Getting Married

Photocopies of required documents, as listed below, can be sent in advance. The couple must bring the originals when arriving in the country. All documents must be legalized and translated into Spanish by an official translator.

Civil Marriage

For preparation of the Marriage Certificate, submit the following documents to the Civil Status Office before the ceremony:

• Original passport with photocopy of the identification page, and the last entries to the country;
• Affidavits of marital status, certifying that the bride and groom are single;
• Original birth certificates;
• Divorce Certificate(s) or Death Certificate(s), if applicable; and
• Two or more witnesses with valid passports, other than family.

Religious Ceremony

Those wishing for a religious ceremony in the DR’s paradisiacal setting can make their dream come true. The main requirement is to obtain authorization from an archbishop in the couple’s country of residence, and deliver it to the local Dominican archdiocese. The documents needed include:

• Pre-matrimonial Certificate;
• Certificate of Civil Marriage legalized by the Dominican Consulate, if the couple has already married in their country;
• Baptism Certificates;
• Certificates of Confirmation; and
• Church Annulment Certificate(s), if applicable.

Birth certificates are also necessary, and an Affidavit of Marital Status, usually obtained from the Dominican Consulate of the country where the documents were issued.