Wedding requirements to get married in

Costa Rica

The following is a list of requirements for civil marriage of non-residents in Costa Rica, for both the bride and groom.

These papers must be presented at least 15 days in advance.

In order to get married in Costa Rica, it is essential demonstrate the legal aptitudes of both parties.

In Costa Rica civil matrimony is celebrated by Public Notaries (lawyers) who must produced a public deed at the exact moment of the matrimony. This notary will also produce two sworn declarations for the witnesses, where they will attest to the identity and civil status of the parties.

The procedure for a valid marriage in Costa Rica involves the signing of two documents once concluded the ceremony. One is a sworn statement attesting principally to your marital status, thus avoiding any further proof. The other is the marriage document itself. After the ceremony, you cannot receive a Certificate because first paperwork must be submitted to the Civil Registry of Costa Rica. The whole processing of documents, which includes translation and authentication by the Consulate of your country of residence, may vary but normally takes 10-12 weeks. Once everything is ready, the Marriage Certificate will be sent, along with instructions, to you. Our staff will keep you updated with paperwork progress, via email, so you know exactly when the documentation is sent.

All documents will be in Spanish, but the notary will verbally translate the deeds.

And yes, this legal matrimony is accepted in any other country.

The information we will need from you is the following:

1. Full name (first, middle and last; no initials)

2. Profession (please describe; for example: industrial engineer, school teacher, business administrator, etc.)

3. Passport

Costa Rica requires a valid passport for foreigners who want to marry. Social Security nor drivers license of any country is considered proper identification for marriage purposes. For marriage purposes VISA is not required. For most visitors to Costa Rica Visas are not required.

Fax a preliminary copy of each passport

4. Foreign Home Address

5. Birth date

6. Place of Birth (city, state or province, country).

7. Nationality

8. Marriage status certificate

Duly authenticated by Costa Rican Consul is preferred, if you cannot present this document before the consul, you may send the original here and we can make a sworn declaration about this issue that will be signed the same day of the wedding.

If divorced, please indicate the date, city and state, name of Court that decreed the divorce, and the full name of ex-spouse, no initials, please.

Note: If the bride is divorced, her divorce date must be at least 300 days prior the date of the upcoming wedding. If not, please let us know in advance.
 

9. If applicable, official copy of original divorce certified or notarized at Costa Rica's Consulate or Embassy.

For women, 300 days must have transpired from the official date of the divorce to be able to become married in Costa Rica. In addition, the name of the former husband is required.

This is an archaic law that is designed to avoid children from a previous marriage to be born in the next marriage, with the consequences for the child that might entail. It basically requires the divorced bride to wait 300 days between the date of the divorce decree and the date of the upcoming marriage. If this is not possible, the bride must undergo two pregnancy tests by two different doctors, have them certify the negative results, have the certification translated by an official translator, and run through the required chain of signatures ending in the Secretary of State (or equivalent, depending on the country), and the Costa Rican Consulate. This must be presented to the officiating notary prior to the ceremony.

10. Father's full name
 

11. Mother's full maiden name 
 

12. Parent's address 
 

13.  Original birth certificate duly authenticated by Costa Rican Consul.

If the Birth Certificate is not obtained a sworn statement attesting to your date and place of birth will cover that requirement.
 

15. Two witnesses (they will have to sign the day of the wedding) we find the witnesses don't worry about this.

Wedding Packages

The basic civil ceremony package (just the two of you)

• Wedding ceremony / Legal Requirements / Ceremony Officiate/Witnesses

• Customized ceremony

• Paperwork, Official Marriage Certificate & all legal documents. (Your marriage license is honored in all countries.)

• Official translation of your Marriage Certificate to the language of your country and Consulate Certification

• Wedding Certificate

• Assistance on Wedding date. This wedding can be performed in our Offices in San Jose or in any other location like the beach or nearby a volcano?

• Total cost US$750

Civil ceremony with guests (up to 12 guests)

• Wedding planning services

• Wedding ceremony / Legal Requirements / Ceremony Officiate/Witnesses

• Customized ceremony

• Paperwork, Official Marriage Certificate & all legal documents. (Your marriage license is honored in all countries.)

• Official translation of your Marriage Certificate to the language of your country and Consulate Certification

• Wedding Certificate

• Assistance on Wedding date. This wedding can be performed in our Offices in San Jose or in any other location like the beach or nearby a volcano?

• Flower arrangements
• Special bouquet
• Bottoniere (2 people on white roses)
• Courssage (2 people on white roses)
• Flowers for bride's hair
• Professional Photographer (100 pictures)
• Wedding cake

• Total cost US$1,750

*Note: Depending on the location, some hotels may charge additional fees

Civil ceremony & reception party with guests (up to 30 guests)

• Wedding planning services

• Wedding ceremony / Legal Requirements / Ceremony Officiate/Witnesses

• Customized ceremony

• Paperwork, Official Marriage Certificate & all legal documents. (Your marriage license is honored in all countries.)

• Official translation of your Marriage Certificate to the language of your country and Consulate Certification

• Wedding Certificate

• Flower arrangements
• Table arrangements
• Special bouquet
• Bottoniere (2 people on white roses)
• Courssage (2 people on white roses)
• Flowers for bride's hair
• Professional Photographer (100 pictures)
• Wedding cake
• Master of ceremonies
• Music band for 3 hours
• This wedding can be performed in our Offices in San Jose or in any other location like a hotel in the beach or nearby a volcano

• Total cost US$3,700

*Note: Depending on the location, some hotels may charge additional fees

Catholic ceremony in Church & reception party with guests (up to 30 guests)

• Wedding planning services

• Wedding ceremony / Legal Requirements / Ceremony Officiate/Witnesses

• Customized ceremony

• Paperwork, Official Marriage Certificate & all legal documents. (Your marriage license is honored in all countries.)

• Official translation of your Marriage Certificate to the language of your country and Consulate Certification

• Wedding Certificate

• Reservation of Church for wedding

• Catholic Priest services
• Donation to Church
• Flower arrangements in Church
• Professional Music in Church (violin and guitar)
• Master of ceremonies
• Arrangement for RICE at end of ceremony – positioned inside church
• Transfers to and from the Church
• Special bouquet
• Bottoniere (2 people on white roses)
• Courssage (2 people on white roses)
• Flowers for bride's hair
• Reception saloon
• Flower arrangements in reception saloon
• Table arrangements
• Professional Photographer (100 pictures)
• Wedding cake
• Music band for 4 hours
• Buffet menu for all guests
• Professional Hair/make up for 2 persons

• This wedding will be perform on available Church and in any location like a hotel in the beach or nearby a volcano

• Total cost US$9,700

*Note: Depending on the location, some hotels may charge additional fees

See also our Wedding packages in Mexico... here