Where you choose to marry will always hold a special significance for the two of you. Weddings in the BVI (British Virgin Islands) are memorable and stress-free occasions. A marriage license is simple to arrange, and the certificate is valid in the United States. Your choices couldn’t be more romantic. Hold your ceremony on a balcony overlooking the turquoise sea, in a tropical garden, on a tranquil beach, on a yacht, or on a mountaintop. Invite family and friends to share your special day.
Or rent an entire island and have a private ceremony with a few intimate friends. We have accommodations to suit every budget, from the modestly priced to the extravagantly luxurious. It’s no wonder these islands are known as “Nature’s Little Secrets.”
Marriage Rules & Regulations
A marriage license is easy to obtain in the British Virgin Islands and the certificate is valid internationally. A couple is required to be in the BVI for three business days before they can be married. On your day of arrival, apply for a license at the Registrar-General’s Office, located on the 2nd floor of the Central Administration Complex in Road Town, Tortola. The office is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Your application will take three business days to be processed.
Requirements of the Registrar-General’s Office:
- Your passports as proof of identity and date of arrival in the BVI.
- Proof of marital status (certified original copies of Degree Absolute for divorced spouses or Death Certificate of deceased spouses).
- $110.00 (in BVI postage stamps) for a special license for those residing in the BVI for three days or $50.00 (in BVI postage stamps) for those residing in the BVI for 15 days or more.
- Two witnesses: (1) for signing the license application and (1) to be present at the marriage ceremony. (Witnesses need not be the same for both exercises; persons in the BVI may be selected as witnesses.
Having applied for the license, go to the Registrar-General’s Office to schedule an appointment for the date and time you propose to be married. The Registrar-General will require the following information:
- The names of the two parties as they appear on your travel documents
- The ages of both parties
- The occupations of both parties
- Marital Status
- The names of the two witnesses to the ceremony
Fees payable to the Registrar-General’s Office are $35.00 if the wedding ceremony is to be performed in a church, and $100.00 is it is performed elsewhere. If you wish to be married in a church, wedding announcements must be published on three consecutive Saturdays or Sundays in the church of your choice. You must make arrangement with the minister of the church of your choice. (Publishing of announcements is not necessary if a marriage license is obtained.)
Note: All ministers in the BVI are Marriage Officers and can perform civil ceremonies outside church. A Civil Marriage Officer is also available.
Wedding Planners
The simplest and best way to get married in the BVI is to have a Wedding Specialist handle the arrangements. From the license and paperwork to the ceremony and honeymoon, Karin Patrick, our BVI Wedding Specialist, will ensure that everything runs smoothly on your blessed day.
CKIM Group will assist you in the planning of your BVI Destination Wedding. Contact Us at (321) 777-1707