Bahamas - Marriage Licence

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Procedure

Apply In-Person

1. To Apply for Marriage License, the applicant has to submit an application in Form 15 along with the supporting documents and corresponding Fees to the Marriage Registration Section of the Registrar General’s Department.
2. The Applicant can download the Form from the below link: Form Link.
3. In case the an applicant being a Minor click the below link for the application form: Form Link
4. Both individuals must complete the application form.
5. The applicant must submit a valid picture ID. A picture ID may be a valid driver’s licence or a passport.
6. The applicant may be required to attend an interview if required:
   • A Bahamian marrying another Bahamian is not required to be interviewed and the person performing the ceremony can sign the declaration.
   • A Bahamian marrying a non-Bahamian must be interviewed by the Registrar General. The Registrar has to sign the declaration in this instance.
   • Non-Bahamian applicants are interviewed by either the Registrars or any of the five designated Marriage Officers.
     

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Required Documents

• Completed application form
• A valid picture ID
  

Office Locations & Contacts

Registrar General’s Department,
Cor. of Shirley and Charlotte Street,
P.O. Box N 532
NassauNew Providence
The Bahamas
Tel. (242) 397-9179/9113
Fax. (242) 322-5553
Email: [email protected] 
Email: [email protected] 
Opening Hours: 9:30 am to 4:00 pm, Monday to Friday, except on Public Holidays.
Contact Address Details Link:Contact Link
Contact Address Details for Family Island Link:Contact link

Eligibility

Anyone wanting to get married in The Bahamas.

Fees

The Processing Fee for this process is BS$100.00.

Validity

The license is valid for 90 days.

Documents to Use

Application Form Link:Form Link , Form Link

Sample Documents

Please attach sample completed documents that would help other people.

Processing Time

After completion of the process, the marriage licence can be issued on the same day or next day depending on circumstances.

Related Videos

Videos explaining the procedure or to fill the applications.
Attach videos using the following tag <&video type='website'>video ID|width|height<&/video&> from external websites.
Please remove the '&' inside the tags during implementation.
Website = allocine, blip, dailymotion, facebook, gametrailers, googlevideo, html5, metacafe, myspace, revver,
sevenload, viddler, vimeo, youku, youtube
width = 560, height = 340, Video ID = Can be obtained from the URL of webpage where the video is displayed.
e.g In the following url 'http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y0US7oR_t3M' Video ID is 'Y0US7oR_t3M'.

Instructions

Please provide other instructions related to the certificate/documents.
e.g. The state office holds birth records since january 1908.

Required Information

• Name of the Applicant
• Condition (Bachelor/Widower/Divorce)
• Occupation
• Date of birth
• Place of birth
• Duration of Residence
• Residence Address
• Father's Name
  

Need for the Document

It is required for getting married in Bahamas.

Information which might help

Enter other informations which might help.

Other uses of the Document/Certificate

Please explain what are other uses of obtaining this document/certificate.
e.g. Birth Certificate can be used as proof of identity.

External Links

Website Link

Others

• Both individuals must complete the application form and be present at the Registrar General’s Department at the time of application for the marriage licence.
• Application between Bahamian and Non-Bahamian - When there is an application for marriage between a Bahamian and a Non-Bahamian, the couple is interviewed separately to avoid facilitating a marriage of convenience.
• Divorcees/Widows/Widowers - Certified copies of final divorce decrees and certified copies of death certificates must be attached to the application if necessary.
• Bahamians over the age of 40, who do not present a certified copy of a divorce decree or death certificate of a spouse, must wait for a search to be conducted of the records of marriage to ensure that they have not been married before. This search may take up to two weeks.
• Non-Bahamians must prove that they have been in The Bahamas at least 24 hours. They are required to present their Immigration Cards as proof of entry.
• Non-Bahamian applicants are interviewed by either the Registrars or any of the five designated Marriage Officers.
• If either person is under the age of 18 they require a Certificate of Consent to Marriage by A Minor (Section 19. Chapter 88).
• Marriage Officers - The Registrar General, the Deputy Registrar, Assistant Registrar, Family Island Administrators or Commissioners, and Supreme Court Magistrates are Marriage Officers by virtue of their appointment. Justices of the Peace are not Marriage Officers although there are certain Marriage Officers who are Justices of the Peace.