Legal requirements for getting married in St. Maarten

Big or small, formal or sand-in-your-shoes casual, anything goes on the island of St.Maarten. From contemporary resorts to quaint guesthouses, the wedding venues offer plenty of variety.

Because you would need to spend a month in St Martin to get married, most couples choose to get married on the Dutch side of the island in St Maarten. Here are the requirements for St Maarten:

Regulations

• Foreign couples planning on getting married on St. Maarten without the consent of parents must be at least 18 years of age, persons with a Netherlands nationality should be 23 years of age.
• Foreign couples must request permission from the Lt Governor of the Island Territory of St Maarten to marry (see address below). Please note that it can take up to two months to receive a reply, and you need to be on island two days before your ceremony. If permission is granted a temporary tourist permit will be issued in order to contract a marriage. 
• Registration at the office of Civil Registry needs to take place at least ten days before the marriage. This can be done by faxing their office at the address below 
• Divorced persons may remarry in St Maarten but should provide a recent extract of divorce of this current year. Divorced women can only remarry after 306 days upon inscription into the registry of divorce at the office of Civil State.
  

Documents Required

• A full abridged birth certificate to prove the legality of the same.
• In the event persons are not of Dutch nationality, a valid passport is required 
• Valid return tickets 
• Address of both parties 
• Duration of stay on St. Maarten 
• Unmarried persons must present a declaration of marital status not older than 3 months  
• If widow(er), a death certificate 
• If divorced, a divorce certificate or a final judgment decree 
• For minors (under 18 years of age), permission of the parents is required; 
• Names of parents, maiden names of mother including place of birth and birth date; 
• Professions of the bride, the groom and the parents 
• 6 (six) witnesses if the marriage is performed outside of the Marriage Hall, 2 witnesses if it is to be performed at Wedding Hall. Non-Dutch witnesses must present a valid passport or a birth certificate with a picture I.D.
  

Original documents other than Dutch or English need to be translated into the Dutch language (i.e., a French or Spanish document must be translated into Dutch, not English). The following person can do translations on the island: Cheryl LaBega, Language translator, Government Administration Building, Clern LaBega's Square, Philipsburg, St Maarten. Please note that one to two weeks is required for translation.

Fees

The cost for contracting foreign marriages is US$102 and US$204, depending on the day of the week, and includes civil ceremony, marriage books, stamps and certificates.

Registrars Offices

The registrar's office should be contacted for specific rules regarding planning your destination or beach wedding in St Martin. They will also provide information regarding marriage licenses and marriage certificates.

Chief Registrar
Office of Civil Registry and Census Office
Soualiga Road
Philipsburg, St. Maarten N.A.
Fax: 5995 424267

CC:Lt Governor
Government Administration Building
Clem Labega's Square
PO Box 943
Philipsburg,
St Maarten
Fax: 5995 24884

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