Wedding Legal Requirements in the bahamas

What you need to know when planning your wedding.

Having your dream wedding in the Bahamas can be the most perfect way to begin your new life together. To ensure your special day goes off without a hitch, please keep in mind the following legal requirements.

• Bahamian law requires that a couple must reside in the Bahamas for 24 hours prior to applying for an application for a Bahamian marriage license. The license is then valid for 90 days. To find out more about applying for a marriage license in the Bahamas, check out our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs).
• Both parties must be in The Commonwealth of the Bahamas at the time of application.
• If you are a minor under 18 years of age, you must have written parental consent. Consent forms can be obtained from the Registrar General’s office.
• If you are divorced, you must produce an original final divorce decree or a certified copy with a raised or color seal.
• If you are widowed, you must produce a death certificate for the deceased spouse.
• If you are a U.S. citizen or resident that has never been married, you must complete a sworn declaration before a Bahamian Notary Public or a U.S. Consul at the American Embassy in Nassau for a fee of $55. Please note, the U.S. Embassy is closed on American and Bahamian holidays* (see below).
• If you are an unmarried citizen or resident of a country other than the United States, you must furnish a sworn declaration before a Notary Public or other person authorized to administer oaths in your country and this document must accompany the marriage license application. A declaration may also be obtained at a Notary Public in Nassau.
• You must provide a government issued photo identification from your country of residence; i.e. a passport.
• No blood test is necessary.
• You must provide evidence of your arrival date to The Bahamas, such as an airline ticket or immigration card.
• The fee for a marriage license is $120 (includes one certified copy of the marriage certificate)

Bahamian Holidays

• New Year’s Day (January 1)
• Good Friday (Friday before Easter)
• Easter Sunday (Same as in the US)
• Easter Monday (Monday after Easter Sunday)
• Whit Monday (Seventh Monday after Easter)
• Labor Day (First Friday in June)
• Bahamas Independence Day (July 10)
• Emancipation Day (First Monday in August)
• Discovery Day (October 12)
• Christmas Day (December 25)
• Boxing Day (December 26)

Banks, businesses and many shops are closed on the public government holidays and some close early the day before.

* Holidays falling on a Saturday or Sunday are usually celebrated on the following Monday.

* Holidays falling on Tuesday are usually celebrated on the previous Monday.

* Holidays falling on a Wednesday or Thursday are usually celebrated on Friday; except Independence Day, Christmas Day and Boxing Day.