Legal Requirements
for Getting Married in Grenada
Getting married in Grenada is not complicated and may be accomplished by adhering to the following requirements. Your Beautiful Weddings Grenada (BWG) Wedding Co-ordinator will accompany you and assist with this process.
A marriage license will have to be applied for before getting legally married. Once received, this license expires in 3 months. As such, the wedding must take place within that time frame, or a new license will have to be applied for. All document requirements are stated below:
All documents must be in English. If the originals are in another language, they must be translated into English and certified.
Documentation required for BOTH the bride and groom:
- Marriage license application form (this will be provided and completed by your BWG wedding co-ordinator once you are on island).
- Passports, which must be valid and state issued.
- Original Birth Certificates.
- Certificate of single status or non-marriage: An Affidavit (or letter only from a Lawyer/Attorney, Justice of the Peace (JP) or Notary Public) must be written by the bride/groom and then certified by one of the above with applicable notarization stamps, seals, etc., attesting that the bride/groom has never been married before. This document is not required if you are divorced or widowed.
- If divorced, then all pages of all court certified final divorce decrees (Decree Absolute) for each divorced party must be provided. If the divorce document is in a foreign language then it MUST be translated into English, certified by an official translator, and both language copies submitted.
- If widowed, then the state issued death certificate of the deceased spouse, with the related marriage certificates must be provided.
- Legal name change or legal adoption documents must be provided, if applicable.
- If under the age of 21, written parental consent by way of an Affidavit from a Lawyer or Notary Public.
- Couples MUST hand carry ALL original state issued and/or court certified documents with raised/embossed seals & stamps and with Judge or Court Clerk’s original ink signature. If this is not done it will negatively affect the approval of your marriage license application and may result in the postponement of your wedding.
- Documents must be presented to the different government ministries/offices personally. This should take no more than two hours. If for any reason both parties cannot do so, then ideally the groom should be present. He will have to sign a document in front of the clerk to complete the marriage license application.
Please note there is a strict dress code in effect at the Ministerial Office. No sleeveless shirts, ripped jeans, tank tops, caps, shorts or flip flops are permitted.
Instructions for required documentation:
(**due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic and relevant quarantine stay requirements for Destination couples, the below license application timelines will differ)
- If applicable, obtain a certificate of non-marriage for each of the parties in their country of residence. This consists of a letter certified by a lawyer/attorney, JP or Notary Public attesting to the fact that the parties have never been married before.
- If either party is divorced, the original of the final divorce decree document must be presented.
- If a minor is a party to the marriage (under 21 years of age) a special form must be obtained from the Office of the Prime Minister, signed by the parties’ parents and certified by a Notary Public.
- All documents must be presented in English. If they are in another language, they should be translated to English and certified by a Notary Public.
- Original Passports and birth certificates of both parties must be presented.
- Update: Applicants no longer have to endure the 3-day residency period. They can now apply as soon as on their day of arrival, or the day after they arrive once it is on a weekday and before the office closes at 3pm. For an Express Marriage License, it can be applied for and received within 1 business day.
- All original documents must be presented to the Registrar’s Office in the Ministry of Health.
- Strict dress code must be adhered to when visiting Government offices.
- The total time required to obtain a regular marriage license is normally 3 business days.
- There is no requirement for a blood or other medical tests.
Process timelines for Regular marriage license (for destination and local couples):
- Update: Marriage license application: Residency requirement of 72 hours (3 days) has been removed and no longer applies. Applicants can now apply as soon as on their day of arrival, or the day after they arrive once it is on a weekday and before the office closes at 3pm.
- Collection/approval of submitted marriage license application: 3 business days.
- Cost: EC$100/US$38 (EC$50 for local couples) + EC$15/US$6 for stamps
- Collection of Marriage Certificate: this can be done 2 days after it is applied for. The signed marriage register has to be submitted by either your BWG wedding co-ordinator or your marriage officer. The cost is EC$10 + EC$5 stamps per copy.
**New offering: Process timelines for Express marriage license: (applicable to Destination couples only)
- Marriage license application: Residency requirement not applicable. Application can be made the same day of arrival once you get to the relevant office before 3pm.
- Cost: EC$540/US$203 + EC$15/US$6 stamp duty.
- All documentation requirements above apply and are the same as for a regular marriage license application.
- Collection/approval of submitted Express marriage license application is the next day (1 business day).
- Collection of Marriage Certificate: this can be done 2 days after it is applied for. The signed marriage register has to be submitted by either your BWG wedding co-ordinator or your marriage officer. The cost is EC$10 + EC$5 stamps per copy.
Some questions that you may have are:
What is the legal requirement of residency prior to applying for a regular marriage license in Grenada?
The previous 3-day/72-hour residency period no longer applies. As such, the license can be applied for on the same day or the day after a couple’s arrival to Grenada.
I've lost my original birth certificate - is a duplicate, certified copy from the Registry of Births, Deaths and Marriages sufficient?
Yes, once it is indeed a certified copy.
I am adopted and therefore do not have a Birth Certificate - only adoption papers -will this do?
Yes, once you present the original adoption papers.
For how long should a lawyer/attorney, JP or Notary Public know the individuals to be able to attest to single status?
There is no given time-frame – however, the necessary legal documentation must be provided.
How long does it take to have the Marriage Certificate issued?
It usually takes approximately two working days after it has been applied for.
How will I get my marriage certificate if I leave within 2 days?
Prior arrangements can be made with your BWG wedding co-ordinator where they will collect and then mail off (preferably via registered mail or courier) the certificate on your behalf to a given address. (all costs to be borne by the couple).
Where do I obtain a Sworn Affidavit confirming my single status?
From a lawyer, JP or Notary Public located in your place of residence. The document must be certified, with an official stamp or seal and a signature from the issuing office.
Can my partner and I use the same lawyer, etc. to attest our single status?
Yes – if both parties reside in the same Borough, Parish, Province, County or State.
No- if both parties live in different Boroughs, Parishes, Provinces, Counties or States.
Is an official letter sufficient?
No – an official stamp or seal from the issuing office, together with signature must be placed on the document.
Does an affidavit need a Notary Public's stamp?
No – an official stamp from the issuing office (Lawyer, etc.), together with their signature is sufficient.
Do I need a blood test or other medical examination for a marriage in Grenada?
No, this is not required.
Contact Information
Beautiful Weddings Grenada
P.O. Box 427, St. George’s,
Grenada, West Indies.
Phone/WhatsApp: 1-473-406-PLAN (7526)
Email: plan@beautifulweddingsgrenada.com
Instagram: @beautifulgrenada
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