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What You Need to Know About Getting Married Overseas
Getting married in a far-away location may require early planning and preparation. To make sure your destination wedding
is legal , it may be necessar y to fulfill residency requirements, take blood/medical tests, or produce official documentation,
such as birth certificates, divorce records, and valid U.S. passpor ts. The documentation may also need to be translated
into the countries own spoken language (for a fee).
Because marriage license requirements often change, it is impor tant that you verify all information with the local foreign
office before making any wedding or travel plans.
Here’s what you need to know before you apply for a marriage license in ten of the top wedding destinations below.
Mexico
Residency Requirement: None
Necessary Documents: Cer tified copies of birth certificates previously "legalized" and translated by the Mexican consulate
with jurisdiction over the place of filing; driver’s licenses or passports valid for at least 6 months; certified proof of divorce
or death certificates of former spouse/s (if applicable) previously "legalized" by the Mexican consulate with jurisdiction over
the place of filing; judge’s form; tourist cards; Mexican-performed blood test results and X-rays.
Additional Notes: The Mexican Ministry of Tourism recommends that you budget two to four days to complete all requirements. It is recommended that you work with a wedding planner to help you fulfill all requirements properly.
More Info: Mexico Tourism Board, (800) 446-3942
Jamaica
Residency Requirement: 24 hours
Necessary Documents: Cer tified copies of birth certificates that include father’s name; proof of divorce or death certificate
of former spouse/s (if applicable).
Additional Notes: Application must be made 48 hours in advance of trip by calling the Ministry of National Security at (876)
906-4908.
More Info: Jamaica Tourist Board, (800) 233-4582, or jamaicatravel.com
Dominican Republic
Residency Requirements: None
Necessary Documents: Must provide valid U.S. passpor t and original birth certificate; proof of divorce or death certificate of former spouse/s (if applicable).
Additional Notes: Write to the American Consulate in advance asking permission to marry in a civil ceremony.
More Info: Embassy of the Dominican Republic in the United States, www.domrep.org.
Bahamas
Residency Requirement: 24 hours
Necessary Documents: Passpor ts; bir th cer tificates; proof of divorce or death certificate of former spouse/s (if applicable);
declaration certifying both parties are unmarried U.S. citizens, sworn before a U.S. Consul at the American Embassy in
Nassau; a marriage license from the Commissioner’s Office on other islands; proof of arrival in the Islands of the
Bahamas.
Additional Notes: Both parties must apply in person.
More Info: Bahamas Ministry of Tourism, (888) NUPTIAL, or http://www.bahamas.com .
Hawaii
Residency Requirement: None
Necessary Documents: Driver’s license or passport; no proof of divorce is necessary, but those who are divorced must be
able to provide the date, state, and county (or country) where the divorce was finalized.
Additional Notes: Licenses must be filed with the state health department office in Honolulu, or call the department for listings of agents in rural communities. Forms require the names of parents and their places of birth. Both parties must
appear in person.
More Info: Hawaii’s Depar tment of Health marriage licensing office or (808) 586-4544; or gohawaii.com
US Virgin Islands
Residency Requirement: None
Necessary Documents: Driver’s licenses or passports; proof of divorce or death certificate of former spouse/s (if applicable); letter accompanying application for marriage stating date of visit, length of stay, and preferred wedding date if having
ceremony performed by a judge.
Additional Notes: Application must be received at least 2 weeks prior to wedding.
More Info: USVI Division of Tourism (800) 372-8784; Territorial Cour t, St. Thomas and St John, (340) 774-6680; Territorial
Cour t, St. Croix, (340) 778-9750; or http://www.usvitourism.vi
Aruba
Residency Requirement: None
Necessary Documents: Passpor ts; bir th cer tificates; notarized letters of paternal consent if under 21 must be signed by
father unless he is deceased; proof of divorce or death certificate of former spouse/s (if applicable).
Additional Note: Registration formalities take about 15 minutes (you both must appear) but paperwork processing takes
one working day. Other requirements var y by church.
More Info: Fiji Visitors Bureau, (800) 932-3454, or bulafiji.com
Fiji
Residency Requirement: None
Necessary Documents: Passpor ts; bir th cer tificates; notarized letters of paternal consent if under 21 must be signed by
father unless he is deceased; proof of divorce or death certificate of former spouse/s (if applicable).
Additional Note: Registration formalities take about 15 minutes (you both must appear) but paperwork processing takes
one working day. Other requirements var y by church.
More Info: Fiji Visitors Bureau, (800) 932-3454, or bulafiji.com
Italy
Residency Requirement: None
Necessary Documents: Passpor ts or armed forces ID cards; certified copies of birth certificates; proof of divorce or death
cer tificate of former spouse/s (if applicable); declarations "atto notorio" sworn to by four people before an Italian consulate
officer attesting that they know of no reason to object to the marriage under the laws of the couple’s home country; declaration sworn to by both parties that there are no obstacles to the marriage under U.S. law.
Additional Notes: Cer tain documents must be translated into Italian with special "apostille" seals from the secretary of
state from the state from which the documents originated. Additional requirements apply if one of the parties is an Italian
citizen or resident of Italy. Requirements may var y by region and city. It is highly recommended that you work with a wedding planner to help you fulfill all requirements properly. A translator may be required to attend the wedding if neither the
bride nor the groom speaks Italian.
More Info: Italian consulate nearest you; the Italian Government Tourist Board Office, (212) 245-5618; the local U.S.
Embassy
France
Residency Requirement: 40 days
Documents: Valid U.S. passpor t, French residence permit, birth certificate, affidavit of marital states, affidavit of law, medical certificate (less than 2 months old).
More Info: france.usembassy.gov .
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