Requirements and Details of a Marriage in Mexico

Required Documents for a Civil Ceremony

The wedding couple and four witnesses (must be over 18) must be in the hotel in Cancun or Playa del Carmen three full business days prior to the wedding. This is necessary to complete all paperwork and finalize wedding plans with the wedding coordinator.

Wedding Application

Must be filled out and sent to your Royal Wedding Planner when reserving your wedding.

Local Registrar

Please check with your local registrar and ask them what requirements are necessary in order to register your Mexican Marriage certificate upon your return to your country. Each country has different requirements.

Passports

for both bride, groom and four witnesses

Tourist Cards

for both bride, groom and four witnesses (This is typically filled out by you on the plane prior to your arrival, when you go through immigration they will give you the bottom half of the form, you must keep this not only for your ceremony but also to leave Mexico)

Birth Certificates (Only required for Divorced, Widowed, Adopted or had a name change)

(Certified copy of the original document) – for both bride and groom. These must be translated into Spanish by an official translator (which will be performed in Mexico in conjunction with your Wedding Coordinator)

Blood Tests and Medical Certificates

for both bride and groom. These tests are to determine blood type, HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases. Must be performed by a Doctor while you are staying in Mexico, your wedding coordinator will plan the appointment and acquire the necessary paperwork. Please note should either bride or groom test positive for a sexually transmitted disease, the ceremony will NOT take place.

Witnesses

There must be four witnesses with passports and tourist card. All witnesses must arrive no less than 3 full business days in Cancun (Monday - Saturday) and no less than 3 business days in Playa del Carmen. Witnesses must be 18 years or more.

Divorced

If either the future bride or groom has been divorced for less than one year a civil ceremony can NOT be performed, however, a symbolic or religious ceremony may take place. (Please take note that the Symbolic Wedding is NOT a legal wedding)

If either the future bride or groom has been divorced for more than one year , they may marry with a civil ceremony, however, he, she or they must have the original or certificated copy of the birth certificate and original or certificated copy of divorde decree. These documents should be translated into Spanish by an authorized translator and should be apostilled or legalized.* If either the future bride or groom has been divorced more than once, all certified copies of the last Divorce Decree must be apostilled or legalized* and translated into Spanish by an authorized translator.

Adopted or Legally Changed Your Name

If either bride or groom was adopted they must bring the certified copy of the original adoption certificate translated into Spanish. This document must be apostilled or legalized.*

If either the bride or groom has changed his or her name, he or she must bring the original, certified document translated into Spanish.

This document is commonly referred to as a “Deed Poll” in the UK. This document must be apostilled or legalized.*

Widow or Widower- if either bride or groom is widowed, he or she must bring a certified copy of the original former spouse´s death certificate translated into Spanish. This document must be apostilled or legalized.

* Apostille or Legalization

What is the Apostille and where can I get one? The Apostille is a sealed document that certifies the authenticity of another document (such as a birth certificate, divorce decree, etc), this apostille will enable your documents to be legal in Mexico. The apostille is necessary in Mexico. The Apostille document is a special certification document that is accepted within countries that are a party to the rules of the 1961 Hague convention. The Apostille document enables you to bypass further certification from the U.S. Department of State immediately send or take your documents to the country for intended use.

Americans: please contact the Secretary of State in which you were born. Send your birth certificate with a letter stating that you are to be married in Mexico and you need an Apostille. UK: please contact the Legalization Department of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. Canadians: Please take your documents to the Mexican Consulate that has jurisdiction in the region where the documents were issued. You may also contact the Consular Section of the Embassy of Mexico in Canada. If you have different documents from different provinces, it is recommended that you legalize your documents through the Mexican Embassy. Please consult http://www.sre.gob.mx/canidaingles/ for detailed information.