BVI Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages

Getting Married in the Virgin Islands

Marriage Rules and Regulations

You can prepare your Marriage Licence application online. Click here and follow the simple instructions to submit your application to the Marriage Officer of your choice.

Upon arrival in the Virgin Islands you can apply for a Marriage Licence at the Registrar-General's Office, which is situated in the Burhym Building, Road Town, Tortola. Click here for directions to the Registrar-General's Office.

The Registrar-General's Office is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. A marriage licence takes one (1) working day to process. Once the Government has granted a licence, it remains valid for three (3) months from the date it is signed.

At the Registrar-General's Office you will be required:

⇒ To present a US$220 postage stamp (purchased from the Registrar-General's Office or Post Office) for a Special Licence. To qualify for a special licence, you must be present at the time of application and plan to be a resident/present in the Virgin Islands for at least one day.

⇒ To present US$120 postage stamp (purchased from the Registrar-General's Office or Post Office) for an Ordinary Licence, if you have been resident in the Virgin Islands for 15 days or more.

⇒ To show proof of your identity and your resident status i.e. the day you arrived in the Virgin Islands (via your passport).

⇒ To show proof of martial status (including certified copies of Decree(s) Absolute for divorced spouse or Death Certificate(s) of deceased spouse).

⇒ To have two persons to witness (and to sign) your application for the licence. Please note that these two witnesses need not be the same two witnesses who are present at your Marriage Ceremony.

⇒ Also, please note that you can always request persons in the Virgin Islands to be witnesses at the Registrar-General's Office and at your Marriage Ceremony.

Having applied for the licence, you should then schedule an appointment for the date and time you propose to be married. If you have telephoned your appointment from abroad, you will need to confirm it at the Registrar-General’s Office at this time.

The Registrar-General’s Office is situated on Wickham’s Cay, Road Town, upstairs of Burhym Electrical Services. The Registrar-General’s Office is open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.

Ceremonies Performed by the
Registrar-General

Weddings are performed by the Registrar-General outside the Office between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 6:30 p.m., Monday through Saturday and inside the Office between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., Monday to Friday.

In the event of any 'acts of God' whether it be heavy rain, storms or earthquakes, the Registrar General/or Marriage Officer reserves the right to postpone the wedding to a more convenient time agreed by both parties.

At the Registrar-General’s Office you will be required to complete an application form showing your names as shown on your travel documents, ages, occupations, marital status, and the names of two witnesses (these two witnesses must be present at the Ceremony). Please be careful to accurately spell the names of the witnesses. Any correction of an error will attract a charge of US$15. You must also then indicate the proposed venue for the Marriage Ceremony.

If you wish to be married at the Registrar-General’s Office you will be required to pay a fee of US$340. If you wish the Registrar-General to perform your Wedding Ceremony outside the office, the fee is US$220. All cheques should be made payable to the ACCOUNTANT GENERAL. If the Registrar-General is required to go to one of the adjoining islands of the Virgin Islands, for instance Jost Van Dyke, Virgin Gorda, Peter Island, Guana Island, Salt Island, Anegada, Norman Island etc., you will be required to pay the Registrar-General’s transportation to that Island. (Fees for Ferry Services range from US$20 one-way to US$40 round trip).

If you wish to be married in the church of your choice, Wedding Banns must be published on three (3) consecutive Saturdays or Sundays in that church. You must make arrangements with the Minister of the church in advance. You can also be married in a church by Special Marriage Licence, but those arrangements will also have to be made with a church Minister.

It would be wise to travel with your Driver’s Licence or Birth Certificate in addition to your essential travel documents, i.e. your passports. Also, all documents showing your marital status SHOULD BE ORIGINALS OR CERTIFIED AS TRUE COPIES of the original.

Our marriage certificates with the Registrar-General's seal are official legal documents and the first marriage certificate is free once the Registrar-General performs the wedding ceremony. You may, however, wish to check with your local authorities in the event that the certificate requires to be legally authenticated by means of an apostille. If apostilles are required, these can also be prepared at the Registrar-General’s Office on payment of US$40.

Fees

For a marriage licence	$120.00
For a special marriage licence	$220.00
For marriage celebrated in the Registrar's Office building	$120.00
For every general search for a particular entry: (i) Search by applicant (ii) Search by staff of Civil Registry	$20.00 $50.00
For every certified copy	$25.00
For issuing any certificate or making an record of any fact not otherwise provided for	$40.00
For correction of each error or omission	$15.00
For issuing aa certificate of publication of banns	$35.00
For marriage celebrated by a Civil Marriage Officer	$220.00
To Government Medical Officer for Certificate in respect of a clinical marriage where a special visit is not required	$30.00
To Government Medical Officer for Certificate in respect of a clinical marriage where a special visit is required	$40.00
For late arrival for wedding outside the office by Registrar General	$75.00

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