Getting married in Curaçao
The bureaucratic outlier — Dutch-style civil marriage needs a written petition ~2 months ahead and apostilled, Dutch-translated documents, so many couples do symbolic-only here.
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
- Apostilled long-form birth certificates (recency rules vary — some require <6 months)
- Apostilled international single-status declaration (not older than 6 months)
- Apostilled divorce decree / prior spouse's death certificate if applicable
- Parental details and a signed marriage petition to the Civil Registry
- Witnesses with passports (sources vary, 2–6)
Residency requirement
No long residency, but non-residents must file a written marriage petition with the Civil Registry at least ~2 months (8 weeks) ahead, then report in person at least 3 days before the ceremony.
Blood test
Not required.
Apostille & translation
All documents must be apostilled/legalized. Curaçao follows Dutch law — documents in Dutch or translated to Dutch by a sworn translator (some officials accept English; Dutch is safest).
Estimated fees (USD)
~$120–$220 for the civil registry/ceremony fee (~$120 at the Registrar's Office, ~$220 by a Marriage Officer). Local currency is the Antillean guilder; USD approximate.
Processing time
File the petition ~2 months ahead; ~2 weeks after document check you're notified, banns are announced, and you report in person 3 days before. Plan ~6+ weeks of lead time.
Legal ceremony or symbolic?
Many American couples legally marry at home and hold a symbolic ceremony in Curaçao — the legal route's advance petition, apostille, and Dutch translation are a lot of paperwork.
Source: Getting Married — U.S. Consulate General Curaçao
Last verified June 18, 2026 · we re-check quarterly
Note: Document recency rules and witness count vary by source; fees are guilder-pegged. Confirm with the Curaçao Civil Registry (Kranshi) before relying.