Getting Married in Dominican Republic

Quick reference

Step-by-step requirements

Follow these steps in order. Most are completed weeks before travel; the in-country portion typically takes 1-3 days depending on the destination.

1. 1

   Each partner presents a valid passport and an apostilled birth certificate translated into Spanish by a certified translator.

2. 2

   Provide a single-status affidavit (Declaración Jurada de Soltería) apostilled in the home country and translated to Spanish.

3. 3

   If previously married, an apostilled and translated divorce decree or death certificate of the former spouse is required.

4. 4

   Both partners must be physically present in the Dominican Republic at least 1-2 days before the ceremony to file paperwork with the local Civil Registry (Oficialía del Estado Civil).

5. 5

   Two witnesses with valid passports must attend the ceremony; resort coordinators typically supply local witnesses.

Documents you'll need

• →Valid passport (6+ months remaining validity)
• →Apostilled and translated birth certificate
• →Apostilled single-status affidavit
• →Apostilled divorce decree if previously married
• →Death certificate of former spouse if widowed (apostilled + translated)

Timeline

Most couples arrive 1-2 days before the ceremony for paperwork submission. The Civil Registry processes the application same-day or next-day. Most all-inclusive resorts in Punta Cana handle the entire interaction with the registry as part of the wedding package.

Cost breakdown

Total legal cost is typically $100-$250 USD, the lowest in the destination wedding circuit. Covers apostille ($15-$50 per document at home), Spanish translation ($30-$80 per document), and the registry filing fee. All-inclusive resort packages (Sandals, Iberostar, Bahia Principe) frequently include these costs in the wedding package.

Already married? Symbolic ceremony option

A growing share of couples legalize at home and use the Dominican Republic for a symbolic ceremony on the beach. This is especially common at all-inclusive resorts where the couple wants to avoid the document-translation complexity entirely.

Same-sex marriage recognition

Same-sex marriage is not recognized in the Dominican Republic. Same-sex couples who want a destination wedding here typically host a symbolic ceremony only and legalize at home in advance.