British Virgin Islands

Be Watchful

With more than 60 islands bordering the Sir Francis Drake Channel, visitors to the British Virgin Islands (BVI) can delight in the pristine, palm-fringed, powdery, white-sand beaches; lush green mountains; sanctuaries and natural wonders of the protected national parks; sheltered, yacht-filled harbors; quiet coves, safe anchorages, and luxury resorts and villas. While some islands are uninhabited and designated as national parks, others enjoy a robust lifestyle with warm, friendly and hospitable people.

Tortola, home of the capital and business hub Road Town, is a haven for yachts and a center for tourism. Accommodations range from luxury resorts and private villas to the scenic Brewer’s Bay Campground.

Virgin Gorda entices some visitors with its yacht clubs, quiet coves, safe anchorages and others with luxury resorts and villas. The island has natural beauty in abundance and is easily accessible via indigenous plant-lined trails. Its protected national parks are home to nature sanctuaries and natural wonders that will keep you in awe. Evidence of the island’s rich African, Indian and Spanish history is plentiful. From the Spanish ruins at Little Fort National Park to the Cornish Copper Mines, from the local cuisine to its arts and fashion, the influence is visible everywhere.

Jost Van Dyke, the BVI’s smallest island was once home to Arawak Indians, Caribs, Dutch, Africans and the British. Famous inhabitants included William Thornton, architect of the U.S. Capitol Building, and John Lettsome, founder of the London Medical Society. You can explore the old sugar mill ruins, observe whales and dolphins or treat yourself to a freshly grilled lobster or any of the many other local, mouth-watering dishes.

Anegada is the only coral island in the Virgin Islands’ volcanic chain. This island can be easily identified by its nearly flat elevation, its striking coral reefs, secluded sandy beaches and clear springs bubbling from its coral beds. Snorkelers and scuba divers will relish in the reef’s mazes, tunnels and drops, inhabited by marine life.

The Caribbean setting couldn’t be more romantic. In Nature’s Little Secrets, you find the perfect spot to have the most memorable wedding anywhere imaginable. The ceremony can take place on a soft beach in the quiet of sunrise, or aboard or at sea with a yacht, underneath the spectacular ocean’s reef for an underwater adventure, on a secluded island, in our lush tropical botanical garden, a friend’s lawn, your favorite restaurant’s poolside or gazebo, the traditional church, the local registrar’s office or the great outdoors of a mountain top. The possibilities are endless and the BVI is waiting to welcome you.

A destination that offers Romance with a breathtaking vista of the ocean from almost every corner, you can expect the ‘British’ influence evident in the air of formality in dressing for dinner or shopping in town.

Marriage Requirements for British Virgin Islands

Getting married the British Virgin Islands is easy and all Marriage Certificates are valid internationally.

The couple must first apply for a Marriage License from the Registrar-General’s Office located at Wickham’s Cay (upstairs of Burhym Electrical Services), Road Town, Tortola. The marriage takes between 1 – 2 days to be processed.

Once the Marriage License is obtained, the couple may choose to have their marriage ceremony performed at the Registrar’s Office, at a church, a resort, a beach or any location of their choosing.

A Special License is required if both parties have been a resident of the BVI for less than 15 days or an Ordinary License if both parties have been resident for 15 days or more.
Both parties, along with two witnesses, must be present to apply for a Marriage License.

Both parties must present the following documents when applying for a Marriage License:

Valid Passport
Divorce Decree (where applicable)
Death Certificate (where applicable)
Previous Marriage Certificate (where applicable)
Affidavits as proof of Identity (where applicable)

Only original documents (in good condition) must be submitted with this application. Documents produced in foreign languages (Spanish, French, etc.) must be accompanied by a certified English translation.

Please note that the Civil Registry and Passport Office reserves the right to request further documentation following the review of the application if the need arises.

License Fees:
Fees for Marriage License are paid in the form of postage stamps purchased from the Registrar-General’s Office or the Post Office:

Special License - US $220
Ordinary License - US $120

There are other fees (US $) involved when getting married in the British Virgin Islands.

$120.00 – for marriages performed in the Registrar's Office building
$220.00 – for marriage celebrated by a Civil Marriage Officer
For every general search for a particular entry:
- $20.00 – for search by applicant
- $50.00 – for search by staff of Civil Registry
$25.00 – for every certified copy of the Marriage Certificate
$40.00 – for issuing any certificate or making a record of any fact not otherwise provided for
$15.00 – for correction of each error or omission
$35.00 – for issuing a certificate of publication of banns (for church weddings)
$30.00 – to Government Medical Officer for Certificate in respect of a clinical marriage where a special visit is not required
$40.00 – to Government Medical Officer for Certificate in respect of a clinical marriage where a special visit is required
$75.00 – for couple’s late arrival for wedding outside the office by Registrar General

Our marriage certificates with the Registrar-General’s seal are official legal documents. You may, however, wish to check with your local authorities in the event that the certificate requires to be legally authenticated by means of an apostille. If apostilles are required, these can also be prepared at the Registrar-General’s Office on payment of US $40.

Having applied for the license, you should then schedule an appointment for the date and time you propose to be married. If you have telephoned your appointment from abroad, you will need to confirm it at the Registrar-General’s Office at this time.
For further details about obtaining a Marriage License or getting married in the British Virgin Islands, please write or call:

Registrar-General
P. O. Box 3199
Road Town, Tortola
British Virgin Islands VG1110
Tel: (284) 468-3442
Fax: (284) 494-2783
Email: info@crisvi.gov.vg or infocris@gov.vg
Website: www.crisvi.gov.vg

Important Links in British Virgin Islands

To learn more about BVI, please see the important links below:

Be Watchful

Marriage Requirements for British Virgin Islands

Important Links in British Virgin Islands

Entry Requirements for BVI

How to Get to BVI

Getting Around BVI

Places to Stay in BVI

Things To Do in BVI

Events and Festivals

Dining in the BVI