Encircled by a choice of luxurious resorts and idyllic white-sand beaches fringed by gently swaying palm trees, the Turks & Caicos is the perfect spot to say 'I do' – and the ideal destination for that long dreamt of beach wedding!
The Turks and Caicos Islands offers a wide choice of stunning venues for your destination wedding.
The legal requirements for getting married in Turks & Caicos are quite straightforward. Once the residency period has been met, an authorised Marriage Officer presents all the requirement paperwork to the Registrar Office in Grand Turk or Providenciales.
It can take two to three days to process this paperwork prior to the issue of a Marriage Licence. Keep this in mind for selecting the date of the ceremony.
Minimum of three business days (72 hrs) to establish residency. After 24 hrs you may then present the application for a Marriage Licence. The ceremony can take place 48 hours after the licence is granted.
Cruise ship passengers can apply for a Special Marriage Licence on the same day of arrival in Turks and Caicos Islands.
Ensure that all documents are in your legal name, and provide affidavits in cases where you are known by another name. Originals of all documentation are preferred.
If you’re unable to obtain an original Decree Absolute / Death Certificate you may provide a certified true copy.
All documents must be issued in English, otherwise they must be translated by an Official Translator and subsequently notarised.
Documents required for getting married in Turks & Caicos, include…
Marriage Licenses are issued at the office of the Registrar in Providenciales. This office is open to the public, Mondays to Fridays between the hours of 9:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m (Tel: 649-946-2800).
Marriages performed in Turks & Caicos are internationally recognised and legally binding.
The marriage ceremony can be conducted by a local Minister, Justice of the Peace or a Marriage Officer at a place of your choosing.
In the Turks and Caicos Islands, you are free to get married in a local church, the grounds of a hotel, private vacation villa or on one of the many beautiful beaches.
To obtain a copy of your marriage certificate, you will need to coordinate this with your Marriage Officer and complete the necessary forms.
The Certificate of Marriage will take two to three weeks to process. A copy will then be sent to your home address.
European Union citizens (except the United Kingdom and Ireland) may need to have their Marriage Certificate apostilled (or authenticated).
This does not apply to citizens of United States, Canada, Australia or New Zealand. Citizens of Asian countries, South and Central America should check with their Civil Registrar/Marriage Officer as to whether an Apostille is required for your country.
Your wedding planner can assist you in obtaining the Apostille.
Some faiths may require additional documents for a church service. You may want to check this with your wedding planner or local minister.
For instance, couples of the Roman Catholic faith should allow sufficient time before the wedding date in order to process all the necessary paperwork (certificates of baptism, dispensations, statements of freedom to marry, etc.).
The wedding ceremony of a Roman Catholic must take place in a church rather than in a resort or on a beach.
Special Marriage Licence – USD$250
The majority of hotels in Turks & Caicos provide professional wedding planners who can insure that the entire process of getting married in Turks & Caicos, including fulfilling all legal requirements, is stress free.
For more information, visit the marriage portal at the official Turks & Caicos Tourism website to learn more about requirements, download an application form for a Special Marriage Licence, as well as find a list of Marriage Officers, top wedding venues and recommended wedding planners.
Please note: while accurate at time of publication this information is for guidance purposes only and liable to change without notice. Please check with your wedding planner at your resort of choice or the relevant embassy of the country in which you intend to marry for up-to-date details before your wedding.
Latest update: How to get married in Turks & Caicos: 8 May, 2022
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