The Legal Requirements of a Fiji Wedding

Preparing your documents is an important part of planning your Fiji wedding.

Our Fiji wedding specialists can help you understand what to prepare and coordinate the next steps with your resort wedding team.

Speak to a Wedding Planner

Preparing your marriage documents

Overseas visitors intending to marry in Fiji must obtain a marriage licence before their wedding. Begin preparing your documentation around three months before you travel, allowing time to obtain any certificates and arrange certified copies.

Your resort wedding team can help coordinate the documentation process. Forward the required certified copies at least six weeks before your wedding date, or within the timeframe advised by your coordinator.

Keep your original documents safe and bring them with you when travelling to Fiji.

What you’ll need when getting married in Fiji

Your wedding coordinator can help you prepare the documents relevant to your circumstances.

Documents and Witnesses

  • Birth certificates for both parties.
  • Passports for both parties.
  • Recent passport-sized photographs of both parties.
  • Divorce papers, if either party is divorced.
  • A death certificate, if either party’s spouse is deceased.
  • Two witnesses with valid photo identification.
  • An application letter for the special licence.

Additional Requirements

If the bride is under 21, the supplied requirements specify letters of consent from both parents and a death certificate if a parent is deceased.

A Certificate of Single Status, Certificate of Search or Certificate of No Legal Impediment is listed as required for:

  • Couples where one party is a Fiji citizen and the other is a foreign national.
  • Former Fiji citizens who have held overseas citizenship for two years or more.
  • Foreign nationals.

Certificate Search Period

The supplied guidance states that the search should cover the period from age 18 to your current age, with the certificate dated one to two months before arrival.

If you have recently moved countries, certificates may be required from both your current country and your previous country of residence or birth country. Your wedding coordinator can assist with the requirements relevant to you.

Bring all original documentation with you to Fiji.

Applying for your marriage licence

Marriage licence applications are available at registry offices throughout Fiji, including Assistant District Registrars in rural and remote areas.

Both parties must complete the notice of intention to marry, with the information typed into the form.

The supplied guidance states that the licence is valid for 28 days from its date of issue and that the marriage must take place within this period.

Witnessing and signing your documents

The supplied guidance includes the following requirements for marriage applications:

  • Applications must be witnessed by an authorised person, with the applicants present.
  • Application forms and supporting documents must be signed and witnessed before a Justice of the Peace, Commissioner of Oaths or Notary Public in the applicants’ country of residence.
  • Scanned documentation must be sent to the Births, Deaths and Marriages office before arrival for checking and authentication.
  • Hotel employees and wedding coordinators cannot apply for the special licence on behalf of the couple.
  • Both parties must attend a Births, Deaths and Marriages office with their original documents to complete the special licence application, according to the supplied guidance dated 1 October 2018.

Need help planning your Fiji wedding?

Speak with our Fiji wedding specialists about your plans. We can help you coordinate with your resort wedding team and identify the documentation you need to prepare.

Speak to a Wedding Planner