Documents required to legally marry in The Caribbean
As you're probably aware, The Caribbean is made up of lots of picturesque Islands including Barbados, Bequia, St Vincent and many more. Some of the venues on the Islands, such as Amanyara and the Mandarin Oriental Pink Sands, are perfect for a luxury wedding destination. It is very simple to marry in The Caribbean. The whole process is relatively straight forward and as long as you follow these steps, there’s no reason why organising your wedding in the beautiful Caribbean can’t be a relaxing and stress-free process:
- There is no minimum length of stay on most of the islands.
- The first thing you should do when you arrive in The Caribbean is organise for a marriage officer or priest to conduct the ceremony.
- After this, you and your partner must bring all of the necessary documents listed below, where they will authorise your marriage if there are no issues with your paperwork.
- If neither you, nor your partner, are residents of The Caribbean, you may be subject to paying a licencing fee.
- For the actual ceremony itself, the Magistrate fee for ceremonies held in court will apply.
- After all of this has been confirmed, you are free to wed. Easy and simple!
Necessary documents (as required in Barbados)
- Passport
- Birth certificate
- Return airline tickets
- Passports of two witnesses
- Appropriate fee
- Divorce certificate (if necessary from a previous marriage)
- Death certificate (if you have been widowed)
Same Sex Weddings
Each of the islands is different, currently, it is possible to have a same-sex wedding in Puerto Rico, the US Virgin Islands, Saba, Bonaire and St. Eustatius. Other islands allow blessings for same-sex couples but not a legal marriage.
Sources
- http://www.barbados.org/weddings.htm
- https://www.caribbeanweddings.com/legal_requirements,islands,Barbados.html
Sources updated 14th May 2024
This information is appropriate for UK nationals getting married overseas. We always advise that you contact the relevant embassy for information before booking any trips. This information is up to date to the best of our knowledge.