MINISTRY OF HOME

AFFAIRS
Level Five, General Post Office Building, Cheapside,
Bridgetown, Barbados.
Telephone: (246) 228 8950 Fax: (246) 437 3794
Email: wgittens@mha.gov.bb

In order to obtain a marriage licence please find enclosed herewith

information regarding the same as listed below.
Applications for a Marriage Licence must be made by both parties in person
at the office of the Ministry of Home Affairs
Non nationals must present a valid passport and the original or certified
copies of the applicants birth certificates, and
(b).

nationals must present original birth certificates

with
identification card or Valid Passport
(c).

If

either

party

was

married

previously

and

widowed, a certified copy of the marriage and

death certificate in respect of the deceased
spouse;
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Ministry of Home Affairs- Information on Getting Married in Barbados

(d).

All documents not in English must be accompanied

by a translation certified by an authorized Notary
Public (Not a Justice of the Peace).

The documents required if either party was divorced is as

follows an original Decree Absolute or Final Judgment or
certified copies of these documents. Importantly, the Decree
Nisi will not be accepted.

All documents not in English must be accompanied by a

translation certified by an Authorized Notary Public (Not a
Justice of the Peace).

Persons who have been granted Barbadian Citizenship either by

descent or registration, immigration status or permanent
residence are required to produce the original document
issued by the Immigration Department of Barbados or their
Passport in which the relevant information has been stamped.

Additional requirements as it relates to Non-Nationals who

have been granted work Permits, Student Visas and Caricom
skilled nationals must produce the passport or the relevant

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Ministry of Home Affairs- Information on Getting Married in Barbados

document issued by the Immigration Department, not the

application form or receipt.

Work permit and student visas do not confer status and should
be valid at the time of application.

MARRIAGE OF MINORS

Persons under age sixteen (16) years cannot be legally married

in Barbados.
For persons between the ages of sixteen (16) and eighteen (18)
years, the consent of both parents must be obtained and both
parents must be present at the time of application. Failing this,
a Judge in Barbados, on application being made to him, may
exercise his discretion to dispense with consent.
Persons eighteen (18) years of age and older do not require
parental consent.
LICENCE FEES
1. if neither party is a citizen or resident of Barbados
the fees are BDD.$200.00 cash and a BDD $25.00
stamp

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Ministry of Home Affairs- Information on Getting Married in Barbados

2. if either party is a citizen or resident of Barbados

the fees are BDD.$45.00 cash and a BDD $10.00
stamp

PRIOR ARRANGEMENTS
Arrangements should be made with a Marriage Officer (a
Magistrate or a Minister of Religion authorized to be a Marriage
Officer in Barbados) prior to the completion of an application
form for the Marriage Licence.

PRIOR ARRANGEMENTS SHOULD BE MADE

A letter from the Marriage Officer who has consented to
perform the marriage ceremony should be presented at the
time of filing the application.

Prior arrangements should be made for a non-resident Minister

of Religion, who is requested to solemnize a marriage in
Barbados. He or she may be appointed as a Temporary Marriage
Officer in Barbados. Prior arrangements should be made to the

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Ministry of Home Affairs- Information on Getting Married in Barbados

completion of an Application for a Temporary Marriage Officer

as listed below:
1. ( Form A)
2. Ordination Certificate
3. A

notarized

copy

of

letter

from

the

Superintendent of your local church

4. A

notarized

copy

of

the

Certificate

of

Incorporation,
(Form

of

Certificate

of

Church

Registration

Charities Act, Cap. 243 from Corporate Affairs and

Intellectual Property Office Barbados.
APPOINTMENT OF MINISTERS OF RELIGION AS MARRIAGE
OFFICERS
(Form A)
Ordination Certificate
A notarized copy of a letter from the Superintendent of your
local church
List of Members of their Church
A notarized copy of the Certificate of Incorporation, (Form of
Certificate of Church Registration Charities Act, Cap. 243 from
Corporate Affairs and Intellectual Property Office Barbados.

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Ministry of Home Affairs- Information on Getting Married in Barbados

Information outlining this procedure can be obtained by

contacting the Ministry of Home Affairs.

A marriage may be solemnized immediately after the issue of

the licence.

MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS OFFICE HOURS

Applications for marriage licences must be made between the
hours of 8:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. Monday -Friday.

Separate fees are payable in respect of civil marriage

ceremonies as follows:

Where at least one party is a citizen or permanent resident of,

or immigrant of Barbados;

CIVIL MARRIAGE
(For nationals) Marriage Solemnized at the Court BDD. $100.00
Marriage Solemnized at an Alternative Venue BDD $125.00

Where neither party is a citizen or permanent resident of, or

immigrant of Barbados; Marriage Solemnized at the Court BDD.
$200.00

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Ministry of Home Affairs- Information on Getting Married in Barbados

Marriage Solemnized at Alternative Venue BDD. $350.00

MARRIAGE CERTIFICATE FEES

If either party is a citizen or permanent resident or immigrant
of Barbados the fee is BDD. $10.00. Where neither party is a
citizen or permanent resident of, or immigrant of Barbados the
fee is BDD. $20.00;

These fees are payable upon application for a copy of the

marriage

certificate

which

can

be

obtained

from

the

Registration Department.

The Ministry of Home Affairs Office is kindly requesting that all

persons conducting business with us should observe our dress
code of modesty and decency.
For example no Slippers, Swimwear or revealing clothing will
be permitted.

CIVIL CEREMONY PROCEDURE

1. Call the office of the desired magistrate to reserve
desire wedding date.
2. Guests must appear in person at the relevant magistrate
court and present valid passport or birth certificate
forms of identification.
3. Guests will receive a signed letter from the clerk
outlining the persons to be married as well as the
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Ministry of Home Affairs- Information on Getting Married in Barbados

4.

5.
6.
7.

magistrate conducting the ceremony, location and time

and date of said ceremony.
Guest must appear in person with both forms of
identification at the marriage license office, Cheapside
Bridgetown, St.Michael where they will receive their
license and receipt.
License should then be delivered to the magistrate
courts clerk prior to the wedding date, in order for the
register to be complete.
Guests can then be married on property and register
signed after ceremony.
Coordinator will then need to apply for the marriage
certificate and the Government Registry in Bridgetown
and collect subsequently.

Registrar of the Supreme Court Registration

Judicial Centre Whitepark Rd St.Michael, Bridgetown, Barbados
Telephone Number (246) 426 3461; (246) 426 2405, 3104500
Fax Number 246 426 2405,
Email address registrar@lawcourts.gov.bb
OFFICE HOURS
Monday to Friday, 8. 30 a.m. 3:45 p.m.

In the event that you require a copy of a marriage certificate

you should write the Registrar of the Supreme Court, The
Judicial

Centre

Whitepark

Rd

St.Michael,

Bridgetown,

Barbados.
Fax

No.

246

426

2405,

Email

address

registrar@lawcourts.gov.bb

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Ministry of Home Affairs- Information on Getting Married in Barbados

Applicants must submit their names (husbands name and

wifes name) and the Date and Place of the Marriage.
Importantly British applicants can prepare money orders of
nine pounds (9 pounds) and United States of America applicants
can prepare international money U.S. $15.00. In addition, all
International money orders must be made payable to the
Registrar of the Supreme Court.
I hope that the information provided is helpful.
God bless
William Gittens
Administrative Officer II

November 27, 2009

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Ministry of Home Affairs- Information on Getting Married in Barbados