Also known as Civil Ceremony, this is the only one that will be recognized as legal once you return to your home country. Being an official event, it is conducted in Spanish by a Judge and translated to English by a Wedding Coordinator.
All Civil Marriages that take place under Mexican laws are completely legal in Mexico. Foreigners marrying in Mexico must legalize their marriage in their country of birth/residence. This is usually done by registering their marriage certificate at their local City Hall.
Translation of the Wedding Certificate has a cost of USD $399.00 and will include an additional copy of the Wedding Certificate, Translation by an Official translator and Fed Ex shipping.
The United States Department of State requires that all Weddings Certificates from ceremonies performed in the Caribbean, including Mexico, have the Apostille Seal. This procedure can be done by our Wedding Coordinators with an additional charge of USD $497. By requesting this service you receive: an extra copy of your wedding certificate, the apostille seal, and translation into English, and FedEx delivery to your home address, usually 90 business days after the ceremony (around 4 months after the wedding has been celebrated).
*** Please note the FedEx Delivery Service offered by Weddings by Lomas Travel does not include the taxes that Customs in your country may charge you for. Thank you for your understanding. ***
REQUIREMENTS
Although passports are not required for US and Canadian citizens to entry Mexico, they are mandatory for a legal wedding to be performed. Passports must be presented to the onsite Wedding Coordinator at the time of the wedding consultation in Cancun.
This is provided to all passengers on the plane prior to arrival into Cancun's International Airport. The name on the Tourist Card and Passport must be the same.
Mexican law requires a Health Certificate for all Legal Wedding Ceremonies. Blood tests are done to determine blood type, HIV and STD status. Tests must be taken at the resort and results are ready within 24 hours. Its cost is USD $279 per couple approximately (unless stated as an inclusion in your wedding package). Bride and Groom must arrive at their hotel three business days prior to the legal wedding ceremony date in order to complete the blood tests and process the necessary documents. Saturday and Sunday are not considered working days.
Also known as “Single Status Statutory Declaration”, this document is required by the Mexican government to conduct a legal wedding. The document states that you are currently single and have no impediment to get married; this procedure is signed during the on-site meeting.
Note: On January 2013 the New Law came into effect: If the Couple wishes the Names of their parents to appear on their Legal Wedding Certificate they must present a Birth Certificate translated and apostilled; these documents will be filed with the wedding application and will Not be returned; otherwise the parent’s names will be omitted.
If the groom is divorced no additional documentation is needed. If the bride is divorced (at least a year must have passed before she can remarry) and her passport is under her maiden name no additional documentation is needed. If the bride is divorced and her passport is under her ex-husband's last name, then she must present her Birth Certificate and Divorce Certificate translated into Spanish by an Official Translator and should have an Apostille Seal. The Apostille Seal is necessary when issuing a document from one country to another for legal purposes. For information on how to obtain the Apostille Seal, please contact the Secretary of State Office or visit: The Notarial and Authentication Apostille
If a bride or groom's former spouse is deceased, then a copy of the Death Certificate is required.
All Legal Documents will remain as part of the Legal Wedding file, they will Not be returned.
Legal Wedding Ceremonies require four witnesses. If the wedding couple provides their own witnesses the following is needed:
- A Civil Ceremony Form filled out (available through your Wedding Coordinator) indicating witnesses name, age, nationality, home address and occupation.
- Valid passport or driver's license.
- Tourist Card
Witnesses must arrive at the hotel three business days prior to the legal wedding ceremony date in order to complete the legal document process.
Witnesses must be at least 18 years old at the time of the ceremony.
Family members are permitted to be witnesses for the couple.
If the hotel must provide the witnesses this service is available with a fee of $20 usd per witness payable onsite.