Getting married in Barbados
One of the fastest in the Caribbean — no residency or waiting period, no blood test, same-day license for ~$112 in government fees.
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 (or certified birth certificates for non-residents)
- Proof of entry / return tickets
- Original or certified Decree Absolute if divorced
- Prior marriage certificate + death certificate of deceased spouse if widowed
- Letter from the Marriage Officer for a religious ceremony
- Certified English translation of any non-English document
Residency requirement
None — both parties apply in person at the Ministry of Home Affairs; the license can be issued the same day, allowing marriage within 24–48 hours of arrival.
Blood test
Not required.
Apostille & translation
No apostille required on incoming documents for the license (an apostille on the resulting Barbados certificate is available for use abroad). Non-English documents need certified English translation.
Estimated fees (USD)
~$112 in mandatory government fees (license ~$100 + stamp ~$12.50). Optional certificate copy ~$10, apostille ~$25, magistrate civil ceremony ~$125–$175.
Processing time
Same day — license typically issued on the spot when both parties apply in person (valid 3 months).
Legal ceremony or symbolic?
A legal Barbados marriage is fast and US-recognized (civil or religious), so no separate ceremony at home is needed.
Source: Get a Marriage Licence — Government of Barbados
Last verified June 18, 2026 · we re-check quarterly
Note: Both parties must apply in person (no mail/proxy). Same-sex marriage is not legal in Barbados. USD amounts converted from BBD (pegged 2:1).