.

Civil Marriage Alternatives and VowedAndClear.com’s Solution

Before Utah Zoom weddings were accepted, couples had to marry abroad. Many Israelis went to Cyprus, the Czech Republic, or elsewhere for a civil wedding. This involves airfare, hotels, and bureaucracy – and still requires you to register the foreign marriage later. Cyprus, for example, does not perform same-sex weddings, forcing gay couples to go to more distant states.

By contrast, an online Utah wedding is done from home for a fraction of the cost and complexity. It provides a real marriage certificate from a U.S. government office, which Israel honors.

How VowedAndClear.com Makes It Even Simpler

Using a dedicated service like VowedAndClear.com makes the Utah process even more straightforward for Israeli couples. Here’s how we help:

Our authorized Utah officiants handle the local legal steps that can be confusing for international couples.

Complete Document Preparation

We ensure your marriage license is obtained correctly, your Zoom ceremony goes smoothly, and your documents are properly prepared.

Cost-Effective Solution

At VowedAndClear.com, our complete marriage service costs $299 for the ceremony plus the $71 Utah government fee – totaling just $370. Even after any apostille fees (discussed above), this is a fraction of what you’d spend on flights, hotels, and time off work for a Cyprus wedding, and you get the same legally recognized result.

Personalized Ceremony Experience

Unlike the basic clerk’s office ceremony, we can personalize your wedding with custom vows and a celebration that reflects your relationship – all while ensuring it meets Utah’s legal requirements.

The Bottom Line for Israeli Couples

For many Israeli couples – including same-sex couples, secular Jews, interfaith partners, and those the Rabbinate won’t marry – an online Utah wedding through VowedAndClear.com is the fastest, most reliable civil-marriage option available. You get all the benefits of a civil marriage:

A secular, egalitarian ceremony that respects your choices
Full legal status in Israel once registered
No religious court involvement
Complete recognition for immigration and legal purposes
The convenience of marrying from your own home

The Israeli Supreme Court has affirmed these marriages are valid. The Population Authority must register them. And with VowedAndClear.com’s expertise, you can navigate the entire process with confidence, knowing every legal requirement is handled correctly.

Ready to start your civil marriage journey? Visit VowedAndClear.com to learn more about how we can help you achieve legal marriage recognition without leaving Israel.