How to arrange a dream wedding in Seychelles |29 January 2011
They show pictures of weddings that have taken place, and include quotes from tourists who have tied the knot here recently.
The Seychelles Tourism Board (STB) is now giving information on how weddings can be held here, with the following legal advice, on its website www.travel.seychelles
It warns, however, that details could change any time without its knowledge, and the board will not be responsible for errors caused by such changes.
Legal requirements
● A church wedding without a civil ceremony is not recognised as being legal, and so the parties must contract a civil wedding before the religious ceremony.
● People wishing to organise their wedding must apply to the Seychelles Civil Status Office in Victoria for a civil ceremony, and to the relevant church for the religious part.
● It is advisable that the wedding is planned at least two months in advance to allow for documents to be processed.
● Couples must advise the Civil Status Office of their wedding date at least 11 days in advance. However, this requirement may be waived by applying for a special licence, normally issued within two days of the date of application.
● The couple must be present in Seychelles at least two days before the civil ceremony.
● Civil ceremonies may be conducted around a hotel property with permission from both the
● Weddings can also be performed in the Civil Status Office on Wednesdays and Thursdays between 9am and 11am, in the presence of two witnesses provided by the parties themselves.
● Couples wishing to marry outside the Civil Status Office will be required to pay a fee and cover the transport cost for the registration officer to travel to other islands.
● A different rate is charged for ceremonies held after 5pm on a weekday or at any time on a Saturday and Sunday.
● Legally conducted marriages in Seychelles are recognised under European laws.
● A special stamp is required to validate the marriage certificate obtained after the civil ceremony for all nationalities, except for British nationals. The stamp is available at the registrar's office at the Supreme Court for a fee.
● The couple must produce the following documents:
Birth certificates or certified copies thereof.
If either party is divorced, the decree of divorce must be produced.
If either of the parties is a widow or widower, the death certificate of the former spouse must be produced.
Legal proof is also needed in the case of a name having been changed.
Also needed are copies of the first two pages of both parties’ valid passports and papers to show there is no impediment or lawful hindrance to the intended marriage. If this cannot be obtained, an affidavit has to be signed in Seychelles after a solemn declaration has been made to that effect.
● All the documents must be originals or copies duly certified in one's home country and must be translated into English or French if the translation has not already been made.
● French law requires that French nationals wishing to get married abroad follow certain specific procedures. For information concerning these, they should contact either their local municipality or the Seychelles Civil Status Office or the French embassy in Seychelles.