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Wedding Requirements: Bahamas

Bring something old, find something new. Altars made of sky. Aisles made of sand. Matches made in heaven. Sun and surf are mere backdrops to the perfect day you imagine and everyone will remember. Start your story in The Bahamas. The Weddings and Honeymoon Unit of the Ministry of Tourism offers services to assist you in organizing your own ceremony or, by acting as a facilitator between you and on-island wedding consultants, help you to plan any type of wedding.

For further information, call 1-888-NUPTIAL (1-888-687-8425) or the Weddings and Honeymoon Unit directly at 1-242-356-0435/7/8. You can also e-mail an officer at romance@bahamas.com. Office hours are 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Download our wedding application, complete the form and fax it to 242-302-2098.

Requirements For Obtaining a Marriage License in The Bahamas:

1. Both parties must be in The Commonwealth of the Bahamas at the time of the application.

2. Persons wishing to be married in the Commonwealth of The Bahamas may do so after one day. That is to say, if a person arrives in The Bahamas on Monday, they may come into the Registrar General's Office on Tuesday, obtain a Marriage License (while waiting), and be married on the same day.

3. If either part has been divorced, the original final decree or a certified copy must be produced. If either party is widowed, being certified of the deceased spouse must be produced. If either party is unmarried, being 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, The Bahamas.

4. If either party is unmarried, being a citizen or resident of a country other than the U.S.A., a declaration certifying this fact must be sworn before a Notary Public or other person authorized to administer oaths in that country and must accompany the application for the Marriage License.

5. The parties must produce some form of identification which has a photograph attached. The identification document must have been issued by a Government Office in the country where the parties reside.

6. The parties must produce evidence of the date of their arrival in The Bahamas.

7. Persons desirous of being married in a Family Island ( any island outside of New Providence) can obtain a Marriage License at the Commissioner's Office on that island and need not come to Nassau.

8. No blood test is necessary.

9. The fee for the license is $100.00.

Note: Marriage Licenses are issued at the office of the Registrar General in Nassau. This office is open to the public Mondays to Fridays between the hours of 9:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Address: P. O. Box N- 532
Nassau, The Bahamas
Tel: 242-322-3316
Fax: 242-322-5553

DOCUMENT REQUIREMENTS:

The Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative will require all travelers, including U.S. citizens, to and from The Bahamas to have a passport or other accepted document that establishes the bearer’s identity and nationality to enter or re-enter the United States. This is a change from prior travel requirements. The goal is to strengthen border security and facilitate entry into the United States for U.S. citizens and legitimate foreign visitors. In the proposed implementation plan, which is subject to a period of initial public comment, the Initiative will be rolled out in phases, providing as much advance notice as possible to the affected public to enable them to meet the terms of the new guidelines.

The proposed timeline will be as follows:

• December 31, 2006 – Requirement applied to all air and sea travel to or from Canada, Mexico, Central and South America, the Caribbean, and Bermuda.
  
• December 31, 2007 – Requirement extended to all land border crossings as well as air and sea travel.

Visit the U.S. Department of State's website for more information.

CURRENT REQUIREMENTS:

To enter The Bahamas, U.S. citizens need one of the three documents listed below, accompanied by a return or onward journey ticket and proof of funds to support the visit. Stays not to exceed eight months.

NOTE: If you are using an electronic ticket, please show Immigration a copy of your travel itinerary and ticket number.

Passport
Current or expired (up to a maximum of five years since expiration date).

For persons 17 years of age and older:
An original certificate issued by the U.S. Govt. or court-certified copy (raised or ink seal) is required, accompanied by an Official Photo ID issued by the U.S. Govt. (driver’s license, or voter's card). Current and expired IDs are accepted. Student Photo ID alone is not acceptable as adequate documentation.

For persons 16 years of age and younger:
A birth certificate is all that is required. If the traveler is a student and possesses a student ID, the traveler should also carry the student ID to facilitate being processed by Bahamas Immigration.

For persons 16 years of age and younger, traveling alone:
A notarized parental letter of consent is required. In the case of organized group travel, a letter is not necessary. It is assumed that the chaperone has obtained prior permission.

NOTE: A laminated credit card-sized birth certificate is acceptable, as long as it is an original or certified copy (raised or ink seal).

OR

Original Naturalization/Citizenship Certificate
An original certificate is required, accompanied by a recent photo if photo on naturalization paper is not recent.

NOTE: Persons are advised to purchase return tickets (and seek reimbursement upon returning home for the unused ticket), even when they are certain to return via a private boat – the chance of an airline/cruise line ticket agent allowing travel on a single ticket is very slim. If, however, the person gets to the point of Bahamas Immigration on a single ticket, the Captain of the boat would have to present himself and the cruising permit. However, a copy of the cruising permit will be permitted for crew members, who may be arriving by plane and returning by boat as their names will appear on the manifest. A letter will not suffice.

All the information on this page is taken from the public domain on the internet. Destination Wedding Reviews is not responsible for our advertisers, information found in reviews or any incorrect information on these pages. Please confirm - with the appropriate authorities and your travel agent to make sure you have all the proper documents and information. We have done our best to make sure all the information on this page is current and correct. It is suggested that you bring all the documentation you can think of and to have all legal papers notarized. Your travel agent or wedding consultant should be able to guide you through the process!