With a choice of luxurious resorts and idyllic white-sand beaches fringed by gently swaying palm trees, the Seychelles is the perfect spot to say 'I do' – and the ideal destination for that long dreamt of beach wedding!
The Seychelles offer a wide choice of stunning venues for your destination wedding.
The legal requirements for getting married in the Seychelles are fairly straightforward, but there are certain legal requirements which need to be followed.
You must have a civil wedding before the religious ceremony, as a church wedding without a civil ceremony is not recognised as being legal.
Couples must advise the Civil Status Office of their wedding date at least 11 calendar days in advance. However, this eleven-day period may be exempted by applying for a Special Marriage Licence, normally issued within two days from the date of application.
You must normally be resident in the Seychelles for at least 11 days before getting married. However if you apply for a Special License, you only need be resident three days before the date of your wedding.
Ensure that all documents are in your legal name, and provide affidavits in cases where you are known by another name.
All documents – originals or certified copies – must be issued in English or French, otherwise they must be translated by an Official Translator and subsequently notarised.
Documents required for getting married in Seychelles, include…
All legally recognized weddings in the Seychelles are civil ceremonies. The civil ceremony must be conducted prior to a religious ceremony. Two witnesses must be present for the civil ceremony.
Civil Ceremonies are conducted by a Civil Status Officer at the local Civil Status Office on either Wednesday or Thursday between the hours of 9am - 11am.
Couples wishing to marry in another location such as a hotel, beach, yacht or garden perhaps, should consult with your Civil Registrar to ensure your chosen venue is appropriate and be an authorised place to hold weddings.
Couples wishing to marry outside the Civil Status Office will be required to pay a fee of SR350. This fee applies to ceremonies held on any weekday on Mahe or one of the Inner Islands. The couple will be required to cover the transportation cost of the Registrar officer to travel to these islands.
The Civil Status Office also has offices on both Praslin and La Digue. For ceremonies held on Fregate Island or one of the Outer Islands the fee is SR500 plus the transportation costs for the Registrar Officer.
The rate of SR700 is charged for ceremonies held after 5pm on a weekday or at any time on a Saturday and Sunday. This fee includes the SR350 cost for marrying outside the Civil Status Office.
French law requires that French nationals wishing to get married abroad follow certain specific procedures. For information concerning these, contact the Seychelles Civil Status Office or the French embassy in Seychelles.
Legally conducted marriages in Seychelles are recognised under European laws.
The Marriage Certificate is issued following the civil ceremony.
Both a large extract of the Marriage Certificate and an abridged copy can be obtained for SR50 each from the Civil Status office at Independence House in Victoria.
European Union citizens (except the United Kingdom and Ireland) may need to have their Marriage Certificate apostilled (or authenticated).
This does not apply to citizens of United States, Canada, Australia or New Zealand. Citizens of Asian countries, South and Central America should check with their Civil Registrar/Marriage Officer as to whether an Apostille is required for your country.
A special stamp (apostille) is required to validate the marriage certificate obtained after the civil ceremony for certain nationalities. This stamp is available at the Registrar's office located at the Supreme Court. Your wedding planner can assist you in obtaining the Apostille, if required.
Some faiths may require additional documents for a church service. You may want to check this with your wedding planner or local minister. Before you can have a church wedding you must be legally married in a civil wedding. You should allow at least two months to process all the documents, before you arrive.
Couples of the Roman Catholic faith should allow at least three months before the wedding date in order to process all the necessary paperwork (certificates of baptism, dispensations, statements of freedom to marry, etc.). The wedding ceremony of a Roman Catholic must take place in a church rather than in a resort or on a beach.
Special Marriage Licence – SR100
Marriage Certificate – SR50
Apostille Stamp – SCR140
The majority of hotels in Seychelles provide professional wedding planners who can insure that the entire process of getting married in the Seychelles, including fulfilling all legal requirements, is stress free.
For more information check the Seychelles Civil Status Office, PO Box 430, Victoria, Mahe, Seychelles. Opening Hours: Mon-Fri 8am – 4pm. (Tel: +248 38-31-82/83, Fax: +248 22-56-60, Email: civilstatus@seychelles.sc).
For inspiration, visit Seychelles Wedding – an excellent website dedicated to helping couples 'tie the knot' in the Seychelles.
Please note: while accurate at time of publication this information is for guidance purposes only and liable to change without notice. Please check with your wedding planner at your resort of choice or the relevant embassy of the country in which you intend to marry for up-to-date details before your wedding.
Latest update: How to get married in the Seychelles: 20 June, 2023
Advertising