Legal Requirements for marriages in The Bahamas

Getting Married in The Bahamas

How to get married in The Bahamas? No matter if your wedding in the Bahamas is a cruise wedding, Grand Hyatt Baha Mar wedding, beach wedding, casual or formal wedding, here are the answers to 10 Commonly Asked Questions About Getting Married in The Bahamas including the legal Bahamas wedding requirements and tips to make your marriage in The Bahamas legal anywhere in the world. 

This is a must-read before a Bahamas wedding or elopement and if you just want to know about getting married in The Bahamas (marriages in The Bahamas).

While I have answered the most frequently asked questions about getting married in Bahamas, you can ask any questions you may have about a wedding in the Bahamas by using my Ask Glenn page and I will get you the answer you need to get married in The Bahamas.

Can You Get Married in The Bahamas? 

So Can you get married in The Bahamas? Yes, you can get legally married in The Bahamas. Continue reading to find out how and the requirements to be married in The Bahamas...

1. What are the legal requirements for having an elopement or wedding in the Bahamas?

• Whether you are a Bahamian, tourist, or foreigner, anyone wishing to have a wedding in the Bahamas, Bahamas marriage laws require that you must first apply for a Bahamas Marriage License from the Registrar General's Office Marriage Department (Bahamas), as it is a legal requirement for getting married in The Bahamas. A Bahamas marriage license is valid for three months. After a marriage has taken place, a Marriage Duplicate Register (Form No. 9) is sent to the Registry by the Bahamian Marriage Officer as quickly as possible to be entered into The Bahamas marriage records. From this document, a certified Bahamas marriage certificate is issued.
• According to Bahamas Marriage Laws, the legal age of marriage in the Bahamas is eighteen (18).
• Both parties must be in The Bahamas at the time of the application.
• The Bahamas marriage laws also state that the couple must be resident in The Bahamas for 24 hours prior to the date of the application. A Bahamian-issued marriage license is valid for 90 days for those seeking early application. To get your marriage license application appointment prior to your arrival in The Bahamas you can use our Priority Bahamas Marriage License Application Service by completing our marriage license Bahamas online.
• If either party is a minor (a person under 18 years of age), an affidavit of parental consent is required. Forms of consent may be obtained from the Registrar General’s office.
• If either party has been divorced, the original final decree or a certified copy (with a raised or colored seal) must be produced. For European residents, the original decree or a certified copy (with a raised or colored seal) must be produced in the native language along with a translated certified or notarized copy in English.
• If either party is widowed, the death certificate of the deceased spouse must be produced.
• If either party is unmarried, for a citizen or resident of the U.S.A., a declaration certifying this fact must be sworn before a U.S. Consul at the American Embassy, Nassau, Bahamas, for a fee of $75, a Bahamian Notary Public or Justice of the Peace (JP). (Please note, the U.S. Embassy is closed on American and Bahamian holidays).
• * If either applicant is Bahamian and aged forty (40) years or older and single, a mandatory search is necessary. A minimum period of two (2) weeks is necessary for the search. A license will be issued after the search is completed. However, this rule does not apply to non-Bahamians getting married in the Bahamas.
• If either party is unmarried and is a citizen or resident of a country other than The Bahamas, an Affidavit of Single-hood, making a declaration certifying this fact must be sworn before a Notary Public or other person authorized to administer oaths in The Bahamas and must accompany the application for the marriage license.

The parties must produce either:-

• a valid passport (stamped by The Bahamas Immigration to show the date of entry into the country) or
• a valid driver’s license (with photo), a certified copy of your birth certificate plus a stamped immigration card from Bahamas Immigration (you receive this when you enter The Bahamas).
• A passport is required for persons who are residents of a Commonwealth country.
• The parties must produce evidence of the date of their arrival in The Islands Of The Bahamas (i.e., airline ticket, immigration card, or passport stamp).

Persons desirous of being married on a Family Island (any island outside of New Providence or Grand Bahama) can obtain the Marriage License at the Commissioner’s Office on that Island and need not come to New Providence or Grand Bahama. Initial inquiries can be made at this office.

No blood test is necessary to get married in The Bahamas.

• The Bahamas Marriage Application License fee is $100.00.
• The fee for a Certified Copy of Bahamas Marriage Certificate is $20.00

NOTE: Our Bahamas Marriage License Priority service assists you in getting your Bahamas Marriage license which is issued at the Marriage Office of the Registrar General located on the 2nd Floor at Shirley House, Fifty (50) Shirley Street in Nassau, Monday to Friday between the hours of 9:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. (Closed on weekends and Bahamian Public Holidays.) Call or WhatsApp us directly at 1-(242)-395-8495

2. What is the process for securing my Bahamas Marriage License?

• According to Bahamas Marriage Laws, you both would have to be in The Bahamas for at least 24 hours before applying for a Bahamas marriage license to get married in the Bahamas.
• You then visit the Marriages Department of the Registrar General’s Office on the 2nd Floor of Shirley House at Fifty (50) Shirley Street to make an application for your Bahamas marriage license. Or Simply use our Priority Bahamas Marriage License Services to help and you can complete your Bahamas marriage license application online. 
• The standard processing time is two days and requires you to visit the office two times. Your first trip to the registrar’s office is to submit your application with supporting documentation including affidavits. The office will collect your documents and make photocopies of your passport & immigration cards.
• You will then be required to pay the $100.00 application fee for your Bahamas marriage license (the cashier is located on the ground floor). 
• You may also prepay the $20.00 for a certified copy marriage certificate.
• You then bring the pink cashier receipt (for the marriage license) to the office personnel who collected your passports.
• You will then be asked to return the next day to pick up your marriage license.
• You will need an affidavit of Single-hood (it is mandatory by Bahamas marriage laws for anyone who has never been married) to accompany your Bahamas marriage license application. We can provide this affidavit for you, just complete the Information for Affidavit form or Call or WhatsApp 1-242-395-8495
• You can also speed up the processing of your application by using our convenient Priority Bahamas Marriage License Application Service

3. How do I locate the Registrar General’s Office?

• The Marriage Office of the Registrar General is located 2nd Floor of Shirley House at Fifty (50) Shirley Street in Nassau.
• Tel: (242) 397-9113
• You can also speed up the process of your application by using our convenient Priority Bahamas Marriage License Application Service

4. What if I arrive for my Bahamas wedding via cruise ship?

• According to Bahamas Marriage Laws, you need to be in the Bahamas for 24 hours before being eligible to apply for a marriage license for your Bahamas wedding. However, exceptions are made for cruise ship passengers, once you obtain a letter from the ship’s purser, stating when the ship came into Bahamian waters, and you bring your ship ID along with you to the Registrar General’s Office.
• It is also helpful to write a letter to The Registrar General’s Office, stating your intention to get married in the Bahamas. Include your time of arrival and cruise ship details.
• You can also speed up the process of your application by using our convenient Priority Bahamas Marriage License Application Service

5. Is it true that you have to get married before sunset in The Bahamas?

• Yes, this is true. For your marriage in the Bahamas to be valid, it must take place before sunset. If you would like to find out what time the sun will set on your Bahamas wedding day, check here.

6. Would I be able to use my marriage license from my country?

• No, according to Bahamas Marriage Laws, only a Bahamian marriage license issued by the Registrar General's Department is legally recognized when getting married in the Bahamas. A Bahamas Marriage License is the only document that provides authorization for a wedding in the Bahamas. After your wedding, you will be issued a certified Bahamas Marriage Certificate, signifying that you were legally married in The Bahamas. This certificate is proof of your wedding in The Bahamas and allows for it to be legally recognized in the US and Canada or any other country you may live in.

7. Will a Bahamian marriage license be legal in my country?

• Yes, The Bahamas Marriage License is a legal document issued by the Bahamas government and is needed for legal weddings in The Bahamas. Once you are married you will get a Certified Bahamas Marriage Certificate, which authenticates that you have been legally married in The Bahamas and your marriage in The Bahamas will be legal in the US, Canada, or wherever you happen. to live in the world. This certificate is accepted and legal in any country in the world. 

8. What if I hire a Bahamas Wedding Planner?

• You will find that there is a cadre of professional Bahamas wedding planners, including our WPIC, certified, Bahamas Wedding Planners that are available to help you plan your wedding in the Bahamas. 
• While most wedding planners offer wedding packages inclusive of a wedding minister, our officiant, Glenn Ferguson (Marriage Officer Bahamas), can work with any planner you choose. However, the fee paid by your wedding planner may only apply to him performing your wedding ceremony and may not include collaboration in planning your ceremony.
• You can contact our officiant services in addition to your Bahamas wedding planner, once you let them know that you have secured our services and that you will be paying us directly.

9. Can my pastor, priest, or rabbi perform my wedding ceremony in the Bahamas?

• No, according to Bahamas Marriage Laws, Only Bahamas Marriage Officers (Marriage Officer Bahamas) can perform legal weddings in The Bahamas. So your pastor, priest, or rabbi will not be able to perform your wedding ceremony in the Bahamas. They would be able to assist in the ceremony but a Licensed Bahamas Marriage Officer will have to handle the signing of the legal documents and will have to declare you as husband and wife at the ceremony.

10. Can I get married in The Bahamas on the weekend?

• Yes, you can get married in The Bahamas on any day you choose including Saturday and Sunday, provided you have made an application and received a marriage license. Application for your marriage license can be made during the working days of Monday through Friday. And if you use our Priority Marriage License Services you can usually get your Bahamas marriage license within an hour.   

Let us know if there are any other questions you have about getting married in The Bahamas and we will help you to make your dream wedding in the Bahamas possible. Simply ASK Glenn