How to get married in one day: 13 easiest countries for foreigners

For citizens of many countries, getting married is a complex, lengthy, and exhausting process. This is often due to high levels of bureaucracy, long waiting periods, numerous background checks, the need to collect endless certificates, and even mandatory medical exams. Registering a marriage can be especially difficult for couples holding different passports. We offer you a list of countries where the marriage registration process is simplified for tourists. In this article, you will find out where it is easiest to get married.

Top 13 destinations for a quick wedding without bureaucracy

If you want to get married quickly abroad, you need to choose a country with marriage laws that are favorable to foreign couples. Before making a decision, it is important to understand the nuances of the legal process, waiting times, and document requirements. You should also consider flight convenience, visa or visa-free entry rules, and other specific details. Here is an overview of the most suitable countries for you.

Georgia

Today, this destination is a leader among foreign couples in love. If you want not just to sign papers, but to have an unforgettable wedding, come to Georgia. Here you can get married in one day and arrange a fantastic ceremony with a photo shoot in the mountains, in the vineyards, on the Black Sea coast, or in an old estate. The legal procedures are as simple and comfortable as possible for newlyweds, and the atmosphere of the Georgian region is incredibly vibrant and beautiful.

For the marriage registration, you will only need your international passports with a notarized translation and an apostille. You submit them to the Public Service Hall along with an application, and you can get married on the same day. The ideal option is to arrange an official or symbolic destination ceremony in a picturesque location. Whether you are planning a church wedding, a religious ceremony, or a wonderful honeymoon – everything is possible in Georgia.

Denmark

Here, marriage registration for foreigners is a simple procedure, without running around government offices and stressful situations. The newlyweds prepare a package of documents including international passports (or EU citizen ID cards), visas or residence permits, and certificates of marital status. If this is not a first marriage, divorce or death certificates of the previous spouse are required. The partners fill out an application and sign a declaration of intent to marry.

The papers are submitted to the Agency of Family Law (AFL). The application is usually approved within 5 working days. If the document package is incomplete or contains errors, the AFL may invite the couple for an interview. Denmark has many picturesque places ideal for an off-site ceremony. The marriage certificate confirms the legality of the marital relationship and is legally binding in most countries of the world.

Gibraltar

This British overseas territory is popular among foreign couples who want to get married quickly and easily. To officially register a marriage, non-residents do not need to live here permanently. This right is secured by a special license. Newlyweds provide original documents in English, with notarization or an apostille. Otherwise, the papers must be translated by a certified translator.

The document package includes international passports/ID cards and birth certificates. To confirm the ability to marry, a divorce certificate, a partner’s death certificate, or a certificate of marital status is provided. The couple submits an application to the Registry Office for the desired date. The marriage license is issued at the registrar’s office after the ceremony, which must be attended by two witnesses.

USA (Las Vegas)

Lovers from all over the world strive to get to the city of instant weddings. Here you can get married quickly in an unforgettable atmosphere. Las Vegas offers beautiful wedding chapels, themed halls, and unique locations. Only here do classic neon streets and luxurious casinos sit alongside the endless desert and mountains rising on the horizon. To get married, newlyweds need a special permit. To obtain it, the future spouses submit their passports with an application to the Clark County Clerk’s Office and pay a fee. They are issued a marriage license valid for one year. The only condition is that the ceremony must take place immediately after receiving it.

Cyprus

The marriage certificate issued to you here is unconditionally recognized in the EU and many other countries. A Notice of Marriage operates in Cyprus. Newlyweds fill out a specific form and submit it to the municipality, officially notifying local authorities of their desire to get married. The waiting time for a permit under the standard procedure is from half a month to three months. Under the expedited procedure (Special License), marriage is possible the very next day after submitting the application. The newlyweds pay a higher state fee.

From the documents, you will need international passports, birth certificates, and divorce/death certificates of a previous partner (if necessary). You obtain a certificate of marital status (Affidavit/Certificate of no impediment) in your home country no earlier than 3 months before the wedding. To enter Cyprus, a visa is required: a Cyprus National Visa, a multiple-entry Schengen visa, or a residence permit in an EU country.

Step-by-step process:

• prepare a package of documents translated into English or Greek, with an apostille;
• choose a municipality for the registration (the most popular are Larnaca, Ayia Napa, Paphos);
• send an application to the selected City Hall by email specifying the desired wedding date to book it in advance;
• upon arrival, visit the municipality with the original papers, pay the fee, and fill out the application;
• after the wedding, you will receive a certificate, which must be taken to the Ministry of Justice in Nicosia for apostillation.

Seychelles

A wedding in the Seychelles is a wonderful event filled with exoticism and romance. An “express registration” procedure operates here. By law, the application is submitted 11 days before the ceremony. The waiting period can be reduced to two days (Special License) after paying a special fee. The newlyweds must be on the islands for at least 48 hours prior to the registration date. The registration is conducted by a Civil Status officer.

The language of the documents must be English or French (or a notarized translation). An apostille is affixed in the issuing country. In addition to international passports, birth certificates, and papers on the divorce/death of a previous spouse, a certificate of marital status is also submitted. If it is impossible to obtain one in your home country, the bride and groom can sign an Affidavit right on the islands. With their signature, they confirm that they are free to marry. Two witnesses attend the ceremony. The certificate is apostilled at the Supreme Court of the Seychelles.

Bahamas

For a marriage in the Bahamas, non-resident newlyweds must comply with statutory requirements. Before applying for a marriage license, they must be on the territory of the islands for at least 24 hours. A license valid for 3 months will be issued on the next business day after the couple submits the application. Priority processing is available to receive the document in one hour.

The document package consists of passports, birth certificates, and certificates of dissolution of a previous marriage/death of a partner. An affidavit of marital status can be drawn up in advance by a notary or in the Bahamas by a local lawyer. An entry stamp in the passport or an immigration card serves as proof of the entry date. The language of the documents is English. The certificate is apostilled by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Nassau.

Antigua and Barbuda

Here, the marriage registration procedure is the most liberal in the Caribbean. A Special License makes it possible to sign the papers on the day of arrival. All papers must be ready to obtain the license. The list and requirements for them are exactly the same as in the Bahamas. The application is submitted in person to the Attorney General’s Office in St. John’s. The license is not issued on Saturdays and Sundays. After receiving it and holding the ceremony, an apostille is also placed on the certificate at the Ministry of Legal Affairs.

Mauritius

To host a wedding in the Republic, you must be aware of the strict procedure for visiting government agencies. It is important to prepare the necessary papers in advance (language: English/French): international passports, birth certificates, certificates of dissolution of a previous marriage/widowhood, and a certificate of marital status. An affidavit can be drafted by a local lawyer.

First, the couple visits the Central Civil Status Office in Port Louis and submits the original documents. After checking them, the newlyweds are issued a certificate-permit for marriage. With it, you need to go to the local district office where the wedding will take place to “publish” the application. After 24-48 hours, the registrar arrives at the venue chosen by the couple for the ceremony. The apostilled certificate is issued in 2-3 days.

Fiji

To get married here, you need to prepare the same package of documents as for Mauritius. The language is exclusively English. The marriage license is issued on the day the application is submitted. It is accepted at the Registry Office in Suva, Lautoka, or Nadi. You can sign the papers immediately in the office or invite the registrar to a hotel or beach. The apostille is affixed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Suva.

Jamaica

To conclude a marriage, the newlyweds must stay in the country for at least 24 hours. For the Marriage License to be ready by your arrival, the application must be sent to the Ministry of Justice in Kingston 3-4 weeks before the planned date. Documents in English are submitted along with an affidavit. A temporary certificate is issued after registration. The official certificate from the Registrar General’s Department takes anywhere from a couple of weeks to two months to be ready. It is stamped with an apostille.

Barbados

Here, the length of stay on the island does not matter. The license is processed at the Ministry of Home Affairs in Bridgetown within 30-60 minutes. A certificate of marital status is not needed. The partners sign a declaration when submitting the application. They may request return flight tickets or confirmation of the departure date. The ceremony is conducted by a magistrate or a private marriage officer. Apostillation is performed at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

South Africa

If you decide to hold a wedding here, be prepared for checks by the immigration service. For major cities (Cape Town, Johannesburg), the waiting time can be up to two weeks. Foreign couples undergo a brief interview with an immigration officer to rule out a sham marriage. A Letter of No Impediment from the country of citizenship must be submitted with the documents, and a B1-31 declaration is filled out.

After obtaining permission to marry, the ceremony is conducted by a Home Affairs official (free of charge in the office) or a licensed Marriage Officer in any beautiful location. The couple receives a temporary handwritten certificate. The longest stage—receiving the official printed Unabridged Marriage Certificate with an apostille from Pretoria—can take from a few weeks to a month.

Please remember that no matter which country you choose for your wedding, both partners must be legally present on its territory. The documents required for the marriage must be translated into the country’s official language and notarized. For your marriage certificate to be legally recognized in your home country, it must be apostilled or legalized through the consulate. It is always best to clarify all the legal nuances of the marriage process well in advance.

The key advantages of the Georgian marriage process are ultra-fast registration and minimal legal requirements. In most cases, future spouses only need their international passports with a notarized Georgian translation. No additional background checks, certificates, residence permits, or citizenship are required. Low state fees, a visa-free regime, and a highly developed wedding industry make getting married here incredibly comfortable and stress-free.

A wedding in Georgia for foreigners in 24 hours is not a myth—it is a reality. The Lotus Wedding agency will help you prepare and organize your event. We will take care of all the bureaucratic hassle so you can spend this important day in a pleasant, romantic atmosphere. Contact us in any convenient way, and we will provide you with more information about our services.