How To Get Married While On Vacation in the Caribbean

If you are considering running off for a destination wedding in the Caribbean, Hawaii, Cuba, Mexico, Dominican Republic and other similar exotic islands, here are a few legal things you need to know before you rush off. Whether you’re eloping or going abroad, it’s important to make sure you have all the right documents, certifications, and people required to be able to “finalize” your marriage and to make it legally binding.

For more on how to plan the perfect destination wedding, read our article: Exotic Destination Weddings: Etiquette and How-To!

For more information on getting married in Europe, U.S. or Canada, read our aticle: How To Get Married in Europe, Canada and the U.S.

Country	Residency	Application	Documents/Requirements
Hawaii and Mexico
Hawaii	None	Both parties must apply in person	Valid Drivers License or passports Any written consents and approvals Once license is issued, it is valid immediately but expires in 30 days Visit: www.hawaii.gov/health/ for more information
Mexico	Depends on application	2-4 days required to complete paperwork, depending on island	Drivers License or passports Proof of divorce or death certificate of former spouse (s) (if remarrying) Certified copies of birth certificates translated and notarized by Mexican consulate with jurisdiction over country of birth Copy of tourist cards or visas Names, addresses, ages, nationalities, and tourist-card numbers of 4 witnesses
Caribbean
Bahamas	24 hours	Both parties must apply in person.	All of: passports, birth certificates, photo ID’s Proof of divorce or death certificate of former spouse (s) (if remarrying) Declaration stating both parties are unmarried citizens, sworn in front of a notary public Proof of date of arrival in the Islands of the Bahamas (passport stamp or Bahamas Immigration Card required) For more information: http://www.bahamas.com/bahamas/index.aspx
Barbados	None	Both parties must apply in person at the Ministry of Home Affairs in Cheapside, Bridgetown	Passports AND birth certificates Proof of divorce or death certificate of former spouse (s) (if remarrying) Letter from officiate performing service For more information ,please visit: http://www.barbados.org/weddings.htm
British Virgin Islands	None		Passports Proof of divorce or death certificate of former spouse (s) (if remarrying) For more info, please visit: http://www.bviwelcome.com/
Bermuda	None	“Notice of Intended Marriage” must be filed 2 weeks before the wedding	Passports “Notice of Intended Marriage” from Bermuda’s Registrar General’s Office that has been filled out and mailed (2 weeks prior) along with a cashier’s check or bank draft to “Accountant General, Hamilton, Bermuda) for $210 USD – license is then valid for 3 months and can be picked up at Registrar’s Office For more information, visit: http://www.bermudatourism.com/index.aspx
Cayman Islands	None		Passports AND birth certificates Proof of divorce or death certificate of former spouse (s) (if remarrying) Return or ongoing tickets Proofs of entry (either 1) Cayman Islands International Immigration Department pink slips or 2) Cruise ship boarding passes) Letter from authorized officiating marriage officer
Cuba		Fax documentation in both English and Spanish to your hotel in Cuba 3 weeks before your arrival	Passport and tourist card Proof of divorce or death certificate of former spouse (s) (if remarrying) translated by an official translator into Spanish and certified by a notary public and legalized by the Cuban consul in Canada (with service fee) Information sheet with: 1) Names, home addresses, occupations, level of education, nationality, full names of parents (whether living or deceased); 2) Copy of photo page of your passport Passport must match all documents
Dominican Republic	None	$455 USD for registration but fees vary depending on hotel/resort. Should submit documents 6 months in advance.	Passports Original copies of birth certificates Proof of divorce or death certificate of former spouse (s) (if remarrying) translated by an official translator into Spanish at the Dominican Consulate where document was issued Single Status Affidavits that have been translated by an official translator into Spanish at the Dominican Consulate where the document was issued. Couple must inform resort 1 month in advance (minimum 15 days) to reserve the judge 2 witnesses over 18 years old with passports or identification cards After wedding ceremony, bride and groom are given document confirming the wedding took place – the document is to be brought to the local Justice of Peace who will issue a marriage certificate within 1-2 days.
Haiti			Birth certificates of each party Proof of divorce or death certificate of former spouse (s) (if remarrying) Blood test required
Jamaica	24 hours	Must be made 48 hours in advance of trip by calling the Ministry of National Security	Certified copies of birth certificates, both which include father’s name Proof of divorce or death certificate (if remarrying) More info, please visit: http://www.visitjamaica.com/home/Default.aspx
Puerto Rico	None for U.S. Citizens	Both parties must apply in person.	Drivers License or passports Proof of divorce or death certificate (if remarrying) Health certificate from Puerto Rico resident practitioner 2 witnesses over 21 years old must be present and their blood tests required (can be done in U.S. within 10 days of ceremony)
St. Maarten	10 days	Requests must e made at least 14 days in advance	Passports Apostilled* proof of divorce or death certificate of former spouse (s) (if remarrying) Original apostilled* birth certificates 2 pieces of photo identification Names of parents, maiden name of mother, and places/dates of birth Must be at least 21 years old to marry in St. Maarten Divorced women may not marry until 306 days after divorce is finalized Some parts of Island, mainly the French side, have prohibitive residency requirements
U.S. Virgin Islands	None	Must be received at least 2 weeks prior to wedding	Drivers License or passports Proof of divorce or death certificate of former spouse (s) (if remarrying) Letter with application stating a) visit start date, b) length of stay, c) preferred wedding if judge needed For more info, please visit: http://www.usvitourism.vi/

* “Apostilled” or “apostillized” means authentication, certification, legalization – usually done by a notary public or lawyer
* This information is valid as of Jan/10/08.

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