Send me your situation and I'll confirm your exact list:
Send: Nationalities · Previously married? Y/N · Arrival date · Ceremony date. I review documents over WhatsApp before you fly, which is when a missing decree is still fixable.
What do you need for a Bahamas marriage licence? Both partners in the country 24 hours, then applying together in person with government photo ID, proof of arrival, and proof that you're free to marry. What counts as that third item depends on your marital history, and that is the part this page sorts out.
- Residency
- 24 hours in The Bahamas before applying, both partners
- Where
- Any major island: Nassau's Registrar General's Department or a Family Island Administrator's Office
- When
- Monday to Friday, 9:30 AM to 4:00 PM. Closed weekends.
- Licence fee
- $100, paid on application
- Valid for
- 90 days from issue
- Witnesses
- Two, aged 18 or over, at the ceremony
- Not required
- Blood test, medical, banns, waiting period after issue
The Bahamas has one of the simplest marriage processes in the world. No blood test, no publishing of banns, no waiting period once the licence is in your hand. What catches couples out is not complexity. It is a single missing document that had to be ordered from a court at home weeks earlier.
The baseline
What everyone needs
Both partners, every time
- Government-issued photo identification. A valid passport is what the office expects from visitors and what I'd always bring.
- Proof of arrival in The Bahamas. The immigration card you receive on entry. It evidences the 24-hour requirement, so don't discard it with your boarding pass.
- Proof you're free to marry. What this means depends entirely on your marital history. See the next section.
- Both of you, in person, together. Neither partner can apply alone, and neither can apply before the other has landed.
- The $100 fee. Paid at the office when you apply.
That's the whole baseline. Everything else on this page is either about your specific situation, or about the mistakes that turn a twenty-minute appointment into a cancelled wedding.
Your situation
Find your scenario
The third requirement, proof you are free to marry, is the one that varies. Find yourself below.
Neither of you has been married before
- The baseline documents above.
- An affidavit of single status, sworn here in The Bahamas. Do not try to arrange this at home. It is sworn in The Bahamas before an attorney-at-law or notary public, and I provide it as part of the licence work. There is nothing for you to chase before you fly and nothing to go looking for when you land.
- Nothing else. This is the simplest case and the most common one.
Either of you is divorced
- The baseline documents, for both partners.
- The original final divorce decree absolute, or a certified copy bearing a raised or coloured seal from the issuing court.
- Not a photocopy you made. This is the single most common reason an application fails. The seal is the point.
- A certified English translation if the decree is in another language.
- Order it before you travel. Courts can take weeks. If you're divorced and your wedding is inside two months, request the decree today.
Either of you is widowed
- The baseline documents, for both partners.
- A certified copy of the former spouse's death certificate, from the issuing authority.
- Same standard as a divorce decree: certified, not self-copied, with a certified translation if not in English.
Either of you is under 18
- The baseline documents.
- Written parental consent, the Certificate of Consent to Marriage By A Minor.
- The minor's birth certificate.
A Bahamian marrying a non-Bahamian
- All baseline documents, for both partners.
- Separate interviews. You'll be interviewed individually rather than together, to confirm the marriage isn't one of convenience. It's routine, it's administrative, and honest answers are the whole standard.
- Bahamians over 40 without marital-history documentation may need a records search, which can take up to two weeks. Plan for it.
One honest caveat
Requirements vary by nationality and by individual circumstance, and general checklists, including this one, cannot cover every case. That's not a hedge, it's the reason I review documents over WhatsApp before couples fly. Send me your nationalities and marital history and you'll get a list that's actually yours.
Where and when
Where you apply
On any of the major islands. You do not have to be in Nassau. This surprises couples who've been told otherwise, and it removes a wasted day from most Out Island wedding weeks.
| In Nassau | Marriage Registration Section, Registrar General's Department, Shirley Street |
|---|---|
| On a Family Island | The local Administrator's Office, no trip to Nassau required |
| Office hours | Monday to Friday, 9:30 AM to 4:00 PM. Closed weekends and Bahamian public holidays |
| Who attends | Both partners, together, in person. No proxies, no exceptions |
| How long it takes | Around 20 minutes at the counter when documents are correct; longer if the office is busy |
| Weekend weddings | Licence must be issued by Friday, so arrive by Thursday at the latest |
| Dress | Smart casual. It's a government office, not a resort |
Full day-by-day scenarios are on the Bahamas wedding legal timeline, and the whole process start to finish is in my guide to getting married in The Bahamas.
What it costs
Government fees, plainly
| Marriage licence | $100, paid to the government at application |
|---|---|
| Licence, as quoted by Tourism | $120, the Ministry of Tourism figure, which includes one certified copy of the certificate |
| Certified certificate copy | $20, the document you'll need at home |
| Priority 1-hour processing | $375, includes my on-site notarisation. The government standard is same day or next day, and the Ministry of Tourism publishes two business days |
| Apostille | Separate government fee, see apostille assistance |
| Wedding packages | From $475 for a vow renewal, $1,495 for a legal elopement, see all 12 |
Government fees are paid to the government, not through me. Package prices are quoted before 10% Bahamas VAT, and a venue facility fee applies at every ceremony location. Full breakdown on the licence cost page and the 2026 cost guide.
Pitfalls
Why applications actually fail
Refusals are uncommon, and almost never a surprise once you see the cause. In order of frequency:
- An uncertified divorce decree. A photocopy, a scan, a printout from a court website. What's needed is the original or a certified copy with a raised or coloured seal. Order it months ahead.
- An undisclosed previous marriage. It surfaces at the interview, and then the paperwork you need is in another country. Tell me first and it's a scheduling problem, not a cancellation.
- Arriving too late for the 24-hour rule. The clock starts at first arrival in the country at any port, not at your wedding island, and not at your hotel check-in.
- A weekend arrival for an early-week wedding. Licensing offices close Saturday and Sunday. A Saturday arrival for a Monday ceremony leaves no weekday to apply.
- Only one partner present. Both of you must be in the country and at the counter. A partner arriving a day later delays the whole application.
- Untranslated documents. A decree or death certificate not in English needs a certified translation, arranged before travel.
Every one of these is visible weeks in advance. None is visible at the counter.
After the ceremony
The certificate, and making it count at home
The licence gets you married. The certificate is what proves it afterwards, and it's a separate step most couples don't plan for.
- Your Marriage Officer files Form 9, the Marriage Duplicate Register, with the Registry, which registers the marriage.
- You request a certified copy of the certificate. $20. With priority service it's ready the next business day.
- If you'll use it abroad for a name change, a visa or spousal benefits, you will likely need an apostille. The Bahamas is a Hague Convention member, so an apostilled certificate is recognised in 120+ countries.
- For non-Hague countries it's consular legalization instead, which is slower.
- Needing the certificate specifically for apostille? Say so up front so it's ordered correctly the first time.
Before you commit
What couples ask me right before booking
“Can you check our documents before we fly?”
Yes, and I'd rather you asked. Photograph your passports and any decree and send them over WhatsApp. Five minutes now beats discovering a missing seal at the counter in Nassau.
“Our decree is a photocopy. Is that really a problem?”
Yes. It needs the raised or coloured seal from the issuing court. This is the most common reason an application fails and the one with the longest lead time to fix. Start now.
“Do we need a lawyer?”
No. It's an administrative process, not a legal dispute. What you need is someone who's filed it before and knows which document the office will actually ask for.
“What if our names don't match across documents?”
Common after a previous marriage, and fixable, but not at the counter. Flag any name difference between passport and decree in your first message so we deal with it in advance.
“Can you get the licence for us before we arrive?”
No, and nobody can. Both partners must attend in person after 24 hours in the country. What I can do is pre-register the application so the visit takes minutes.
“Is our date actually workable?”
Send the arrival and ceremony dates. Weekend arrivals against weekday-only offices break more plans than anything else, and checking costs nothing.
Frequently asked questions
Marriage licence questions
FAQ
What are the requirements to get a Bahamas marriage licence?
Both partners in the country 24 hours, then applying together in person with government photo ID, proof of arrival, and proof you're free to marry. Never married means an affidavit of single status, sworn in The Bahamas and provided by me; divorced means the final decree absolute; widowed means the death certificate. Fee $100, valid 90 days.
Where do you apply for a Bahamas marriage licence?
On any of the major islands. In Nassau it's the Marriage Registration Section of the Registrar General's Department on Shirley Street; on a Family Island it's the local Administrator's Office. Both partners attend in person, Monday to Friday only.
How much does a Bahamas marriage licence cost?
$100 to the government at application. A certified certificate copy afterwards is $20. Priority one-hour processing is $375 including my on-site notarisation. Wedding packages are separate. See licence costs.
How long is the licence valid?
90 days from issue. Marry the same day or any day inside that window; after 90 days it expires and you'd reapply.
Do you need a birth certificate?
A valid passport is the requirement. Each of you needs one, and it is the identification the Registrar works from. There is no route around it.
On birth certificates the published guidance is not consistent. The Out Islands Promotion Board lists "a valid passport, birth certificate and photo ID", while the Nassau Paradise Island Promotion Board lists government-issued photo identification without mentioning a birth certificate.
In practice the passport is what is asked for. A birth certificate is required where a partner is under 18. If you have one to hand, pack it, since carrying it costs nothing. Send me your documents before you book flights and I will tell you exactly what your case needs.
Is a blood test required?
No. No blood test, no medical examination, no publishing of banns, and no waiting period once the licence is issued. This is why The Bahamas is among the simplest places in the world to marry legally.
What if one of us is divorced?
You need the original final divorce decree absolute, or a certified copy with a raised or coloured seal from the issuing court. Not a photocopy. Not a printout. If it's not in English it needs a certified translation. Order it from your home country well before you travel.
What if one of us is widowed?
A certified copy of the former spouse's death certificate from the issuing authority, to the same standard as a divorce decree: certified, not self-copied, translated if necessary.
Do we need witnesses?
Yes. Two, aged 18 or over, at the ceremony, signing the register alongside you and the Marriage Officer. I arrange them for couples travelling alone. See witness requirements.
Can we get the licence the same day we apply?
Usually, when documents are correct. Priority processing returns an approved licence in about an hour. In peak season, December to April, allow more time. Bahamians over 40 without marital-history documentation may need a records search taking up to two weeks.
What happens if our application is refused?
Refusals are uncommon and almost always come down to incomplete documentation or an undisclosed previous marriage. You can reapply once the missing document is produced, which is exactly why I review documents before couples fly rather than at the counter.
Do both of us have to attend?
Yes. Both partners, together, in person. Neither can apply alone, and neither can apply before the other has arrived. The 24 hour rule applies to both of you.
Can a same-sex couple get a Bahamas marriage licence?
No. The Matrimonial Causes Act defines marriage here as between a man and a woman, so a licence isn't issued to same-sex couples. A non-legal commitment ceremony, or a vow renewal for couples already married elsewhere, can still be performed.
Will the certificate be accepted in my home country?
Generally yes. The Bahamas is a Hague Apostille Convention member, so a certificate carrying an apostille is recognised in 120+ countries. Non-Hague countries need consular legalization. A certified copy costs $20 and is usually needed before an apostille can issue.
Sources
Requirements, fees and timings on this page come from Bahamian government and official tourism sources, checked in October 2026. Where two official sources differ, the page says so rather than picking one quietly.
- Nassau Paradise Island Promotion Board, how to obtain a Bahamian marriage licence, for the 24 hour residency requirement, government-issued photo identification, the final divorce decree or death certificate, parental consent for applicants under 18, the $120 fee including one certified copy, the two business day processing guidance, and the office hours.
- Bahamas Out Islands Promotion Board, marriage requirements, for the identification list that includes a birth certificate, the option to obtain the declaration of single status in The Bahamas from an attorney-at-law or notary public, and the translation and certification requirements for foreign decrees and death certificates.
- Registrar General's Department, Commonwealth of The Bahamas, for the $100 licence fee, the 90 day validity, same day or next day standard processing, and the requirement that both partners apply together in person.
- Hague Conference on Private International Law, for Bahamian accession to the Apostille Convention in 1976.