Are Mail-Order Brides Legal?

October 13, 2025

5 min read

The number of marriage migrants to Western countries is growing dramatically. According to the latest US K-1 visa statistics or the UK intermarriage statistics, the 20% annual increase in the number of marriage migrants is now the new norm.

But what about legislation? Are mail-order brides legal or illegal?

In most laws of countries like the US, UK, Canada, and Australia, there are no specific legislations governing the mail-order bride business. In the eyes of the law, mail-order brides are just foreign citizens migrating to start families with locals, no more and no less.

So yes, men can legally marry them. Still, there are nuances and pitfalls to be aware of.

Top 3 mail-order bride sites & international dating sites

Every article needs a strong thesis, so I’d like to start with mine. There’s no way to buy a foreign bride, and the mail-order business has nothing to do with illegal activities including human trafficking.

You can meet a legit mail-order bride online on one of the top niche websites, and I’ve already chosen a few for you.

SofiaDate
LatiDate
SakuraDate

Mail-order bride regulations in the world

So, are mail-order brides legal in the US, UK, and Canada? Yes, you can legally find a foreign bride and marry her in any of these countries. However, there will be different visa application procedures and requirements on a case-by-case basis.

I decided to focus on the main points so that you know what to expect.

1. United States

Brides who are going to marry American citizens need to apply for K-1 visas. There are quite many requirements for applicants. First and foremost, both people must be eligible for marriage.

Also, they must file all the applications and share all the documents, prove that they have an authentic romantic relationship, that they’ve met in real life, and that a bride can financially support herself or will be supported by her husband.

A couple will be interviewed, and if a visa is granted, a couple will have to get married within 90 days of the woman’s arrival.

2. United Kingdom

In the case of the UK, a bride applies for a so-called partner visa. The basic requirements are the same. Partners must be adults, they must be eligible for marriage, and one of them must be a UK citizen.

However, the man or both partners must also prove that they make at least £29,000 a year and that they have suitable accommodation in the United Kingdom. Also, their relationship must be genuine and eligible, and a foreign partner must have at least English level A1.

If a bride gets a visa, she’ll have to marry her boyfriend within six months of arriving in the United Kingdom.

3. Canada

A partner seeking to immigrate to Canada to marry a Canadian citizen must be sponsored by their partner, who, in turn, must submit the sponsorship application. The minimum income of a sponsor may range from around $27,000 to $75,000 depending on the number of family members.

Note that men who were prosecuted for violent crimes can’t become someone’s sponsors. Interviews are quite rare, but of course, your relationship must still be genuine. That will be checked.

Bonus information

Note that all foreign brides who get visas, enter the above-listed countries, and actually marry their partners will be able to apply for permanent residence statuses and stay.

In the case of the United States, there are also IMBRA and VAWA acts protecting the rights of mail-order brides. The IMBRA Act makes marriage brokers share information on criminal records with foreign brides before they decide to get married, while the VAWA Act guarantees that any woman suffering from domestic violence can access help regardless of her immigrant status.

How do I bring a bride home legally?

Is it legal to mail-order a bride? No, men can’t literally order wives. However, as I’ve noted previously, you can find an Asian bride, or a woman from Europe or Latin America, and make your relationship official absolutely legally. Here are a few recommendations that will help you succeed:

Choose a reputable niche dating platform. Ensure this is not an agency but a dating site. There may be additional legal requirements for agencies that most customers aren’t aware of.
Build a genuine relationship with someone special. The only way to legally marry a foreign citizen is to build an authentic relationship with this person. Don’t try to choose a bride from a catalog. Get to know your potential partners, choose the right person, and then focus on building a deep emotional connection with this woman.
Meet her offline. The more times you do it, the better both for your relationship and the immigration service.
Propose to her and apply for a visa. As a citizen, you can file an application for a visa and start the process. The sooner you do it, the better. In most cases, it takes 6 to 12 months to get it, so don’t prolong that long-distance phase of your relationship.

Yes, the process is long and complex, but that’s the only legal way to marry a foreign woman.

How to protect yourself from scam

How to find a wife online? It may seem rather simple. You only need to choose one of the hundreds of sites with legit mail-order brides you can see on Google search results and start chatting with your best matches. In reality, you need to keep in mind that scams are real and that there are safety precautions to take to avoid them.

Choose a site with a good reputation, detailed profiles, and transparent policies. Avoid platforms promising to literally order you a bride at all costs.

Even if you’ve chosen a good site, check profiles. Ideally, they must be verified and contain at least one video. Also, I’d recommend checking all the photos using Google Image search.

Read bios and listen to your new acquaintances carefully. If you notice any contradictions, it’s already a good reason to move on.

Remember that it’s the man who usually goes to the bride’s country. If a bride asks for money to buy tickets to your country, block this person right away.

Block anyone who asks for money no matter how close you think you’ve got. It’s a scam, no exception.

Don’t believe the excuses. If a mail-order bride always finds a reason not to have a call, not to meet you in real life, not to send you her recent photo, etc., it’s a red flag.

No matter if you’re looking for a Latin wife, a girl from Eastern Europe, or a bride from Asia—these rules must always be followed.

Bonus tip

So, are mail-order spouses illegal in the US or other countries like the UK and Canada? No, they aren’t, but only if you follow the game rules. In particular, you will need to prove that you know enough about your partner one day and provide evidence that your relationship is genuine.

So, here are my recommendations. Take screenshots, take photos, don’t throw away your plane tickets, and save your restaurant receipts with creative wishes—any piece of information may become a decisive factor in your bride’s visa approval.

Also, I’d recommend keeping in mind that you’re trying to learn more about your potential spouse, not just to hack the system and help her get a visa. Do it for yourself. Try to notice things, and that will help you to see whether you really need to marry this person or not.