Legal Requirements

The Island of Bonaire is a perfect place to say “I DO” and our Celebrate Love Packages include all the essential services for your wedding day.

It is our pleasure to answer any questions you may have and once you have decided that Bonaire is the place for your wedding, we can start the planning of your special day on island.

All marriages performed on Bonaire are legal and recognized worldwide. Our civil registry office will officiate over your wedding ceremony at a location of your choice. Our quaint City Hall, or your vacation villa, or one of our beautiful beaches, the choice is yours! The following information and documents are required to get started with the planning.

 GETTING STARTED ~ PLEASE SEND US THE FOLLOWING:

  • Date of arrival on Bonaire
  • Intended length of stay on Bonaire
  • Name of Accommodation on Bonaire
  • A scanned copy of your passport (both Bride & Groom)
  • Payment for the Wedding Package selected (additional services billed later)

BOTH BRIDE & GROOM MUST PROVIDE THE FOLLOWING DOCUMENTS:

ORIGINALS NOT COPIES < 2 MONTHS BEFORE ARRIVAL >

Birth Certificate

  • With raised seal (issued by the state, or province of your birth)
  • NO INITIALS PERMITTED in any document provided
  • FULL names of both mother and father must appear on the certificate (i.e. Gwendolyn Mary Daniels).
  • If adopted, proof of adoption is required.
  • If you have changed your name, proof of the name change is required.

Declaration of Civil Status (Marriage Record Search): This document is issued by the office of the State, or Province where you reside and certifies that a government search has revealed a ‘Single’, ‘Divorced’ or ‘Widowed’ Status.

  • NO previous marriage(s) (single status)
  • NO current marriage exists (divorced or widowed status)
    • If you are divorced the Divorce Decree must be included.
    • If you are widowed, the Widow Decree must be included.

ONLY FOR NON-DUTCH NATIONALS

APOSTILLE IS REQUIRED 

An Apostille document is a validation of a certificate.

For Canada and U.S.A., an apostille is ONLY issued by the office of Vital Statistics located within the Capital offices of your State or province. Counties, municipalities or city offices can not issue an Apostille.

THE FOLLOWING DOCUMENTS MUST BE ACCOMPANIED BY AN ‘Apostille’:

  • Birth Certificate
  • Marriage Record (Civil Status)
  • Divorce or Widow Decree

 PLEASE TAKE NOTE:

  • All documents must have official government seals.
  • All documents must be issued & dated no more than six months prior to our receiving them. (DO NOT SEND the original birth certificate issued at birth!)
  • Passports valid for at least six months from departure date from Bonaire.
  • Couples must arrive at least three working days prior to the wedding date to complete registration at City Hall.

PROVIDING YOUR OWN WITNESSES?

All our packages include witnesses, however, if you would like to provide your own, here are the requirements. By Law, 2 witnesses are required in a ceremony at City Hall; 6 witnesses for any other location.

Witnesses must provide:

  • Scanned photocopy of a valid passport (original will be required upon arrival), e-mail scan is accepted, faxed copy not accepted.
  • Passports valid for at least six months from departure date from Bonaire.

Please feel free to contact us at anytime regarding these documents. We can also help you in locating the actual government department (in your state/province) that is authorized to issue the documents required.