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:
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 US$40.
Fees
A marriage licence
$120.00
A special marriage licence
Marriage celebrated in the Registrar’s Office building
Every general search for a particular entry:
(i) Search by applicant
(ii) Search by staff of Civil Registry
Every certified copy
Issue of any certificate or making a record of any fact not otherwise provided for
Correction of each error or omission on a certificate
Issue of a certificate of publication of banns
Marriage celebrated by a Civil Marriage Officer
To Government Medical Officer for Certificate in respect of a clinical marriage where a special visit is not required
To Government Medical Officer for Certificate in respect of a clinical marriage where a special visit is required
Late arrival for wedding outside the office by Registrar General
You can prepare your Marriage Licence application online.