Legal Requirements for Costa Rica Weddings

To get legally married in Costa Rica is easy. We do not require blood tests, birth or civil status certificates, or a minimum stay in Costa Rica.

The following is the information required for a wedding in Costa Rica.

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

Profession/Occupation. (Please describe)

Current address. (street address, please). This is your home address.

Passport number and nationality. Please make sure each passport is signed by the bearer. Fax a preliminary copy of each passport to us (photo/information page only) to Costa Rica, fax number: ++506 256-6767, or –preferably- scan them together and email to: legal@weddingcostarica.com (Scans: please send the scan in JPG format and size no larger than 500k. If you decide fax the passport copies, just bring a set of good, clear copies with you and you can give them to me when we meet a few hours prior to the ceremony. If there’s enough time, you can put them in the mail: Marcelo Galli, 3537 NW 82nd Avenue, SJ 414 Doral, Miami, FL 33122

Marital status. 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, I will provide further instructions.

Date and place of birth. (city, state or province, country).

Full name of Father and Mother and current citizenship. (no initials, please; Mother’s maiden name, please).

Mailing address. (No PO Box, please) This is the address where the final documentation will be sent. Courier company requires a street address. Package containing the Certificate of Marriage will require a “received” signature.

Phone number: Necessary for the courier company (in case they can’t find the address).

Email address: To let you know the Certificate of Marriage is on its way.

WITNESSES

Are you coming alone or with friends? If you bring any friends along, they can be witnesses (except relatives to the third degree). If not, let me know so I can make the necessary arrangements. If you do want your guests to bear witness, send me the info on items 1-5 on two (2) people of your choice (two witnesses are required).

NO NOTARIZED DOCUMENTS

You will not need to bring any notarized legal documents because all your data will be included in a sworn statement which you both sign the day of the wedding. This avoids you having to notarize at the Costa Rican Consulate, and will save you time and money.

THE CEREMONY

The ceremony speech is a beautiful one, with a traditional touch yet contemporary in its feel. Nonetheless, if you would like to examine the speech, make any adjustments, insert in the ceremony family readings, prayers, poems, songs, selected segments in Spanish, etc., let me know and we can customize the speech to your liking.

Send all the required information to the following:
Country Code: (506) Fax: 256-6767 or –preferably- scan it and email to legal@puntacoral.com

If you decide to fax the passport copies, please send good copies in the mail for our permanent files at the following address:

Marcelo R. Galli Taylor
SJ 0414 1561 NW
82nd Avenue
Miami, FL 33126

CERTIFICATION OF MARRIAGE

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, I cannot give you 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 the address you provide on Item 8. I will keep you updated with paperwork progress, via email, so you know exactly when the documentation is sent.

EXPEDITED PROCESSING

Expedited Processing is available for an extra fee. This ensures your Certificate of Marriage in 10-12 business days. Let me know if you wish to inquire about this option.