1. INTRODUCTION

MARRIAGES

In Gibraltar, the marriage between two persons is provided for under the Gibraltar Marriage Act. Under its provisions, it is possible, by means of a Special Licence granted under Section 13 of the Act, for residents and non-residents alike to get married in Gibraltar. It also enables a Marriage ceremony to be conducted at approved locations outside the Registry and outside working hours and at weekends.

CIVIL PARTNERSHIPS

Civil Partnerships in Gibraltar between two persons is provided for under the Civil Partnership Act. Under its provisions, it is possible, by means of a Special Licence granted under Section 12 of the Act, for residents and non-residents alike to form a Civil Partnership in Gibraltar. It also enables a Civil Partnership ceremony to be conducted at approved locations outside the Registry and outside working hours and at weekends.

2. GENERAL CONDITIONS

In order to get married or enter into a civil partnership at the Registry by means of a Special Licence, you must be able to satisfy the Registrar that you are able to do so by completing Affidavits and signing them before a Commissioner for Oaths or a Notary Public of your choice in Gibraltar. Please remember that Commissioner for Oaths and Notaries will charge you for their services and it is up to you to make all the arrangements directly with them. Non-residents wishing to get married or enter into a civil partnership in Gibraltar must provide the Registrar with documentary evidence that they will be staying in Gibraltar, for at least one night, immediately prior to or, immediately after the ceremony. The Registrar will accept any of the evidence listed below:

  • A Gibraltar hotel bill covering the night before or the night after the ceremony;

  • A Gibraltar hotel booking form confirming that the night of the ceremony is paid for;

  • A statement by a resident of Gibraltar confirming that the parties spent the night before the ceremony, or will spend the night of the ceremony, as their guest at the relevant address (which must be specified); or

  • Another form of proof that the parties were or will be in Gibraltar on the night before or the night of the ceremony, to the satisfaction of the Registrar.

    3. DOCUMENTS REQUIRED

    When applying for a Special Licence you are required to show certain documents as proof of identity, age and marital status. Foreign language documents that are not multi-language certificates must be accompanied by an officially certified translation into the English language by one of the following:

    a) Confirmation that it is an accurate translation of the original document;

    b) The full name and original signature of the translator or an authorised official of the translation company, and

    c) The translator or translation company’s contact details.

In addition, persons wishing to get married or enter into a civil partnership will have to prove their identity by providing the Registrar with ORIGINALS* of the following:

SINGLE PERSONS NEVER HAVING BEEN MARRIED AND NEVER HAVING ENTERED INTO A CIVIL PARTNERSHIP

  • Passport, National Identity Card or other acceptable form of identity;

  • Original full Birth Certificate showing parents’ names (or Adoption Certificate)

WIDOWS/WIDOWERS/SURVIVING PARTNERS

  • Passport, National Identity Card or other acceptable form of identity;

  • Original full Birth Certificate showing parents’ names (or Adoption Certificate);

  • Previous Original Marriage or Civil Partnership Certificate;

  • Original Death Certificate of your late spouse or civil partner.

PERSONS WHO HAVE BEEN PREVIOUSLY MARRIED OR WHO HAVE PREVIOUSLY ENTERED INTO A CIVIL PARTNERSHIP

Passport, National Identity Card or other acceptable form of identity;

Original full Birth Certificate showing parents’ names (or Adoption Certificate);

Final and absolute original Divorce Decree or original Certificate of Annulment of your previous marriage, or original Dissolution or original Nullity Order in respect of your previous civil partnership. We only accept original stamped copies from the court – a photocopy is not acceptable.

Previous Original Marriage or Civil Partnership Certificate (Female Applicants Only);

CHANGE OF NAME

If you have changed your name in any way, you must produce official evidence of your change of name.

RESIDENCE DOCUMENTATION

The Registrar may request evidence that you are legally resident in your respective country. In the case of persons who reside in the United Kingdom, a UK Residence Permit – if they reside in any other EU country a valid permit of residence.

OTHER DOCUMENTATION

In addition to the above, the Registrar may, at his sole discretion, ask for any other documents considered necessary.

*ORIGINALS means the original certificate(s) issued at the time of the registration. There may be instances where the original certificate(s) cannot be provided. Therefore, you are required to request verified copies of the original certificate(s) from the registry/court that issued the original certificate(s). These certified true copies of the original certificate(s) must bear the seal of the registry/court that issued the original certificate(s). Certified true copies of the original certificate(s) attested by a Notary Public or other person entitled in law to certify the authenticity of a document is acceptable. Please do not submit unverified photocopies or scanned copies of documents, as these will be declined.

9. PRE-CEREMONY BRIEFING

Partners and their witnesses should be at their chosen venue at least 15 minutes before the start of the ceremony. Delays in excess of 10 minutes may result in postponement of the ceremony until the Registrar is next available. At the venue, and before the ceremony commences, you will be asked for identification (i.e. your passport, national identity card or any other identification document). The Registrar will explain the order of the ceremony to you and ask you to state who your witnesses will be. The Registrar will also ask you to check the entry recorded in the Marriage or Civil Partnership Register (i.e. names, addresses, ages, names of witnesses etc.) and it is at this point that you must highlight to the officiant any errors or mistakes made in the Register. It is important that you thoroughly check the entry as it is highly likely that any errors or mistakes will unfortunately be then transposed onto your certificate(s). The certificate(s) will be produced based on the information recorded on the day, and it is far easier to rectify the error on the day rather than after the event has taken place. Inaccuracies can lead to erroneous certificates being produced, thus delaying the issuance of your Marriage/Civil Partnership Certificate.

10. THE CEREMONY

The parties will need to make the necessary arrangements for themselves and their guests to be at the venue before the ceremony is to take place. Each couple are allocated 30 minutes for the preliminaries and the ceremony. The Registrar will conduct the ceremony in English. Should you require an interpreter you must point out this during the booking application and it is your responsibility to provide a suitable independent interpreter who is acceptable to the Registrar. The Registrar will not conduct the ceremony if he/she is not satisfied that the couple and their witnesses fully understand the wording of the ceremony. The ceremony includes the exchange of the legal declarations (to be spoken after the registrar) and the signing of the register. It may also, if you wish, include the exchange of rings. During the ceremony, and if you so wish, you may include readings and/or poems. Please note that all readings/poems must be submitted for approval to the Registrar in order to ensure that your choices are suitable for a civil ceremony. Providing that there are no religious connotations, choices are usually approved. If the ceremony is to take place at an approved outside venue, it is your responsibility to arrange, provide and pay for transport in order to convey the Registrar to and from the ceremony venue. If transport is required, this office will inform you of the need, and arrangements are to be made beforehand or when you come in to complete your paperwork. This office will require in advance written confirmation that the transport for the Registrar has been arranged. It is important to note that the Registrar will not conduct and will postpone the ceremony if he/she has any cause for concern and fees will not be refunded or transferred to another date or booking.

11. WITNESSES

For all ceremonies, you must have two other people present to witness that you have said the legal vows and to sign the register. Your witnesses may be related to either of you and/or to each other. They may be friends or colleagues over the age of 18, must be able to speak and understand English and acceptable to the Registrar. Please note that Registry Office personnel are unable to act as witnesses.

12. IMMIGRATION REQUIREMENTS

If you do not reside in Gibraltar and you are not an EEA national you may require a visa to enter Gibraltar. Should you require a visa, you will need to apply for one at a UK Visa Application Centre in your country of residence. You must bear in mind that unless you have guaranteed returnability to either your country of normal residence or your country of origin, the issue of a Gibraltar visa may not be authorised. Information on Visas or entry into Gibraltar is available from: Borders & Coastguard Agency Winston Churchill Avenue Gibraltar GX11 1AA Tel: 00 (350) 200 65465 Email: info@bca.gov.gi

13. CANCELLATION & AMENDMENTS

All fees are non-refundable and non-transferable in all circumstances. Therefore, no monies will be returned in the event that your documentation is incorrect, you need to cancel a ceremony, change the name of the applicants or change the date of a ceremony that has already been confirmed and paid for.