The Legal Requirements of a Fiji Wedding

Marriage Documents

Overseas visitors who are intending to get married in Fiji are required by law to obtain and sign a marriage license from the registry office prior to couple getting married. Three months before you travel, make sure you have all your documentation to process your wedding license.  Most resorts will handle all legal documentation prior to arrival.  Therefore the couple must forward both all CERTIFIED copies of the required.  documentation at least six weeks prior to wedding date.  Keep all your original documentation safe and ready to take with you.

What You Will Need

• Birth Certificate of both parties
• Passport of both parties
• Recent passport size photos of both parties
• Divorce Papers (if either party is divorced)
• Death Certificate (if either party’s spouse is deceased)
• Two witnesses and their valid photo ID
• Application letter for the special license
• If bride is under 21 years of age – letters of consent from both parents, if one of the parents is deceased a death certificate is required
• Certificate of Single Status/Certificate of Search (or) Certificate of no legal impediment is required to be produced by the following marriage applicants:
  a) Marriage applicants where one party is a local while the other is a foreigner
  b) Marriage applicants who were former citizens of Fiji attaining citizenship abroad for two years and above
  c) Marriage applicants who are foreigners

Note: Total number of years for the search should done between 18yrs of age (legal age to get married) until your current age and the certificate has to be dated 1-2 months prior to your arrival. If you have recently moved from another country, then you will be required to apply for 2 certificates – current country and last country or birth country you lived in.
Your Wedding Executive will be on hand to assist with the above requirements.

* All original copies should be brought with couple when travelling to Fiji.

Notice of intention to marry license

Applications of marriage license is available at all registry offices in Fiji including the Assistant District Registrars located at rural and remote areas.

The notice to marry needs to be completed by couple whereby all information is typed in the form.

The license is valid for 28 days effective from the date of issue and within this period of marriage must be officiated.

Witnessing and signing of marriage certificate

• All marriage applications must be witnessed by an authorised authority from the applicant’s country of origin. In many instances, application for marriage forms are witnessed by the hotel employee without the presence of the intended marriage couple who are intending to get married, this must stop immediately.
• All the marriage application forms together with any necessary documents pertaining to conduct of marriage in Fiji must be signed and witnessed before a Justice of Peace/Commissioner of Oath/Notary Public from their country of residence.
• Scanned copies of all documentation must be directed to BDM office well in advance, prior to their arrival date, for vetting purposes and authentication to ensure that nothing is missed out.
• It has been further noted and has been the practice from the past that some local hotel employees and wedding coordinators are making application for the special licence on behalf of the intended marriage parties. This practice will no longer be entertained by BDM office.
• In ensuring that guidelines for Fiji’s marriage applications are met (effective 1st October 2018) all intended marriage parties must physically present themselves with their original documentation to a BDM office nearest to them for completion of their application of Special License.

Fijian weddings are legal in Australia all you will need to do is change your name with Births, Deaths and Marriages.

Talk to us, and we are more than happy to assist you plan further your easy legal wedding to Fiji.

Vinaka.