Getting married in Jamaica – what you need to know How to Get a Marriage License in Jamaica Getting married in Jamaica is easy! That’s one reason, every year, thousands of couples choose Jamaica for their destination wedding. Can you apply for a Jamaica marriage license yourself? You can apply for the license yourself; but, why give up a day of your vacation to go into the Office of the Minister of Justice in Kingston, then to the Registrar General’s Department (RGD) then back to the Office of the Minister of Justice for an extra 3 hours wait to process the documents when all of this could be handled easily by your wedding planner or marriage officer? We suggest that you let your wedding planner and marriage officer handle this for you. The fee that the marriage officer charges covers the application for the license, performing the ceremony and applying for the certificate of marriage. This option does cost more than the DIY approach but how much is your vacation time worth to you?
Who should you contact if you want to apply for a Jamaica marriage license yourself? If you do want to obtain the license yourself, here is the contact information for the Ministry of Justice. Fair warning, in my experience, they took about 2-3 weeks to answer a question that I asked by email. Ministry of Justice NCB Towers, 10th Floor, South Tower 2 Oxford Road/ 2 Kensington Crescent, Kingston 5 Hours: Monday – Thursday 9:00am – 5pm, Friday from 9:00am – 4pm Phone: 876-906-4923-31 Fax: 876-906-1712 What are the steps necessary to apply for a marriage license? For an outline of the steps that are necessary to get the license Is the application for a marriage license online?
Do you recommend that tourists apply for the marriage license themselves? If you are in Jamaica and decide to get married and have all the required documents with you, then you could go and apply for the license yourself. Short of that, leave the application to the pros. Jamaican wedding planners and marriage officer know the process and will make all the arrangements for you once you have submitted the documents to them ahead of time. That is one less thing for you to worry about.
Free email series to help you plan your Jamaica wedding Planning on Getting Married in Jamaica? What Information Do You Need to Provide to Get the Marriage License? Information to complete the application form for the marriage license The form asks for the name, marital status (single, divorced or widowed), age, occupation, and address (for mailing the certified marriage certificate) of the bride and groom. Required documents to get married in Jamaica. Proof of citizenship: Original or certified copy of birth certificate which bears the father’s name. Adoption papers if applicable, especially if there was a name change as a result of the adoption.
For Divorced Persons: certificate of divorce or annulment (Decree Absolute) regardless of the current marital status of the former spouse. If the former spouse is deceased, it is useful, but not mandatory, to show both the Decree Absolute and Death Certificate. Widowed Persons: death certificate of the former spouse. Parents’ or legal guardian’s written consent is required if either party is under age 18. This is usually a letter signed by one or both parents or guardian and certified by a Notary Public or Justice of Peace. Proof of identity of the parent(s) is also required.
Just so you know. The list of required documents applies to both the bride and the groom. You will be required to show originals or properly notarized/certified copies of all necessary documents to get married in Jamaica. Photocopies are not accepted. Be sure to bring your original documents to Jamaica with you. Absolutely do not mail your originals to Jamaica.
All documents must be in English. All translations must be done either by your Consulate or recognized translation agency and notarized.
If you use a translation agency, their certification of authenticity must be attached. The names on all documents must match. This is especially critical for women who, for example, may have reverted to their maiden name after a divorce. Be sure to have the original documents or certified copies confirming the change. Getting Married in Jamaica: Legal Requirements So You Have Applied for or Have Your Marriage License, What Else Do You Need to Know? Know the legal requirements for weddings in Jamaica. For tourists, there is no residency requirement.
Individuals may marry 24 hours after arrival provided that they have already applied for the marriage license. We recommend that our couples arrive 2-3 days before the wedding to have time to meet with the marriage officer and wedding planner to sort out any last minute details. Blood tests are not required. The marriage license is only valid for 3 months; so, don’t apply too early.
Two witnesses are required. Same-sex marriages are not legal in Jamaica. Marriages held in Jamaica are recognized in the US, Canada, and worldwide. Nevertheless, you must check your country’s requirements for getting married in a foreign country in case there are any requirements that must be fulfilled for the marriage to be considered legal. This is especially important when documents have to be translated.
Citizens of Germany, for example, are required to have the German Embassy in Kingston legalize the certificate issued by the Jamaican authorities at a cost determined by the German Embassy. This is also true for Italian citizens. French Canadians need to have translated and notarized copies of all required documents as well as a photocopy of the original French documents. Marriages may be performed on any day of the week between 06:00 and 20:00. Anyone can officiate at the wedding ceremony; however, only a Jamaican marriage officer can legally marry a couple. Additionally, that person must be present to sign the required paperwork. Most, but not all, members of the clergy are marriage officers.
Marriage officers may be found through your wedding planner or from the Registrar General’s Department. Telephone: 876-749-0550 or 876-619-1260. Email: information:rgd.gov.jm. Website: Now That You are Married, How Do You Obtain Your Marriage Certificate After the ceremony, the marriage officer will provide the couple with a signed marriage register – signed by the marriage officer, the couple and both witnesses. This only shows proof of marriage and is not a legal document. The official marriage certificate, the legal document, must be obtained from the Registrar General’s Department (RGD) online service or in person. Most marriage officers provide this service for their couples.
IMPORTANT: The certified copy of the marriage certificate takes between 7 working days and 1 month to be processed by the RGD. Even if you use their expedited service, you probably won’t leave the island with your c ertified copies of your marriage certificate in hand, unless you are on the island for an extended period of time after your wedding. Expect that it will take several weeks for you to receive the certificate. Can you apply for a copy of the marriage certificate yourself? Yes, you can. Is there anything else that must be done to ensure that the union is legal? For the US and the UK, nothing else is required.
For countries where the official language is not English, there is an extra step. Your documents must be legalized by your Embassy/High Commission which represents your Government in Jamaica for your marriage to be recognized as a legal union.
Check with your country’s embassy or high commission in Jamaica or the Ministry of Foreign or External Affairs in your home country BEFOREHAND to avoid unpleasant surprises. Potentially Useful Websites for More Information Consulate General of Jamaica Miami: Jamaica High Commission United Kingdom: Jamaica Ministry of Justice: DISCLAIMER While a properly executed marriage in Jamaica is recognized as legal in the US, Canada, UK, and the rest of the world, neither this document nor the contents of this website, should not be considered legal advice. The information is intended to be used as a guide only. Please confirm all requirements with your wedding planner and or your local marriage officer and or the Ministry of Justice of Jamaica. Foreign nationals are also advised to check with their respective embassies prior to coming to Jamaica.
Free email series to help you plan your Jamaica wedding We tried to answer the most commonly asked questions about getting married in Jamaica. If you have any questions on this topic that we did not address, please drop us a line. We’d love to hear from you! Best wishes with your Jamaica destination wedding plans.
Justices Of The Peace
‘Til next time. Think and dream Jamaica! Sherry, Darrell & Darrian Considering a visit to Jamaica? Contact us today for more information about, Mais Oui Tennis & Spa Villa, our boutique 8-BR ocean view Jamaica villa rental experience in beautiful Discovery Bay, Jamaica. Perfect for multi-generational families, groups, and intimate destination weddings. Visit our website: Like us on Facebook: Follow up on Pinterest: Give us a call: 866.624.7684 (toll free) or 914.709.0457 Sign up for our newsletter and immediately get our to discover what you won’t find in the guidebooks.
Getting married in a tropical paradise is a pretty spectacular way to make your special day even more memorable. Destinations such as the island nation of Jamaica are well aware of this, and they are happy to make it as easy as possible for you to spend your wedding budget at one of their resorts. The copy of the marriage register you're given with a flourish at the end of the ceremony isn't your marriage certificate, though.
If you didn't get one of those while you were still in Jamaica, you'll need to order it afterwards through the country's Registrar General. Before you go to the Registrar General's website, you should take time to gather the information you'll need. Most of it is pretty straightforward, consisting of basic information such as your name and your spouse's name, but you'll also need to know the name of the 'marriage officer' who performed the ceremony, and which parish you were married in. That information should be on the copy of the marriage registry you were given at the time of the ceremony, but don't worry if you can't put your hand on it. The government maintains a list of marriage officers on its website, and the application form you'll use on the Registrar General's website has a drop-down menu for each parish. Once you've gathered up the necessary information, go to the Jamaican government's website and look up the Registrar General; then click through to the application form.
You'll see a number of mandatory fields and some optional ones, as well. If you fill out the optional fields, it may sometimes help Jamaican officials locate your marriage documents more quickly, so if you have that information at your fingertips ‒ the names of your witnesses, for example ‒ it's worth taking a moment to enter it. Once the form is complete, scroll to the bottom, and click the 'Submit Application' button. A new page will load, displaying the information you've entered into the form. Read it carefully to make sure all the information is correct, because any inaccuracies will slow processing. Click to go back and correct the information you've entered, if necessary.
Finally, scroll down to the bottom of the page and choose your delivery option. There are two choices: Regular processing, which takes four to six weeks, and expedited seven-day processing. As of the end of 2017, the cost of regular processing for U.S. Residents is $55, and expedited processing costs $85.
Expedited processing requires seven business days, so it may be up to 10 days before you actually receive your certificate.
It’s easy to see the appeal of getting married in a tropical paradise; warm waves, dreamy beaches and sunsets more romantic than you can imagine. You should say I Do in Jamaica. Here’s why:.
1. It’s private.
If you’re looking for a meaningful time away with your special someone and those closest to you, escaping to the island of All Right is the way to go. 2.
We’re prepared for you. Being one of the most romantic spots on earth means that we know exactly what’s needed to make your dream day, come true. 3. It’s a wedding and honeymoon, all in one. Make your dreams come true when you can extend your wedding into an adventurous, romantic and luxurious honeymoon, starting your lives together in pure bliss. Don’t forget You may be caught up in a whirlwind of love, but there are a few important things you must remember: We couldn’t be more excited to have you share your special day with us, but do plan ahead of time so that everything can be put in place ahead of your special day.
Visitors can be married 24 hours after arriving in Jamaica, providing prior application has been made for a marriage license to the Ministry of Justice. The application must be submitted to: Permanent Secretary Ministry of Justice NCB Towers 2 Kensington Crescent Kingston 5 JAMAICA Unlike many countries, Jamaica does not require a blood test before getting married. However, the following documentation is required:. Proof of citizenship - certified copy of birth certificate, which includes father’s name. Parent’s written consent if under 18 years of age. Proof of divorce if applicable (original certificate of divorce). Certified copy of death certificate for widow or widower.
Special Note: All documents that are not issued in English must be translated by an Official Translator and subsequently certified by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the country of residence and by the nearest Jamaican Mission or Honorary Consulate. Processing Fee The processing fee for the Marriage License is Four Thousand Jamaican Dollars (approximately US$50.00). The marriage license is valid for 3 months and the application is a same day process. For more details about obtaining a marriage license visit. Plan with confidence We love the idea of people coming here for one of the best days of their lives.
Several resorts will make all arrangements for you. Special wedding packages can include performance of the ceremony, taxes, transportation, wedding cake and flowers. Check ahead as these packages vary; select the options that are important to you. We may be an easy going island but we don’t see why you should compromise on any of your special plans. For more information on getting everything ready for your dream wedding visit.
Choices abound In Jamaica, we specialise in turning big dreams into romantic realities. There are several non-denominational marriage officers who can perform ceremonies at a location of your choice. Let us help you plan an enchanting and memorable wedding experience complete with a picturesque backdrop.
Whether you've envisioned exchanging vows on a white sand beach, a cliff overlooking turquoise waters or even in an exotic garden, Jamaica is the ideal tropical portal to your 'happily ever after'.
Visitors who want to get married in Jamaica must apply for a marriage license to get married in Jamaica. We get asked this question alot from persons who would prefer to do the process themselves. However please note your minister should be able to handle this for you. How to Apply 1.
Obtain the following Forms from the Ministry of Justice:. License Form. Form of Declaration 2. The License Form should be taken to: Stamp Duty & Transfer Tax Department 111 Harbour Street Kingston Tel: (876) 924-99-3 At which time a fee of Four (J$4000.00) thousand Jamaican dollars is paid. The Form of Declaration should be completed by someone who will be able to declare the condition of the couple (i.e single, widowed, divorced) and signed by a Justice of the Peace. Unlike many countries, Jamaica does not require couples to take blood tests in order to get married. The completed documents should be returned to the offices of the Ministry of Justice with the following documents where applicable:.
Proof of citizenship – (certified copy of birth certificate, which includes father's name). Parent's written consent if under 18 years of age.
Jamaican Marriage License Records
Proof of divorce if applicable (original certificate of divorce). Certified copy of death certificate for the deceased widow or widower The Marriage License is usually issued by the Ministry of Justice within three (3) hours. Download portable illustrator. The License is valid for three months. For additional information contact: The Ministry of Justice 2 Oxford Road NCB Towers, 10th floor/South Tower Kingston 5 Tel: 1 876 906 4923-31 Fax: 1 876 906 1712 – 3 Email: Website.
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