Legal Information

Please note that this information is for guidance purposes only. Documentation requirements and charges can change and we will send a complete list of all documents required with the wedding confirmation. Any further changes will be notified immediately.

If you are not a British citizen, please contact the relevant embassy who will advise on the correct documentation.

Please remember to hand carry original documentation to the resort. Failure to do so may result in the wedding being cancelled. Virgin Holidays can take no responsibility for failure to produce the correct documentation in the resort.

Passports and birth certificates

Very important! Passports and birth certificates are both required for every destination except for the USA where only the passport is required.

General legal requirements

Table of general legal requirements for weddings
	Minimum residency period (in working days)	Legalisation/ Translation of documents by Foreign and Commonwealth Office/ Consulate, for every certificate and document required	Important Legal formalities upon arrival to obtain Marriage License	Statement of personal details (e.g. names, addresses and occupations)	Documentation required (in advance)
Antigua	3			•	12 weeks
Australia	3		• (see note)		12 weeks
Bahamas	3			•	12 weeks
Barbados	3			•	12 weeks
Canada*	3				12 weeks
Cuba	3		• (see note)	•	12 weeks
Fiji	3			•	12 weeks
Grenada	3			•	12 weeks
Kenya	3			•	12 weeks
Hawaii	3				12 weeks
Jamaica	3	• (see note)		•	12 weeks
Mauritius	3		• (see note)	•	12 weeks
Mexico	5	• (see note)		•	12 weeks
St Lucia	3			•	12 weeks
Sandals	3				12 weeks
Sandals, Cuba	3	• (see note)			12 weeks
Seychelles	3				12 weeks
South Africa	3				12 weeks
Sri Lanka	5†				12 weeks
Thailand	5	• (see note)		•	12 weeks
Tobago	4			•	12 weeks
USA	3*				12 weeks

* USA - The residency stated is a Virgin Holidays pre-requisite and is not a legal requirement. In some circumstances we may be able to request a wedding with only 1 or 2 working days residency. Please contact the weddings dartment to see if this is possible before requesting.

† Sri Lanka - 5 days in total (not working)

Special documentation

If never previously married

An Affidavit to declare single status in Bahamas only.

If you're divorced

A Decree Absolute will be required for every destination.
An Affidavit to declare marital status is required in Grenada, Kenya, Jamaica, Mauritius, Mexico and Sri Lanka.
In Mexico and Mauritius, a mandatory pregnancy test will be required if you have been divorced for less than 300 days.

If you've been widowed

All destinations will require your spouse's death certificate and your previous marriage certificate.

If you're adopted

All destinations will require proof of your adoption

If your name has been changed by deed poll

All countries except Mauritius will require proof of your name change.
Please note: A Change of name deed may be required for some resorts, even if the bride has been previously married and reverted back to her maiden name. The Weddings Department will be able to advise on this.

For young people (under 18 or 21)

If you are under 18 years of age, parental consent will be required in the form of an Affidavit stamped by a notorary if your wedding is to be held in Antigua, Bahamas, Barbados, Canada, Cuba, Hawaii, Mauritius, Nexico, St Lucia, Sandals, Sandals Cuba, Seychelles, Tobago or USA.
If you are under 21 years of age, parental consent will be required in the form of an Affidavit stamped by a notorary if your wedding is to be held in Fiji, Grenada, Kenya, Jamaica, South Africa or Sri Lanka.

Destination-specific information

Australia

A ‘Notice of Intended Marriage’ will be sent to you by The Weddings Department. It must be completed and signed by the bride and groom and signed and stamped by an Australian official from the Australian Embassy in London or a Notary Public (not a solicitor). The Weddings Department will send it to Australia for you.

Jamaica

All photocopies are required to be stamped by a Notary or solicitor and then written in red or blue ink. The Notary must confirm that they are true and accurate copies of the original and sign and date each copy. The solicitor’s stamp must state that they are, in fact, a solicitor.

Mexico

All documents must be translated into Spanish on arrival in resort. Blood tests are mandatory in Cancun and can be performed either in resort or in the UK and must be performed within 7 days before the proposed wedding date. If previously married, you must be divorced for at least a year before you can marry in Mexico.

A mandatory blood test for the bride and groom will be required in the resort (payable locally)

Cuba

If either or both of the wedding party has been divorced or widowed, the decree absolute(s) or death certificate(s) must be legalised by the Foreign Office prior to departure. These documents must also be translated and legalised by the Cuban Embassy. Please contact us for full details.

Canada

Wedding couples who have been divorced and are now marrying at Niagara Falls need to obtain an authorisation to issue a marriage licence from the Government which can be obtained on your behalf from an Ontario lawyer. Virgin Holidays can supply a contact if required.

Mauritius

Application to Marry form will be sent to the couple by The Weddings Department and must be completed and signed by both bride and groom.

Sandals properties

Failure to provide the correct documentation 12 weeks before travel will result in a charge of $150 being imposed by Sandals for documentation administration. This is paid locally in resort. If these documents are not received before departure, Sandals reserve the right to cancel the wedding.