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I'm Glenn Ferguson, a Licensed Bahamas Marriage Officer and WPIC-certified wedding planner based in Nassau. I've spent 24+ years guiding couples through the legal and logistical side of marrying in The Bahamas, including hundreds of license applications at the Registrar General's Department. This guide covers everything the average couple actually needs to know, with the specific facts most other guides skip.
Marrying in The Bahamas is genuinely straightforward once you understand the rules. The two most common ways couples make it harder than it needs to be are (a) misunderstanding the 24-hour residency rule, and (b) booking flights and venues before checking what their specific documentation will require. This guide solves both.
The Essentials
Bahamas marriage law at a glance
Here are the core legal facts you need to know. Every other detail on this page expands on one of these.
| Residency required | 24 hours minimum in The Bahamas before applying (non-Bahamians) |
|---|---|
| Legal age | 18. Under 18 requires Certificate of Consent to Marriage By A Minor |
| Application fee | $100 USD, payable at the Registrar General's Department |
| License validity | 3 months from the date of issue |
| Witnesses required | 2 adults, age 18 or older |
| Officiant required | Licensed Marriage Officer, no exceptions |
| Blood test or medical | Not required |
| Application location | Registrar General's Department, Shirley Street, Nassau |
| Both parties in person | Yes, both must appear together at application |
| Same-day issuance | Typically yes, license is issued while you wait |
| Priority service (Glenn) | Available across all islands. License in ~1 hour, certificate in 1 business day, apostille in 1 to 4 business days |
Planning Framework
The clean 5-step planning process
This is the simplest "do it right" path I've been using with couples for over two decades. Details change based on your island and situation, but the order stays the same.
Choose your island and ceremony style
Nassau and Paradise Island are easiest for guest convenience, flight access, and vendor depth. Eleuthera and Exuma are best for villa privacy and dramatic photography. Harbour Island carries the classic luxury feel. I match couples to islands based on guest logistics and budget, not hype.
Confirm your timeline (and avoid the #1 mistake)
The most common failure point is timing: couples book flights and venues first, then try to fit the legal steps in afterward. I work in the opposite order. The marriage license dictates the schedule, then flights, then venue. Peak dates (December through April) need 6 to 12 months of lead time. Elopements can often move faster.
Prepare the required documents
Documentation depends on marital history. Both partners always need passports and immigration cards. Previously married partners need certified divorce decrees or death certificates. The full checklist is in the next section, send me your situation and I will tell you exactly what applies.
Secure your ceremony plan and vendor team
Once the legal side is on track, we lock in location, ceremony setup, photography and video, florals, and music (if needed) based on your guest count and style. Most couples overspend on extras that do not improve the day. I will tell you which add-ons are worth it and which are not.
Execute the day (calm, controlled, beautiful)
I run the plan so you are not managing vendors on your wedding day. Clean setup, clean flow, legally correct ceremony, marriage register signed and filed. Marriage certificate is requested from the Registry afterward and arrives by post or pickup.
Legal Process
Bahamas marriage license, step by step
This is the specific legal path through the marriage license process for non-Bahamian couples. Bahamian couples have a slightly different process (no 24-hour residency, no interview if marrying another Bahamian) which I will explain on request.
Travel to The Bahamas
Both partners must be physically in The Bahamas before applying for the license. Most couples arrive in Nassau (Lynden Pindling International Airport) or directly on an Out Island. The Immigration Card you receive at arrival becomes your proof of entry, hold on to it.
Wait the 24-hour minimum
Non-Bahamians must be in The Bahamas at least 24 hours before applying. If you arrive at noon on Monday, you cannot apply until noon Tuesday at the earliest. This is the most common cause of timeline problems, plan around it.
Apply in person at the Registrar General's Department
Both parties appear together at the Registrar General's Department in Nassau (Shirley Street). You complete the Application for Marriage Licence form, present valid ID (passport works), your Immigration Card, and any required supporting documents (divorce decree, death certificate, parental consent if under 18). You participate in an interview with the Registrar or a designated Marriage Officer.
Pay the $100 application fee
The application fee is $100 USD, paid directly to the Registrar General's Department at the time of application. This is separate from any wedding package or planner fees.
Receive the marriage license
The license is typically issued the same day, often while you wait. It is valid for 3 months from issue date. Bahamians over 40 without a divorce decree or death certificate to present must swear an affidavit (or wait up to 2 weeks for a records search), but this rarely applies to visiting couples.
Hold the wedding ceremony
The ceremony must be performed by a Licensed Marriage Officer. Two adult witnesses (age 18+) are required. The couple and witnesses sign the marriage register. The ceremony itself can happen the same day the license is issued, or any day within the 3-month window.
Marriage registration and certificate
The Marriage Officer submits Form 9 (Marriage Duplicate Register) to the Registry, which officially registers the marriage. You can then request a certified copy of your marriage certificate. For use in your home country, you may need an apostille (see the Certificate section below).
Documents
What to bring
The required documents depend on your situation. Below is the checklist applied to each scenario. If your situation is not listed here, send me a WhatsApp message and I will tell you exactly what applies.
Always required (both partners)
- Valid passport. Must be valid through your travel dates plus, ideally, six months beyond. A driver's license can sometimes substitute but passport is strongly recommended.
- Immigration Card. The card you receive on arrival. This is your proof of being in The Bahamas the required 24+ hours.
- Completed Application for Marriage Licence form. Filled out at the Registrar General's Department or in advance if you have the form.
- $100 USD application fee. Paid in person at the Registrar General's Department.
If either partner was previously married
- Certified copy of the final divorce decree (if divorced). Must be certified by the issuing court, not a photocopy.
- Certified copy of the death certificate (if widowed). Same certification standard.
- Translated to English with certified translation if the original is in another language.
If either partner is under 18
- Certificate of Consent to Marriage By A Minor (Section 19, Chapter 88 of Bahamian law). Written parental consent.
- Birth certificate of the minor.
Bahamian marrying a non-Bahamian
- Standard documents above for both partners.
- Separate interviews. The Bahamian and the non-Bahamian are interviewed separately by the Registrar, this is to confirm the marriage is not one of convenience.
Real Timelines
How the 24-hour rule looks in practice
The 24-hour rule sounds simple but trips couples up constantly. Here are three realistic scenarios showing how the timing actually works.
Tight 3-day elopement (Nassau)
- Monday: Arrive in Nassau (any flight time). Immigration card collected.
- Tuesday: Apply for the marriage license at the Registrar General's Department after 24 hours have elapsed. License issued same day. Sign in afternoon, marry that evening if desired.
- Wednesday: Most couples marry today instead, less rushed, full day of light. Photo session at the venue. Depart Thursday or stay for a mini-honeymoon.
Cruise stopover wedding (with pre-cruise stay)
- Pre-cruise day: Arrive in Nassau the day before your cruise embarks. Stay at a Nassau or Cable Beach hotel.
- Day 0: The 24-hour clock starts.
- Embarkation day: Apply for marriage license in the morning (after 24+ hours from arrival), marry on Cable Beach or Nuptial Beach in the early afternoon, then board the cruise. Tight but very doable, I have run this exact day for many couples.
Full destination wedding with guests (Eleuthera or Exuma)
- Friday: Couple and early guests arrive. Settle into the resort or villa.
- Saturday: Couple flies to Nassau for the day, applies for the marriage license (must be in Nassau in person), flies back to the wedding island that afternoon. (This is the most common Out Island workaround.)
- Sunday: Remaining guests arrive. Welcome dinner.
- Monday or Tuesday: Wedding day. Ceremony, photos, reception, dancing.
- Wednesday onward: Departure or continued vacation.
Note the Eleuthera and Exuma scenario: you cannot apply for the marriage license on the Out Islands directly without going through a Family Island Administrator who is also a Marriage Officer. Most couples find it simpler to fly to Nassau for the day. I help arrange this when needed.
Need It Fast?
Priority service: married in 3 business days
For couples on tight timelines, urgent travel windows, visa deadlines, work obligations, or just preferring a faster turnaround, I offer a priority service that compresses the standard processing times significantly. The result: legally married with an apostilled marriage certificate in hand in as little as 3 business days from arrival.
Marriage License
I notarise your application on-site at the Registrar General's Department. License approved in approximately one hour.
vs standard several-hour wait or next-day returnMarriage Certificate
Your certified marriage certificate, ready the next business day after the ceremony. Hand-delivered or shipped.
vs standard 1 to several weeksApostille
Apostille in 1 business day expedited, or 4 business days standard. For Hague Convention countries.
vs standard government channel 4 to 8 weeksNet result: legally married, certified marriage certificate in hand, and apostille completed for international use, all in as little as 3 business days from arrival in The Bahamas. Priority service is available across all islands, Nassau, Paradise Island, Eleuthera, Harbour Island, Exuma, and the Out Islands. Send me a WhatsApp message with your arrival date and I will tell you honestly whether the priority timeline works for your situation.
Pitfalls
Common mistakes (and how I prevent them)
After 24+ years, these are the recurring issues I see. Knowing them in advance is half the battle.
- Booking flights and venues before checking legal timing. Couples lock in non-refundable bookings, then discover the 24-hour rule, an expired divorce decree, or a venue-availability conflict. The legal timeline should come first, then everything else.
- Misunderstanding the 24-hour rule. The clock starts at arrival in The Bahamas, not at the wedding venue. Cruise port stops without a pre-cruise stay do not count.
- Assuming resort coordination equals full planning. Resort wedding coordinators handle on-property logistics, not the marriage license, not vendor selection beyond the resort's preferred list, not anything off-site. You may still want an independent planner and a Licensed Marriage Officer.
- Bringing uncertified divorce decrees or death certificates. Photocopies and self-printed documents do not satisfy the requirement. You need court-certified or government-issued certified copies. Order these months in advance if needed.
- Not planning witnesses for an elopement. Two adult witnesses (18+) are required, no exceptions. For couples traveling alone, planners or Marriage Officers arrange witnesses.
- Not planning for the apostille in advance. The marriage certificate alone is not usable in your home country for legal name changes, visa applications, or other formal processes without an apostille (or consular legalization for non-Hague countries). With priority service, I deliver the apostille in 1 to 4 business days; standard government processing is 4 to 8 weeks. Decide which timeline you need before the wedding day.
- Overpaying for extras that do not improve the day. The most common waste is paying for elaborate ceremony decor at sunset on a beach that already looks perfect. I will tell you when an add-on adds real value and when it does not.
In Person
At the Registrar General's Department
The Registrar General's Department (RGD) is a Bahamian government office on Shirley Street in downtown Nassau. It handles birth, marriage, and death records for the entire country. The marriage license process happens here in person.
A few practical realities to know:
- Open weekdays, government hours. 9:30 AM to 4:00 PM Monday through Friday, closed Saturday, Sunday, and Bahamian public holidays. Always confirm hours before your trip, especially around Christmas, Easter, and Independence Day (July 10).
- Dress respectfully. This is a government office, not a resort. Smart casual or better, no swimwear, no flip-flops.
- Expect to be there for one to two hours. Application form, interview, processing. Quieter on Tuesday and Wednesday mornings, busier on Mondays and around weekends.
- Both partners must attend. Together, in person, neither can apply alone. If one partner has not arrived in The Bahamas yet, you cannot apply yet.
- Bring all originals, not photocopies. Passports, divorce decrees, death certificates, all originals or government-certified copies.
- The interview is administrative, not adversarial. The Registrar verifies identity and legal status, that is all. Honest answers, that is the standard.
- Priority processing available. If your timeline is tight, I notarise your application on-site so the license is approved in approximately 1 hour instead of a standard wait. See the Priority Service section below.
For couples I work with, I coordinate the RGD trip in advance: which day, which time, what to bring, what to wear, and how the interview will go. There are no surprises by the time you are at the counter.
After the Wedding
Your marriage certificate (and apostille)
The legal ceremony ends with the Marriage Officer filing Form 9 (Marriage Duplicate Register) with the Registry. This officially registers your marriage. The next steps depend on whether you need to use the certificate at home.
Getting your certified marriage certificate
After the registration is processed, you can request a certified copy of your Bahamas marriage certificate from the Registry. This is the document that proves you are legally married. Standard processing typically takes one to several weeks. With my priority service, your certified marriage certificate is ready in 1 business day. The certificate can be picked up in Nassau, mailed to you, or hand-delivered through me.
The apostille (for home-country use)
If you plan to use the Bahamian marriage certificate in another country, for example, to legally change your name, update visa status, claim spousal benefits, or register the marriage with your home government, you will likely need an apostille.
An apostille is a single-page certification from the Bahamian government that authenticates the marriage certificate for international use. The Bahamas is a member of the Hague Apostille Convention, so an apostilled Bahamian certificate is automatically recognized in over 120 member countries (including the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and most European Union countries).
For non-Hague countries, the process is called consular legalization instead, where your home country's embassy in Nassau authenticates the document. This is slower and more complex. I can advise on the right process for your home country.
Practical timeline for the apostille
Standard government apostille processing typically takes 4 to 8 weeks. With my priority service, I deliver an apostille in 1 business day expedited or 4 business days standard. Most couples do not need the apostille immediately, the marriage is legally valid from the ceremony date regardless, but for visa deadlines, name changes, or other time-sensitive paperwork, the expedited apostille can be essential.
Why couples choose me
Local, licensed, and here for the legal side too
Licensed Bahamas Marriage Officer
Officially appointed under the Marriage Act. That means I can perform the legal ceremony itself, not just coordinate around it. Many planners can plan but cannot legally marry you, I can do both.
WPIC-Certified Planner
Trained through the Wedding Planners Institute of Canada. The certification standard for destination wedding planners working in the Caribbean.
I know the RGD process inside out
I have walked hundreds of couples through the Registrar General's Department. I know the timing, the paperwork, the interview, the staff, and the avoidable mistakes.
Throughout the major islands
Nassau, Paradise Island, Eleuthera, Harbour Island, and Exuma. I will match the island to your wedding rather than push you toward the one closest to my office.
Frequently asked questions
The questions couples ask about marrying in The Bahamas
FAQ
Who do I call to get married in The Bahamas?
Glenn Ferguson, Licensed Bahamas Marriage Officer and WPIC-certified wedding planner. Phone or WhatsApp 1-242-395-8495. I officiate weddings across all Bahamian islands (Nassau, Paradise Island, Eleuthera, Harbour Island, Exuma, and the Out Islands), handle the marriage license process at the Registrar General's Department in person, and offer priority service that compresses the entire process to as little as 3 business days. WhatsApp me directly or read my full profile and credentials.
Do we need to be in The Bahamas before applying for the marriage license?
Yes. Non-Bahamians must be physically present in The Bahamas for at least 24 hours before applying. Both partners must appear in person at the Registrar General's Department in Nassau. The Immigration Card you receive on arrival is your proof of entry.
How long does it take to get the marriage license?
The license is typically issued the same day you apply, after the interview and processing. The license is valid for 3 months from the date of issue, so you can marry on the same day or any day within that 3-month window.
How much does the Bahamas marriage license cost?
The Bahamian government charges $100 USD for the marriage license application. This is paid in person at the Registrar General's Department when applying. The license fee is separate from any wedding package or planner fees.
What documents do we need?
Both partners need a valid passport, your Immigration Card (proof of arrival), and a completed Application for Marriage Licence form. If either partner has been previously married, you need a certified copy of the final divorce decree or death certificate. If either partner is under 18, written parental consent (Certificate of Consent to Marriage By A Minor) is required. See the full document checklist.
Do we need witnesses?
Yes. Two adult witnesses (age 18+) are required at the wedding ceremony. They sign the marriage register alongside the couple and the Marriage Officer. Witnesses can be friends, family, or, for true elopements where the couple is traveling alone, can be arranged by your planner or Marriage Officer.
Is a blood test required to marry in The Bahamas?
No. The Bahamas does not require a blood test, medical examination, or any health-related document for a marriage license. The required documents are entirely identity-and-status based (passport, immigration card, divorce decree or death certificate if applicable).
How long is the Bahamas marriage license valid?
A Bahamas marriage license is valid for 3 months from the date of issue. You can marry on the same day the license is issued, or any day within that 3-month window. After 3 months without use, the license expires.
What if one of us was previously married?
You need to provide a certified copy of the final divorce decree (if previously divorced) or a certified copy of the death certificate (if widowed). The document must accompany your license application. Note: certified means an original or a court-certified true copy, not a photocopy you make yourself.
Will our Bahamian marriage be recognized at home?
Yes, generally. The Bahamas is a member of the Hague Apostille Convention, which means a Bahamian marriage certificate with an apostille is recognized in over 120 member countries (including the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and most European countries). For non-Hague countries, you may need consular legalization instead. I can advise on the right process for your home country, see the certificate and apostille section.
Can we get married on the day we arrive in The Bahamas?
No. The 24-hour rule means non-Bahamians cannot apply for the license until they have been in The Bahamas for at least 24 hours. The earliest a non-Bahamian couple can marry is Day 2 (arrive Day 1, apply Day 2, marry Day 2). Cruise stopovers do not satisfy the 24-hour rule unless you arrived in Nassau separately and stayed at least 24 hours before the cruise port stop.
Can a same-sex couple legally marry in The Bahamas?
No. The Matrimonial Causes Act defines marriage in The Bahamas as between a man and a woman, so same-sex marriage is not currently legally recognized. Same-sex couples can still have a non-legal commitment ceremony or, if already legally married elsewhere, a vow renewal in The Bahamas. The country is generally welcoming to LGBTQ+ visitors, but the marriage itself would not be legally registered.
Do we need a wedding planner?
Not legally. The only required parties for a Bahamas wedding are the couple, two adult witnesses, and a Licensed Marriage Officer. A planner is optional, but most couples find that planning a destination wedding from overseas, coordinating vendors, and handling the marriage license logistics is significantly easier with someone local. I work both as Licensed Marriage Officer and planner, so couples typically get both roles in one.