If you are serious about your decision, then this Gibraltar Wedding Guide goes into far more detail. The guide itself is based on civil marriages in Gibraltar for non-residents and by the time you have finished reading you should know all about weddings in Gibraltar.
Topics covered include:
The Law, Required Documents and Conditions, Making Appointments for Marriage, Finalising Procedures and Fees, Attendance in Person, The Marriage Ceremony, Visa Requirements, and Registry Office Contact Details
There is quite a bit of information, but I will try and keep it straight to the point while still keeping it accurate.
The Law
The Gibraltar Marriage Act covers all the requirements for the marriage of a man and a woman in Gibraltar.
The Act makes it possible for non-residents to marry in Gibraltar by the issuing of a Special License, that allows people to get married in Gibraltar without being a resident of the country. It also allows for civil ceremonies to take place outside the Registry Office and outside the standard hours.
External locations need to be approved. We cover these approved locations further down the page.
Required Documents and Conditions
To get married in Gibraltar you will need to prove to the Registry Office that you are free to marry. The documents required will depend on your personal situation.
Single Persons
Single people will require a Certificate of No Impediment or a Single Status Certificate from your home country. In the case that your country does not issue these certificates, you will need a letter from the relevant authorities stating that this is the fact. UK Nationals do not need to worry about these certificates.
Widows and Widowers
Widows or widowers are required to bring in the death certificate of your spouse. If the death certificate does NOT show your name as the widow or widower, you will also need to bring in your marriage certificate.
Previously Married Persons
In this case you will require your previous marriage certificate. Together with that, you will need your final divorce decree or annulment relating to your previous marriage.
Name Change
If you have had your name changed you will need to produce the relevant documents supporting the change.
Other Documentation All Applicants
All applicants will need to produce their Birth Certificates and Passports. In the case of E.U Nationals, the Identity Card will suffice.
The Registrar himself may ask you to produce other documents at his own discretion.
Members of the Armed Forces
Your Commanding Officer will need to supply you with a letter of consent, allowing your wedding to take place.
Making Appointments for Marriage
There are three ways to begin the process of getting married in Gibraltar. You can make bookings in person, by telephone or in writing.
The Registry Office keeps the following hours for attending in person:
Mondays to Fridays: 09:00 to 12:45 (mid September to mid June) 09:00 to 13:00 (mid June to mid September)
By phone, the office hours are:
Mondays to Thursdays: 08:45 to 13:15 and 14:15 to 17:30 (mid September to Fridays: 08:45 to 13:15 and 14:15 to 17:15 mid June) Mondays to Fridays: 08:00 to 14:30 (mid June to mid September)
Contact details for The Registry Office are at the bottom of the page.
Bookings are permitted to be made a maximum of 1 year before the intended date of the ceremony. Keep in mind that the summer months can be very busy, so get your bookings in as early as possible to make sure you get the exact date you want.
When the booking is made, you will need to let the Registry know whether you wish to be married at the Registry Office, or at one of the following approved venues:
The Rock Hotel
The Alameda Botanic Gardens ( 01 April to 30 October weather permitting)
The Mount
The Caleta Hotel
The OCallaghan Elliot Hotel
Mons Calpe Suite Cable Car Station (Top of the Rock)
The Queens Hotel
Approved locations are permitted to hold ceremonies any day of the week, including Sundays.
Registry Office marriages only happen between 10:00 and 12:00 on weekdays, with the exception of public holidays. If you ask really nicely, the Registry may allow weddings to take place half an hour before or after the normal hours. This only really happens during the busy months though.
Over the Christmas period the Registry Office is closed and as such, no weddings will take place between 19 December and 03 January.
Some restrictions are imposed by the Registrar on weddings held outside the Registry. These are straightforward and the experienced organisers at your chosen location will ensure that the restrictions are adhered to.
Finalising Procedures and Fees
At this point you will have to submit all your required documents to the Registrar for approval. The documents can be faxed or emailed to the Registry; the original documents must be submitted at a later stage.
NOTE : All documents have to be in English, or come together with certified translations.
Once your documents have been approved, you will be asked to pay the related fees. Payments can be made by cash, bank transfer or credit/debit card. Fees are not refundable.
Fees
All fees are in Great British Pounds
1. Registrars Certificate (residents only) £32.50 2. Notice (residents only) £30.00 3. Special License for Marriage £67.50 4. Ceremony and Registration 4.a In Registry Office £40.00 4.b Outside Registry Office on weekdays £140.00 4.c Outside Registry Office weekends or outside office hours £240.00
After the fees are paid your booking will be confirmed. Keep in mind that if the Registrar does not receive your required documents in a timely fashion, your booking will be cancelled. There are other fees mentioned down the page, but are considered optional extras.
Attendance in Person
This is a vital part of the process which can be carried out the day before your wedding, or up to 3 months before. All your original documents will be handed in and verified at this time. If you are going to bring any certified copies, you will need to check with the Registrar whether they will be accepted.
You and your partner will need to sign affidavits before a Commissioner of Oaths of your choice in Gibraltar. You may be charged for this service.
There is a fee of £3.50 per marriage certificate required. A further fee of £5.00 will be charged to post the certificate outside of Gibraltar. It is also possible, at a fee of £15 per certificate, to have your marriage certificates officially legalised.
The Marriage Ceremony
If you have chosen to use one of the verified external locations, you will need to make arrangements to have the Registrar transported to and from the ceremony.
Before your wedding in Gibraltar starts, you will be asked to provide some identification. This will normally be your passport or national identity card. You will need to be accompanied by two witnesses, both of whom must be over 18 and speak English.
The ceremony itself is always conducted in English, but you are allowed to provide your own interpreter to assist you.
Visa Requirements
If you are not a resident of the European Economic Area you may require a visa to enter Gibraltar. As a general rule, if you require a visa to enter the UK you will need an additional visa to enter Gibraltar.
Should this be the case, you will need to apply for a Gibraltar visa at a British Embassy in your country of residence.
Visa requirements are quite standard: Valid passport, confirmed hotel bookings, return airline ticket (travel itinerary) and a small fee (roughly £35).
Keep in mind that Spain has different visa requirements, so if you wish to travel to Spain before or after your wedding you may need another visa (Schengen Visa).
The Registry Office Contact Details
The Registry of Births, Deaths & Marriages
Civil Status & Registration Office
Joshua Hassan House
Secretarys Lane
Gibraltar
Tel: 00350 200 72289
Fax: 00350 200 42706
Email: [email protected]
I hope our Gibraltar Wedding Guide has been of help to you. Getting married is always a special day and making sure things run smoothly is very important. Information is key!
*Note: All information in the Gibraltar Wedding Guide is correct at time of going to press.
If you have any further questions, please use the contact form here
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