General Information
Jamaica is an unforgettable destination to have your wedding. To ensure planning of this special day happens hassle-free, the following information should help to guide you through the process.
Waiting Period: Visitors can be married just 24 hours after arriving in Jamaica, providing prior application has been made for a marriage license.
Documentation (Mandatory)
Proof of citizenship – certified copy of birth certificate which includes father’s name
Written consent from parent(s) with proof of identity of parent(s) if under 18 years of age
Proof of divorce (if applicable) – original certificate of divorce
Certified copy of death certificate of former spouse you are a widow or widower
Processing fee JM$4000 (less than US$40)
THESE DOCUMENTS MUST BE TRANSLATED INTO ENGLISH EITHER BY YOUR CONSULATE OR RECOGNISED TRANSLATION AGENCY AND THEN NOTARISED.
Blood Test - No Blood test is required.
To apply for your marriage license, contact the Ministry of Justice in Jamaica:
Ministry of Justice
2 Oxford Road
NCB Towers, 10th floor/South Tower
Kingston 5
Office Hours: Monday to Thursday 9:00am to 5:00pm, Friday from 9:00am to 4:00pm
Tel: 1 876 906 4923 -31
Fax: 1 876 906 1712
Email: customerservice @ moj.gov.jm
Using a recognized marriage officer to plan your wedding is highly recommended. Marriage officers are available throughout the island and may be requested through the:
Registrar General's Department
Twickenham Park
St. Catherine
Tel: 876-749-0550 or 876-619-1260
Email: information @ rgd.gov.jm
Each Marriage Officer may have his/her own prices and requirements; however the process remains basically the same.
Requirements: You will need to send notarized COPIES of all documents. This should be sent by courier or the postal service to the Marriage Officer. Courier service, though more expensive is more reliable and quicker than the post. Important: You must bring the ORIGINAL documents with you for the wedding to actually take place.
The Marriage Officer will complete the required forms and arrange all documents.
He/She can arrange for the ceremony to take place in a church or at a location of your choice.
Marriage ceremonies may be conducted every day of the week between the hours of 6:00 and 20:00 EST.
Upon travel to Jamaica, please do not forget to bring the ORIGINAL documents with you. This is very important, to ensure all the arrangements wouldn't need to be cancelled.
Hotel Weddings: Most hotels in Jamaica have wedding coordinators or someone who can plan your wedding for you! Some hotels even offer weddings inclusive in your holiday package! Ask your travel agent which ones do and once the hotel or tour operator offers this service, most travel agents will even assist you with the planning.
The process is the same as when using a Marriage Officer. The main difference may be the cost or the time frame
for sending the required documents to the hotel.
Some hotels require the documents at least 6 weeks prior the proposed wedding date. Please verify all details with the hotel or tour operator first.
Marriage ceremonies may be conducted every day of the week between the hours of 6:00 and 20:00 EST.
After the Ceremony: Immediately following the ceremony, you are given a copy of the Marriage Register
which shows proof of marriage. This is signed by the Marriage Officer, yourselves and your witnesses. (Don’t worry; you don’t have to bring your own with you!)
Important: The copy of the Marriage Register that you receive on the day of your wedding is NOT a legal document and as such cannot be used to conduct any business! You must obtain a certified copy of your marriage certificate.
Certified Copy of Marriage Certificate
The Marriage Certificate may be applied for by the Marriage Officer and takes between 7 working days to one (1) month to be processed by the Registrar General’s Department (Registry of births, deaths and marriages) whose address appears above. You may apply for it yourself and there is an express service available. Please ask your Marriage Officer or the Hotel wedding coordinator about this service when you make initial contact and make your payments.
Important: The country may require that in order for your marriage certificate to be accepted, the document must be legalized. In such cases, please contact the Embassy which represents your Government in Jamaica to have this done. The Hotel or Marriage Officer can assist you in this regard. If your country does not have an Embassy or Consulate in Jamaica, please find out from the Ministry of Foreign (External) Affairs of your country how you can get your certificate legalized.
Only after being legalized by your Embassy or Consulate is the marriage process in Jamaica complete and your marriage will be recognized as a legal union in your country of origin.