A wedding in the Seychelles under the new rules
For all agencies involved in organising luxury weddings, it is important to know that the Seychelles Immigration and Civil Status Authority has introduced a new standard operating procedure for civil marriages between two foreign nationals. This measure aims to streamline the marriage registration process and ensure compliance with legal requirements.
Required documents
All civil marriage registration forms must be submitted by the married partners or their authorised representatives to the Civil Status Department.
The following documents are required for verification:
- Extracts from the birth registers for both partners
- Divorce certificate (if applicable)
- Copies of both partners' passports
- Death certificate of the previous partner (if widowed)
All documents not in English or French must be translated by a certified translator.
Authenticity verification
Documents must be certified (for countries party to the Hague Convention on Apostille) or have an electronic apostille. For non-signatory countries, documents must be authenticated by the seal or stamp of the competent Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Original documents must be submitted with notarised copies, which will be retained by the registrar. Original documents may be sent by post to the representative or wedding planner before arrival in Seychelles or presented in person upon arrival.
Sending documents
The wedding representative or organiser must send copies of the application forms to the chosen marriage officer, with a copy to the Civil Status Department. The notice of marriage must be published 11 days before the scheduled date. If the marriage needs to take place before this period expires, a marriage licence approved by the Head of the Civil Status Department is required. A fee of 500 Seychelles Rupees is payable (one Rupee is approximately CHF 0.060).
Once all documents are confirmed as compliant, the official will be granted permission to conduct the marriage. Following the ceremony, the official is obliged to immediately send the draft marriage certificate and relevant information to the wedding representative or organiser and the registrar for verification. The official marriage certificate will be issued within 24 hours, subject to the payment of prescribed government fees.
It is the obligation of married partners or their representatives/wedding organisers to secure a notarised confirmation of the marriage certificate if required.
Given these new procedures, travel organisers and couples planning a marriage in the Seychelles should ensure that all documents are correctly prepared and submitted on time to make the process as smooth and quick as possible.
