- Southern Belize
Belize is a beautiful place to get married. With its turquoise Caribbean waters, white sandy beaches, tropical islands, lush rainforests and stunning resorts, it offers couples the opportunity to have anything from a simple civil ceremony to a romantic destination wedding.
Whether you are a Belizean couple, a foreign couple planning a destination wedding, or someone already living in Belize, getting legally married here is relatively straightforward once you understand the requirements and paperwork.
Here is a practical guide to getting married in Belize, including the legal requirements, where to apply for a marriage licence, who can perform the ceremony, and some of the best places to get married.
Yes! You do not have to be a Belizean citizen or resident to get married in Belize. International visitors can legally marry in the country.
Belize is a popular destination for couples from the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom and other countries who want a tropical wedding.
You can arrange a legal wedding ceremony while visiting Belize, provided you meet the marriage requirements and obtain the necessary licence.
Both people must meet the legal requirements before a marriage licence can be issued.
Generally, you will need:
Important: If documents are issued outside Belize, check whether certified copies, authentication or an apostille and an English translation are required.
Both parties must be legally free to marry. If either person has been married before, the previous marriage must have been legally dissolved.
The first step is to apply for a marriage licence through the appropriate Belizean authority.
The main government office responsible for marriage registration and civil records is the Vital Statistics Unit.
The marriage licence process generally involves:
Do not leave this until the last minute. Contact the office in advance to confirm current processing times, fees and documentation requirements.
According to the Attorney General’s Ministry, the current published fees are:
Applicants | Licence fee |
One or both applicants are Belizean | BZ$50 |
Both applicants are foreign nationals | BZ$200 |
There is also a special marriage licence category, published at BZ$500. Ask the Ministry whether this is appropriate for your circumstances.
The application fee is paid at the Treasury only after provisional approval has been received. The Ministry currently advises allowing approximately two weeks for processing.
Attorney General’s Ministry – Office of the Solicitor General
This is the main office to contact about obtaining a marriage licence.
Applications can be scanned and submitted by email. You will be contacted when the application has been reviewed and provisionally approved.
Vital Statistics Unit (VSU)
After the wedding, the marriage must be properly registered so that you can obtain your official marriage certificate.
The Vital Statistics Unit is responsible for civil registration and marriage records.
Website: Vital Statistics Unit – Belize.
It is important to distinguish between the marriage licence, the actual wedding ceremony and the official marriage certificate. They are three different parts of the process.
Your wedding ceremony must be conducted by someone legally authorized to perform marriages in Belize.
This may include an authorized marriage officer or minister of religion.
If you are planning a church wedding, contact the church beforehand to confirm that the minister is authorized to conduct legal marriages.
If you are planning a beach wedding or a ceremony at a resort, ask whether the resort can arrange an authorized marriage officer to attend the ceremony.
You will also need two witnesses to sign the marriage documentation. Confirm the arrangements with your marriage officer before the wedding day.
Once you have exchanged your vows and signed the necessary documents, the marriage officer is responsible for completing the marriage registration paperwork.
Make sure you ask how and when your marriage will be registered with the Vital Statistics Unit.
You can then apply for your official Belize marriage certificate.
If you are a foreign national, you should check with your home country’s authorities about whether you need an apostille, authentication or another form of certification to use your Belize marriage certificate abroad.
One of the wonderful things about getting married in Belize is the choice of locations. You can exchange vows on a quiet Caribbean beach, on a private island, in a tropical garden, beside a jungle waterfall or at a luxury resort.
You do not have to spend thousands of dollars to get married in Belize.
Many couples choose to have a simple ceremony with just a few family members and friends, followed by a lovely dinner or beach celebration.
Some ideas include:
You can also arrange your own flowers, photographer, cake, decorations and catering rather than purchasing a complete wedding package.
Depending on the size of your wedding, you may want to arrange:
Ask your chosen resort whether these services are included in its wedding package or charged separately.
A few things can make the process much easier:
Your Belize wedding checklist
Make Belize the place where your story begins
Getting married in Belize offers something special. Whether you choose a barefoot ceremony on a Caribbean beach, an intimate celebration in Placencia, a private island or a rainforest retreat, Belize provides a beautiful setting for beginning your life together.
You can make your wedding as simple or elaborate as you wish. More importantly, you can combine your wedding with a holiday, allowing family and friends to experience everything Belize has to offer.
For official marriage licence information:
Information checked against published Belize government guidance in November 2026. Fees and requirements can change, so always confirm directly with the Attorney General’s Ministry before making travel or wedding arrangements.