Getting married in Antigua and Barbuda
The fastest of the group — with the Special License there's no residency and couples can effectively marry the same day they arrive.
Verified June 18, 2026. General planning guidance, not legal advice — rules change and vary by region and circumstance. Confirm with the official source below and your venue or travel advisor before booking.
Required documents
- Valid passports
- Sworn single-status declaration (signed in-country) if never married
- Original/notarized Decree Absolute if divorced
- Prior marriage + death certificate if widowed
- Marriage license application signed in person at the Ministry of Legal Affairs
- Two or more witnesses at the ceremony
Residency requirement
None with the Special License (the route nearly all foreign couples use) — often marry within 24 hours / same working day. The cheaper Ordinary License requires 15 days' residency.
Blood test
Not required.
Apostille & translation
Not required for English-language US documents per authoritative sources. Translation needs for non-English documents are unverified — confirm with the Ministry of Legal Affairs.
Estimated fees (USD)
~$200–$450 total. Special (no-residency) License ~$150; registration ~$40; marriage officer ~$100 (court house) to ~$250 (off-site).
Processing time
Fast — Special License has no wait; ceremony usually within one working day. Certified certificate issued at/after registration.
Legal ceremony or symbolic?
An Antigua marriage is internationally recognized and valid in the US — no separate ceremony needed. The Special License makes same-day legal weddings realistic.
Source: Weddings — Visit Antigua & Barbuda
Last verified June 18, 2026 · we re-check quarterly
Note: Fees are EC$-pegged. Confirm current fees and any translation rules with the Registrar General.