Getting married in Aruba
One of the few Caribbean destinations where non-resident foreign couples can have a fully legal civil marriage — filed ~1 month ahead at City Hall in Oranjestad.
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
- Long-form birth certificates (apostilled)
- Certificate of No Impediment / single-status certificate (apostilled, ~6 months recent)
- Apostilled divorce decree or prior spouse's death certificate if applicable
- Two witnesses (18+) with passports (planners can supply)
- Aruba marriage-intent and single-status declaration forms
Residency requirement
None — no residency or waiting period for the marriage itself, provided paperwork is filed and approved in advance.
Blood test
Not required.
Apostille & translation
All foreign documents must carry an apostille. Documents not in Dutch may require certified Dutch translation (Dutch is the Civil Registry's working language); English US documents are commonly accepted — confirm with the registry.
Estimated fees (USD)
~$200–$600+ for the legal/civil registration; official document fees are modest. Most couples use a planner to file, pushing totals into the several-hundred range.
Processing time
Documents must reach the Aruba Civil Registry at least 1 month before the date. After approval and the City Hall ceremony, the certificate follows shortly. The 1-month deadline is the binding constraint.
Legal ceremony or symbolic?
A genuinely legal route for Americans — the civil ceremony at Oranjestad City Hall is valid in the US. Use a local planner to manage the apostille/filing timeline.
Source: Aruba Wedding Requirements — Aruba Tourism Authority
Last verified June 18, 2026 · we re-check quarterly
Note: Same-sex marriage legal since 2024. Confirm with the Civil Registry (info@censo.aw) whether English US documents need certified Dutch translation, and current fees/validity windows.