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International

Legal recognition of same-sex unions worldwide

The number of countries that legally recognise same-sex partnerships is growing constantly. Below you can find up-to-date details on those countries and the ways they recognise same-sex partnerships.

Legal recognition of same-sex relationships can be categorised in three main groups:

• Marriage
  Where the rights, responsibilities and legal recognition given to same-sex couples who marry is the same as those for married heterosexual couples.
  
  
• Registered partnership & registered cohabitation
  Where specific and enumerated rights, responsibilities and legal recognition are given to same-sex couples who register their partnership. The rights, responsibilities and legal recognition can be identical to or fairly close to those for married heterosexual couples (allowing for the limited competence of state or province in a federal system), or clearly inferior to those for married heterosexual couples. The registration system is often available to unmarried heterosexual couples.
  
  
• Unregistered Cohabitation
  Where rights and responsibilities are automatically accrued after a specified period of cohabitation, almost always available to unmarried heterosexual couples (outside the USA).

Please click here to view list of countries and ways they recognise same-sex relationships.

* Stonewall accept no responsibility for the content of external sites.