The right wedding destination enables couples to begin their weddings on the right foot. Choosing the British Virgin Islands can be one of the best decisions one can make. It offers a series of famously romantic sceneries that sparkles up the wedding memories. From seductive crescents of dazzling white sand and blue sea, backed by lush jungles to sublime slices of reef-fringed shore, the weddings and romance services set the right tone for your big day by setting a blissful reception, wedding, marriage, and honeymoon.
If you are a local, who is planning your dream wedding, what is a better way than to actually follow our popular sayings; “I live where you vacation.” This statement can turn into “I live where you vacation, and I’m going to make it my destination wedding.”
Marriage Rules & Regulations
Upon arrival in the Virgin Islands, you can apply for a Marriage Licence at the Registrar General’s Office. It is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
A marriage licence takes one (1) working day to process. Once the Government has granted a licence, it remains valid for three (3) months from the date it is signed.
At the Registrar General’s Office, you will be required:
- To present a US$340 postage stamp (purchased from the Registrar General’s Office or Post Office) for a Special Licence. To qualify for a special licence, you must be present at the time of application and plan to be a resident/present in the Virgin Islands for at least one day.
- To present US$120 postage stamp (purchased from the Registrar General’s Office or Post Office) for an Ordinary Licence, if you have been resident in the Virgin Islands for 15 days or more.
- To show proof of your identity and your resident status i.e. the day you arrived in the Virgin Islands (via your passport).
- To show proof of your marital status (including certified copies of Decree(s) Absolute for divorced spouse or Death Certificate(s) of deceased spouse).
- To have two persons to witness (and to sign) your application for the licence. Please note that these two witnesses need not be the same two witnesses who are present at your Marriage Ceremony.
- Please note that you can always request persons in the Virgin Islands to be witnesses at the Registrar General’s Office and at your Marriage Ceremony.
Having applied for the licence, you should then schedule an appointment for the date and time you propose to be married. If you have telephoned your appointment from abroad, you will need to confirm it at the Registrar General’s Office at this time.
Ceremonies Performed by the Registrar General
Weddings are performed by the Registrar General outside the Office between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 6:30 p.m., Monday through Saturday and inside the Office between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., Monday to Friday.
In the event of any ‘acts of God’ whether it be heavy rain, storms or earthquakes, the Registrar General or Marriage Officer reserves the right to postpone the wedding to a more convenient time agreed by both parties.
At the Registrar General’s Office, you will be required to complete an application form showing your names as shown on your travel documents, ages, occupations, marital status, and the names of two witnesses (these two witnesses must be present at the Ceremony). Please be careful to accurately spell the names of the witnesses. Any correction of an error will attract a charge of US$15. You must also then indicate the proposed venue for the marriage ceremony.
If you wish to be married at the Registrar General’s Office, you will be required to pay a fee of US$340. If you wish the Registrar General to perform your wedding ceremony outside the office, the fee is US$220. All cheques should be made payable to the Accountant General. If the Registrar General is required to go to one of the adjoining islands of the Virgin Islands, for instance Jost Van Dyke, Virgin Gorda, Peter Island, Guana Island, Salt Island, Anegada, Norman Island etc., you will be required to pay the Registrar General’s transportation to that Island.
If you wish to be married in the church of your choice, wedding banns must be published on three (3) consecutive Saturdays or Sundays in that church. You must make arrangements with the Minister of the church in advance. You can also be married in a church by Special Marriage Licence, but those arrangements will also have to be made with a church Minister.
It would be wise to travel with your driver’s licence or birth certificate in addition to your essential travel documents, i.e. your passports. In addition, all documents showing your marital status should be originals or certified as true copies of the original.
Our marriage certificates with the Registrar General’s seal are official legal documents and the first marriage certificate is free once the Registrar General performs the wedding ceremony. You may, however, wish to check with your local authorities in the event that the certificate requires to be legally authenticated by means of an apostille. If apostilles are required, these can also be prepared at the Registrar General’s Office on payment of $40 USD.
Fees
- A marriage license $120.00
- A special marriage license $220.00
- Marriage celebrated in the Registrar’s Office building $120.00
Every general search for a particular entry:
- Search by applicant $20.00
- Search by staff of Civil Registry $50.00
- Every certified copy $25.00
- Issue of any certificate or making a record of any fact not otherwise provided for $40.00
- Correction of each error or omission on a certificate $15.00
- Issue of a certificate of publication of banns $35.00
- Marriage celebrated by a Civil Marriage Officer $340.00
- To Government Medical Officer for Certificate in respect of a clinical marriage where a special (visit is not required) $30.00
- To Government Medical Officer for Certificate in respect of a clinical marriage where a special (visit is required) $40.00
- Late arrival for wedding outside the office by Registrar General $75.00
You can prepare your Marriage License application online.