I didn’t even know Vanuatu existed until Devin, (Mighty Pubah of ITKT) asked me about marriage laws on that island. One Google Earth search later and I now know where Vanuatu is. Oh My Goodness! I want to go there — the island Paradise in the Pacific.
I found a great source for marriage laws outside of the U.S.– http://www.resortweddings.com.au/legals.html — which includes marriage laws for Australia, Fiji, Vanuatu, Cook Islands, Samoa. I’ll share those other destination marriage laws in future posts.
Interesting items:
- You’ll have to be in Vanuatu for three days before your wedding unless you arrive on a cruise ship. Because cruise ships have strong juju and we don’t want the cruise gods to steal our souls. I made that last sentence up.
- You can fax or scan your paperwork before you arrive at Vanuatu. But you’ll have to do that at least a month before. Some resorts require eight weeks. Yikes!
- Lots of paperwork. No goofing around.
- You might have to pay extra for a Sunday wedding ceremony.
- Marriages in Vanuatu are recognized in Australia, New Zealand, the United States, the United Kingdom and most other countries.
A month prior to the ceremony, the following must be faxed or scanned/emailed for filing:
- Copies of both passports
- Copies of both birth certificates
- If divorced, the relevant papers
- If widowed, a Death Certificate is required
- A completed Certificate of Intended Marriage
- Completed Witness Forms – 2 witnesses are required but the wedding coordinator can organise witnesses if couples don’t have guests with them.
Please contact us if you would like copies of the Certificate of Intended Marriage and/or Witness Forms emailed to you.
