- Sunset Travel Inc. - https://www.sunsettravel.com -

Island Wedding Requirements

Getting married on a tropical beach is the most popular form of Destination Wedding there is…..but before you go, you need to know what the costs, waiting period, and requirements are for your destination.

Below is a table of information for the Caribbean islands, but it’s always best to work directly with the Wedding Coordinator for your chosen Resort who can get you the current information for your specific Destination Wedding location.

Please note: We are unable to guarantee the timeliness of the information below as it can change without notice, for this reason we’ve removed the cost details. Please confer with your travel advisor or wedding consultant to be sure you have the most current information possible before booking your destination wedding.

COUNTRY WAITING PERIOD REQUIREMENTS
Anguilla Two days Passport or birth certificate and driver’s license; proof of divorce or death certificate, two witnesses; proof of residency in home country.
Antigua & Barbuda None Proof of citizenship (passport or birth certificate and driver’s license); proof of divorce or death certificate; two witnesses present at the ceremony; parental consent for parties under 18 (minimum age is 15)
Aruba Submit documentation one month prior to ceremony Proof of marital status; copies of birth certificate with raised seal; proof of divorce or death certificate; must hold a valid passport and submit copies of pages showing relevant details; copies of passport pages of witnesses
Bahamas One day Declarations certifying both parties are unmarried U.S. citizens sworn before a U.S. consul at the American Embassy. Nassau or Bahamian notary public; couple must apply in person; proof of arrival in the Bahamas; passport or birth certificate and photo ID; proof of divorce or death certificate; parental consent for those under 18
Barbados None Marriage license secured from the Ministry of Home Affairs; valid passports or birth certificates; proof of divorce or death certificate; copies of applicable marriage certificates; letter from the Marriage Officer
Bermuda None A Notice of Intended Marriage must be filed with the Register General 2 weeks prior to wedding; a Passport or birth certificate and photo ID is required; if previously married, a
proof of divorce or death certificate of former spouse;
Parental consent is required for parties under age 18.
Bonaire One week At least two months in advance, a letter must be written to the governor of Bonaire requesting temporary residency and asking permission to marry; two passport photos of the bride, groom and any witnesses; copies of the first page of each passport; original birth certificates; date of arrival in Bonaire and intended length of stay; proof of eligibility to marry (divorce papers, death certificates, etc.)
British Virgin Islands Three days Passport and date of arrival in the BVI; proof of marital status; two witnesses to sign application form for license and to witness the ceremony; apply for license at the Attorney General’s office inĀ  Tortola on first day; in a local church, wedding banns must be published three consecutive Sundays or Saturdays prior to the ceremony. Appropriate divorce papers, death certificates required.
Cayman Islands None International embarkation/disembarkment card for cruise passengers; passport or birth certificate and photo ID; proof of divorce or death certificate; letter from authorized government officer ; obtain a marriage license from the Chief Secretary’s Office; two witnesses present at the ceremony; parental consent for those under 18
Curacao Three days Written registration at least two months prior to the wedding date; passport and birth certificate; Proof of marriage eleigibility for both parties; proof of divorce or death certificate
Dominica Two days Birth certificate and proof of citizenship; proof of divorce or death certificate; application form from the Ministry of Community Development; two witnesses present at the ceremony; statutory declaration on marital status obtained on-island in a lawyer’s presence
Dominican Republic None Write to the American Consulate in Santo Domingo requesting permission to marry; two witnesses need to be present with photo ID; passports for the couple and any foreign witnesses; birth certificates; proof of divorce or death certificate; notarized letter from an attorney, legalized by the party’s embassy, stating that each is single; all documents must be translated into Spanish upon arrival; minimum age 18
French West Indies (Guatemala, Martinique, St. Barths) One party must be a resident for 30 days Birth certificate (or copy with raised seal) certificate of good conduct (including certificate of single standing); medical certificate issued within three months of ceremony; blood test; French translation of documents
Grenada Three business days Passports and original birth certificates; deed poll if either party has had a name change; proof of divorce or death certificate; affidavit of parental consent for parties if under 21; all documents must be in English
Jamaica One day Certified copy of birth certificate that includes father’s name; apply and receive a marriage license from the Minister of National Security; proof of divorce or copy of death certificate
Montserrat Three business days Passports and birth certificates of both parties; governor’s marriage license; proof of divorce or death certificate; proof that each party is single; Parental consent for those under 18
Puerto Rico None Photo identification; proof of divorce or death certificate; blood test by a federal certified (lab within 10 days of wedding; death certificate from a resident practitioner on the island
St. Eustatius Two weeks Birth certificates; proof of single status; divorce papers; residence permit from the Immigration Department; passport photos of each party
St. Kitts & Nevis Two business days Valid passport or birth certificates and state-issued photo ID; proof of divorce or death certificate; on Nevis, an affidavit is required from the notary public for those who have never been married; letter from clergy at home stating the couple is known and unmarried; on Nevis, application must be completed in the presence of a justice of the peace
St. Lucia Two days residency; two days for license Change of name documents; proof of divorce or death certificate; passports or birth certificates; all documents must be in English; apply through a local attorney to the Attorney General for marriage license Parental consent required if under 18 years.
St. Maarten 10 days to register at Office of Civil Registry Special permission must be obtained from the Lt. governor and a written request must be sent to the office at least two months prior to intended wedding date; passports, birth certificates and airline tickets; proof of divorce; copy of civil status; names, dates and birthplaces of bride and groom’s parents must be on both certificates; parents’ place of residence must be submitted to the Office of Civil Registry; documents must be notarized; two witnesses required at the ceremony; nonresident witnesses must request a temporary tourist permit; parental consent for parties under 21
St. Vincent & The Grenadines One day Valid passport or birth certificate; proof of divorce or death certificate; application must be filed in person at the Ministry of Legal Affairs
Trinidad & Tobago Three days after arrival on the island Passport and airline tickets; proof of divorce or death certificate; deed poll or other proof of name change
Turks & Caicos 24 hours to apply; two to three days to marry Passport and original birth certificate; proof of divorce or death certificate; proof of single status; deed poll or other proof of name change; a letter stating each party’s occupation, marital status; age as of last birthday; present address and father’s last name; most churches require proof of membership; parental consent for those under 21
U.S. Virgin Islands Eight days from receipt of notarized application Call to request a marriage license to the territorial court of the USVI in St. Thomas or St. Croix; proof of divorce; appointments must be made to be married by a judge