Getting Married Overseas: Is It Legal? Top 10 Wedding Destinations

Country

Residency

Documents and Notations

Mexico

None

Disclaimer: The requirements differ in each state in Mexico

• Valid U.S. passport
• Valid entry documents (visa, migratory form, or FMT Tourist or Residence Form; must state that the purpose is to have a civil ceremony; a visa may be denied if not included)
• Marriage permit from Mexican Immigration (names must match the names on the birth certificates)
• Apostille birth certificate (by the U.S. Department of State; translated into Spanish by an official Mexican translator, if issued by a federal agency or U.S. or foreign consul)(if issued by your birth state, it must bear a seal issued by the Secretary of State in the state where this record may be found)
• Photo I.D. (original and copy, front and back)
• Prenuptial medical certificate (HIV, V.D.R.L, blood type) from a medical examination by a local general hospital in Mexico no more than 15 days before the marriage ceremony
• Parental consent (from parents or legal guardian) if under 18 years old
• Divorce decrees and death certificates of former spouses, if applicable (original document and three copies; must bear a seal issued by the Secretary of State in the state in which this record may be found)
• If getting married at the Civil Registry Office, schedule a marriage appointment the day before the marriage ceremony; take all the documents in this list with you (the fee depends on the Mexican state where the ceremony is being performed)
• If getting married anywhere other than the Civil Registry Office, schedule a marriage appointment at least 14 days in advance; take all the documents in this list with you (the fee depends on the Mexican state where the ceremony is being performed)
• Civil ceremonies must be performed by a Civil Registry Official (not religious officials) (only civil marriages are considered legal marriages; religious ceremonies are not considered legal marriages)
• In some states: Four witnesses (two witnesses per spouse; must be over 18 years old; provide an original and copy of a valid photo I.D. front and back)
• Some Mexican states have additional requirements

See Mexico Consulate; Mexico Tourism Board: The Mexican Ministry of Tourism recommends allowing two to four days to complete all requirements. It is also recommended that you consult with a wedding planner to help you meet all the legal requirements.

Jamaica

24 Hours

All documents must be in English.

• Form of Declaration completed by someone who knows the future married couple (friend or family) and signed in front of a Justice of the Peace (printed on legal size paper; sample here)
• Minister's Marriage License Form stamped by the Stamp Duty Office at 111 Harbour Street, Kingston; processing fee of $4,000.00 JA/$50.00 USD (printed on legal size paper)
• Picture identification (U.S. passport or driver's license)
• Certified copy of birth certificate that includes your father's name
• Proof of divorce or death of former spouses (original divorce decree and death certificate)
• Name change documents (if applicable)
• Parental written consent (if under 18 years old) from a parent or legal guardian, signed in front of and certified by a notary public or justice of the peace

Application should be made in advance of the wedding by calling the Ministry of National Security at (876) 906-4908. See Jamaica Tourist Board at (800) 233-4582; U.S. Embassy in Jamaica. The Jamaica Tourist Board recommends contacting wedding venues and wedding planners for assistance with completing all the legal requirements.

Dominican Republic

None

• U.S. passport
• Copies of passport identification page
• Copies of last entry to the country
• Affidavits of marital status (saying the couple are single and eligible to marry) legalized at the Offices of Procuraduría General de La República; or by a U.S. notary and legalized at the Dominican Consulate in the U.S.
• Apostille birth certificate (by the U.S. Department of State and translated into Spanish by an official translator); if issued by the state you were born in, it must bear a seal issued by the Secretary of State in the state where this record may be found
• Divorce decrees and death certificates of former spouses (if applicable translated into Spanish by an official translator); must bear a seal issued by the Secretary of State in the state in which this record may be found
• Two witnesses who are not family
• Publish a notice of the wedding ceremony

Write to the American Consulate in advance for permission to marry in a civil ceremony. See Embassy of the Dominican Republic in the United States; Dominican Republic Ministry of Tourism.

Bahamas

24 Hours

• Marriage license and in-person interview with the Registrar General in Nassau
• Proof of entry that the couple has been in the Bahamas for 24 hours (immigration card)
• Certified copies of divorce decrees and death certificates of former spouses, if applicable (persons over 40 years old who do not have either will need a records check for marriage; may last up to 2 weeks)
• Certificate of consent to marriage by a minor, if under 18 years old

See Bahamas Ministry of Tourism.

Hawaii

None

• Marriage license application
• Interview together, in-person with an agent no more than 30 days before the ceremony date
• Valid driver's license, passport, or state I.D.
• Original divorce decrees and death certificates of former spouses (if getting married less than 30 days after a divorce or death of a former spouse)
• Those who are divorced must be able to provide the date, state, and county (or country) where the divorce was finalized
• Parental consent by parent or legal guardian, if under 18 years old (government photo I.D. and documentation of relationship)
• Name change documents (if applicable)
• Wedding ceremony within 30 days after receiving a marriage license

See Hawaii Department of Health marriage licensing office at (808) 586-4539; the Hawaiian Islands.

US Virgin Islands

None

• Notarized marriage application (submitted electronically or in-person)
• Driver's license or passport
• Certified copy of divorce decrees and death certificates of former spouses
• Cover letter stating the date of visit, length of stay, and preferred wedding date (if a ceremony performed by a judge is preferred)

See USVI Division of Tourism.

Aruba

None

The following must be emailed for review and then mailed one month before the wedding date:

• Aruba declaration of marriage intent form
• Aruba declaration of single status form
• Apostille long form birth certificate (including the parents' names of the couple, raised seal, and a separate document authenticating the certificate and the person who signed the certificate)
• Affidavits of marital status (saying the couple are single and eligible to marry)
• Apostille of divorce decrees and death certificates of former spouses
• Copies of passport picture page
• Copies of two witnesses' passport picture page (must be 18 years or older); a local wedding planner can provide witnesses
• Notarized letters of paternal consent (if under 21 must be signed by father unless he is deceased)
• Couple must be 18 years old or older

Note: the above documents are for a civil ceremony in Aruba. In order to have a religious ceremony, different documents are required. See Aruba Tourism.

Fiji

21 days (can be waived)

Tourists visiting for a short period of time may waive the 21-day waiting period by applying for a special license to marry.

• Passport
• Birth certificates
• Divorce decrees and death certificates of former spouses
• Two witnesses with valid photo I.D.
• Certificates of single status (saying the couple are single and eligible to marry)

See Fiji Visitors Bureau; Fiji Embassy.

Italy

None

• Valid U.S. passport or military I.D. (for active duty members of the U.S. Armed Forces)
• Apostille birth certificates (original or certified copy; translated into Italian)
• Apostille divorce decrees and death certificates of former spouses (if a woman is divorced within the last 300 days, must have a waiver from the Italian District Attorney's Office in the city where the marriage ceremony will be held, and provide a negative pregnancy test; must be translated into Italian)
• Dichiarazione Giurata (affidavit) sworn in front of a U.S. consular officer in Italy (this means there is no legal impediment to the marriage in your U.S. state of residence); a notary from the U.S. Consulates General in Italy or the U.S. Embassy in Rome; legalized at the Legalization Office (Ufficio Legalizzazioni)
• Atto Notorio (this means there is no legal impediment to the marriage in your U.S. state of residence) sworn by 2 witnesses who know the couple (cannot be family, must be over 18, valid photo I.D.) at the Italian Embassy or Consulate; in the presence of an English interpreter (if one spouse does not speak Italian)
• Declaration of Intention to Marry (Dichiarazione di Matrimonio) in front of a civil registrar (ufficiale di stato civile); with an English interpreter (if one spouse does not speak Italian)
• If one partner is an Italian citizen, post a public announcement in town hall for two consecutive weeks (including two Sundays) before the marriage ceremony

Additional requirements apply if a partner is an Italian citizen or resident of Italy. Requirements may vary 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. Please visit an Italian consulate near you, or the Italian Government Tourist Board Office, or the local U.S. Embassy for more information.

France

30 days (continuous residence)

Requirements for each city in France are different. Make sure to check the city hall's website for a complete list of documents.

• Valid U.S. passport, with a copy
• Birth certificate (certified copy, an apostille less than six months old, and certified French translation by a sworn translator)
• Certificat de coutumes and certificat de célibat (stating the couple is single and eligible to marry); U.S. Citizens can fill out this form to meet this requirement (a notary is not needed)
• Proof of domicile or residence in France (rent bill, water bill, etc.); proof of attestation from the person hosting you (at least one partner must have resided continuously for at least one month)
• Two witnesses, along with their information and an original and copy of their IDs

Note: Civil ceremonies are the only legally binding type of marriage in France, and they must take place in the Town Hall. See U.S. Embassy and Consulates in France; France Tourism; France's Official Website.