Every country has different legal requirements for marriage and when you are planning your destination wedding, you want to do everything you can to make your dream ceremony meets the requirements … rather than just a really beautiful demonstration requiring a quick elopement upon returning home. Here is a quick list to help get you on the path but make sure to check with your experienced travel agent. They can help you plan every aspect of your destination wedding to ensure you are meeting legal requirements and having the wedding of your dreams!
Mexico
- Passports & Tourist Visas ( they will get them upon your arrival to Mexico)
- Blood test results ( typically performed at your wedding location)
- Passports & Tourists cards / visas from 4 witnesses (could be relatives, families, friends)
- Copy of Birth certificates from Bride & Groom (stamp or apostille it is not required) **
- Arrive 4 business days in advance, from Monday to Friday ( arrival day, Saturday, Sunday and holidays do not count)
- 4 witnesses they must be arrive 4 business days in advance, from Monday to Friday ( arrival day, Saturday, Sunday and holidays do not count).
Jamaica
- State issued birth certificate **
- Residency requirement of 48 hours, which must include 2 day which include day of arrival, weekends or holidays. Example: Friday arrivals can be married on Sunday.St Lucia
- Original state-issued birth certificate** or a valid passport
- Notarized documents are not accepted
- Residency requirement of 72 hours, which must include 3 business days (day of arrival/weekends not included). Example: Friday arrivals can be married on Thursday. Monday arrivals can be married on FridayAntigua
- Original state-issued birth certificate** or a valid passpor
- Residency requirement of 48 hours, which must include 1 business day (holidays not included). Example: Friday arrivals can be married on Tuesday. No Sunday weddings.
Bahamas
- Original state-issued birth certificate** or a valid passport
- Residency requirement of 48 hours, which must include 2 business day (not including the day of arrival, weekends or holidays). Example: Friday arrivals can be married on Wednesday. No Sunday Weddings.
Grenada
- Original state issued birth certificate** or passport.
- Sworn affidavit (or letter from a clergy man, Lawyer, Registry or Notary Public; must be on letterhead with applicable notarization stamps, seals, etc.) attesting that neither party has not been previously married.
Barbados
- Valid passports or original or certified copies of your birth certificates** (not mandatory but should be presented if available)
- Residency requirement of 48 hours including weekends and public holidays.
Aruba
- Copies of birth certificate** for bride and groom with apostille (state certification).
- Passport picture page or valid state issued picture ID for Bride & Groom
- Witness (18 years up) passport picture page or valid state issued picture ID (minimum 2 witnesses).
- Certificate of no impediment for bride and groom (also referred to as a single status report and in some states called a negative statement of marriage). Apostilles are required for “negative statement of marriage”)
- All documents must be faxed for review and then submitted by courier (i.e., FedEx) at least one month prior to the desired wedding date.
Dominican Republic
- Birth Certificate of the bride and groom
- Document of single unmarried status (divorce or widow(er) certificate. Ten months must have elapsed since the date of the last divorce.
- A photocopy of the passport of the bride and groom (or other document used to enter the Dominican Republic.
- Photocopies of the passports of the witnesses who are not family members.
- Certificate of Single Status for each of the parties.
- All documents must be authenticated by the couples’ nearest Dominican Consulate before they arrive in the country.
- All documents must be legally translated into Spanish in such consulate or by a legal interpreter in the Dominican Republic.
Many of the islands in the Caribbean have different rules and policies. If you would like a religious ceremony in your faith, contact your church for requirements.
If you are planning a destination wedding, it is because you WANT to get married at the destination – not elope when you get back home. For help planning your Destination Wedding and making sure you meet all of the legal requirements for that destination, your experienced travel agent can help you every step of the way!
*If either the Bride or Groom were previously married, a divorce decree or death certificate will need to be provided as well.
**Legal name changes or legal adoptions papers if applicable