Marrying Someone From a Different Country: How to Embrace the Differences

The U.S. issued 612,258 immigrant visas, a 9% increase compared to 2023, based on U.S. State Department data summarized by Statista. So, it’s a real choice people make every day—and it comes with very specific realities. Paperwork, visas, cultural gaps, long-distance phases, and family expectations all show up fast.

If you’re thinking about an international marriage, you don’t need romantic theory. You need clear facts, real numbers, and an honest look at how this works in practice.

Below, we start with recent statistics to show how common cross-border marriages actually are. Then we move straight into what matters most: how these marriages form, what challenges couples face, and what you should prepare for before making serious decisions.

Statistics of International Marriages

International marriages are no longer rare or region-specific—they appear consistently across very different countries and cultures. To understand the scale, let’s look at recent official data:

1. In South Korea, international or “multicultural” marriages made up about 9.3% of all marriages in 2024, with 20,759 registered unions between Korean citizens and foreign spouses. The year before, the share was even higher—around 10.6% in 2023, meaning roughly one in ten marriages involved a foreign partner.
2. In Canada, the picture is even broader. According to official Statistics Canada data, 23% of marriages included at least one foreign-born spouse. In practical terms, nearly one out of every four married couples in the country was cross-national or immigrant-native.
3. The United Kingdom shows a different but related pattern. In 2022, around 84,000 UK residents married abroad, while about 11,000 overseas residents married inside the UK. These figures highlight how often marriage crosses borders, even when official marriage registers do not label unions as “international.”
4. In Spain in 2022, in 18.2% of marriages, at least one spouse was a foreign national, according to Spain’s National Statistics Institute. International marriages are no longer a niche pattern there.
5. In Spain in 2025, 17% of brides and 15.7% of grooms were foreign nationals, showing that cross-border marriages remain stable even at a regional level.

Taken together, these numbers show a clear trend: marrying someone from another country is a structured, common, and globally established reality—not an exception.

Pros of Marrying Someone From a Different Country

• One of the biggest advantages of an international marriage is choice. You are not limited to your local dating pool, social circle, or cultural expectations. This often leads to relationships built more on compatibility than convenience.
• Another strong benefit is intentional commitment. Cross-border relationships usually require visas, long-distance phases, and planning. People who go through this tend to be more serious from the start. Casual dating rarely survives immigration paperwork.
• There is also personal growth. You learn to communicate clearly, negotiate differences, and understand another worldview. This often strengthens emotional intelligence and conflict-resolution skills inside the relationship.
• From a lifestyle perspective, international couples often gain mobility. Dual cultural backgrounds can open options for living, working, or raising children in more than one country.
• Finally, many people value the cultural depth of such marriages—new traditions, languages, food, and family structures that add richness instead of routine.

Though these sound nice, and they can be enough for you to dive into international dating, you should know both sweet and savory sides of this journey.

Cons of Marrying Someone From a Different Country

• The main challenge is bureaucracy. Visas, residence permits, interviews, document translations, and long waiting periods can last months or even years. This process is stressful and often expensive.
• Distance is another issue. Many international relationships begin long-distance, which means limited physical contact, time-zone conflicts, and emotional strain before relocation happens.
• Cultural differences can also turn into practical conflicts. Views on money, gender roles, family involvement, or parenting may clash if they are not discussed early and honestly.
• There is also legal and financial dependence during the immigration phase. One partner may temporarily rely on the other for housing, income, or legal status, which can create imbalance if not handled carefully.
• Lastly, social isolation is common for the relocating partner—new language, fewer friends, and distance from family. Without strong support, this can affect the relationship over time.

These drawbacks don’t make international marriages worse—but they make preparation essential.

7 Tips for Successful Marriage

Marrying someone from another country works best when both partners treat it as a long-term project, not just a romantic leap. These rules matter in real life:

1. Talk about logistics early. Before emotions run ahead, discuss visas, relocation plans, timelines, and finances. This directly answers what is the process of marrying someone from another country in practical terms.
2. Be honest about expectations. Talk openly about roles, money, family involvement, and daily habits. Cultural misunderstandings don’t fix themselves.
3. Prepare for paperwork stress. Immigration is slow and bureaucratic. Knowing how do you marry someone from another country legally means accepting waiting periods and document checks without blaming each other.
4. Protect balance and independence. During relocation, one partner may depend on the other. Set clear boundaries to avoid power imbalance.
5. Learn each other’s culture, not stereotypes. Ask questions instead of assuming. Culture shows up in small daily decisions, not just holidays.
6. Build a support system. Friends, local communities, or expat groups help reduce isolation, especially for the moving partner.
7. Stay patient and flexible. International marriages reward adaptability more than rigid plans.

Key Takeaways: The Realities of Marrying Someone from Another Country

Marrying someone from a different country is neither easier nor harder than a local marriage—it’s simply different. The relationship often starts with distance, continues through immigration processes, and demands more planning than most couples expect.

The pros and cons of marrying someone from another country are very real. You gain wider choice, deeper commitment, and cultural growth. At the same time, you face legal delays, emotional pressure, and periods of imbalance.

We’ve summarized all the important points for you to fix in your memory.

• Popularity. International marriages make up 9–23% of all marriages in several developed countries, depending on the region, as we discussed in the paragraph with statistics.
• Main Benefit. Wider partner choice and more intentional, commitment-driven relationships.
• Biggest Challenge. Immigration paperwork, long processing times, and legal complexity.
• Emotional Reality. Long-distance phases, cultural adaptation, and periods of imbalance are common.
• Legal Process. Requires verified documents, interviews, translations, and compliance with immigration laws.
• Success Factor. Clear communication, patience, and realistic expectations on both sides.
• Who It Works Best For. Couples willing to plan ahead, adapt culturally, and treat challenges as shared responsibility.

People who succeed don’t romanticize the process. They learn exactly how do you marry someone from another country, accept the rules, and treat challenges as shared tasks.

When approached with realism, structure, and patience, marrying someone from another country becomes not a risk—but a deliberate, informed decision.