Jamaica - Marriage License

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Procedure

1. A Declaration Form must be completed by someone (Declarant) who has knowledge of the impending marriage. The form must be signed by the Declarant in the presence of a Justice of the Peace in Jamaica. The Declarant can be a friend or family member. The form is available at the Customer Service Desk, Ground Floor, Air Jamaica Building, 72 Harbour Street, Kingston, Jamaica. The form may be also be downloaded using the link provided under 'Documents to Use' section.
2. Obtain a blank Ministers Marriage Licence form, at the Customer Service Desk, Ground Floor, Air Jamaica Building, 72 Harbour Street, Kingston, Jamaica. Note: This form is NOT available on line, it is also NOT possible to have a copy mailed to you.
3. Make a stamp duty payment of Four Thousand Jamaican dollars ( JA $4,000.00) at the Stamp Duty Office located at 111 Harbour Street, Kingston, Jamaica, where the blank Marriage Licence Form will be stamped after payment.
4. Return both the stamped Ministers Marriage Licence form and the completed Declaration Form to the Ministry of Justice along with the following supporting documents for both parties:
   1. Passport or Drivers Licence
   2. Birth Certificate.
   3. Final Divorce Decree/Decree Absolute (where applicable).
   4. Death Certificate (where applicable).
   5. Certified documents supporting any change of name (where applicable).
   6. If you under eighteen years of age, a Letter of Consent is required from your legal Parent/Guardian signed in the presence of and certified by a Justice of the Peace.
5. Once the documents are found to be satisfactory the Licence will be issued.

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Required Documents

• Completed Declaration Form
• Stamped Ministers Marriage Licence form
• Passport or Drivers Licence
• Birth Certificate.
• Final Divorce Decree/Decree Absolute (where applicable).
• Death Certificate (where applicable).
• Certified documents supporting any change of name (where applicable).
• If you under eighteen years of age, a Letter of Consent is required from your legal Parent/Guardian signed in the presence of and certified by a Justice of the Peace.

Note: Please note that all documents presented must be in English. If originals are in another language they should be translated by certified translators whose certifications of authenticity should be attached.

Office Locations & Contacts

Ministry of Justice

Head Office:
NCB South Tower
2 Oxford Road
Kingston 5

Phone: (876) 906-4923-31
Toll Free: 1888-4-justice (587-8423) - Toll free from anywhere in Jamaica.
Fax: (876) 906-1712
E-mail: [email protected]

Eligibility

Provide eligibility criteria's for going through this procedure.

Fees

• Stamp duty: JA $4,000.00

Validity

Three months

Documents to Use

• Form of Declaration (For Ministers Licence) - PDF
• Ministers (Marriage) Licence - Brochure

Sample Documents

Please attach sample completed documents that would help other people.

Processing Time

For walk-in applicants, there is a three (3) hour same day processing time.

Persons living abroad who plan to get married in Jamaica are required to be in the island at least 24 hours before the marriage ceremony.

Related Videos

Videos explaining the procedure or to fill the applications. 
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Please remove the "&" inside the tags during implementation.
Website = allocine, blip, dailymotion, facebook, gametrailers, googlevideo, html5, metacafe, myspace, revver, 
sevenload, viddler, vimeo, youku, youtube
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Instructions

Please provide instructions on obtaining the certificate/documents.
e.g. The state office holds birth records since january 1908.

Required Information

Declaration Form:

• 'Names in full mean first, middle, and last name.
• Condition means bachelor/ spinster/divorced/widow/widower.
• Calling means occupation
• Dwelling places and parishes mean local address and parish of both parties. If either of the parties is residing abroad, twenty-four (24) hours residence in the Island is required at which time a local address can be used.

Need for the Document

A Minister's (Marriage) Licence is a document issued by the Minister of Justice giving authority to a Marriage Officer to marry a couple. Here is a procedure on how you can obtain one.

Information which might help

The Difference between a Marriage Certificate and the Ministers (Marriage) Licence

A Ministers (Marriage) Licence permits the Marriage Officer to perform the marriage ceremony and is valid for three months. You will need to present this document BEFORE the marriage ceremony.

The Marriage Certificate is proof that the marriage has taken place and is issued AFTER the marriage by the Registrar Generals Department.

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

• Ministry of Justice:

http://www.moj.gov.jm/services-and-information/marriage-licence

Others

More information which might help people.