 |
The Gibraltar Registry Office
Note the caution sign.
However if you are
suitably prepared
|
|
The Gibraltar Registry Office
Note the caution sign.
However if you are
suitably prepared
|
MARRIAGES The Marriage Law. The law providing for the preliminaries to and solemnization of marriage is the Marriage Ordinance. Preliminaries to marriage. Marriage may be solemnized or contracted - [a] In a place of worship, [1] After publication of banns on three Sundays or "Holy Days" [or in the case of Jews, on three Jewish Sabbaths], or after publication of notice for a period extending over three Sundays [or three Jewish Sabbaths], at a place or two places of worship; or [2] On the delivery of a Bishops licence; or [3] On the delivery of a Governors licence; or [4] On the delivery of the Registrar's certificate. [b] In the Registrar's office, [1] After twenty one days notice; or [2] After the issue of a Registrar's special certificate; or [3] On the delivery of a Governor's licence. [c] At any place, on the delivery of a Governor's licence. Notice of marriage, if intended to be had at the Registrar's office or on delivery of the Registrar's certificate, is to be given to the Registrar; if to be in a place of worship after banns, to a minister of the religious community to which the parties respectively belong. Special licences are issued by; the Governor, the Anglican Bishop and the Roman Catholic Bishop. AGE OF MARRIAGE No marriage may be solemnized or contracted between persons of whom either is under the age of 16. The prohibited degrees of consanguinity or affinity are those according to the law in force for the time being in England. MARRIAGE IN GIBRALTAR WITHOUT RESIDENTIAL QUALIFICATIONS 1. Special Marriage Licence A civil marriage is possible, without residential qualifications, by Special Licence granted by the Governor of Gibraltar under section 13 of the Marriage Ordinance. 2. General Conditions for Marriage In order to get married in Gibraltar, you need to satisfy the Registrar that you are free to marry. [a] Unmarried Persons In certain countries, persons who have not been married can obtain a certificate to that effect from their Civil Authority. This certificate is sometimes required. What is required is your birth certificate. [b] Widows or Widowers If you are a widow or widower, you must furnish: [1] A certified copy of your birth certificate; [2] A certified copy of the death certificate of your spouse; [3] If the death certificate does not name you as the widow or widower of the deceased, it is also essential that you produce a certified copy of your original marriage certificate. [c] Divorced Persons If you have been previously married, you must submit: [1] Your birth certificate; [2] Your previous marriage certificate; [3] An original copy of your final and absolute divorce decree. Office examined or certified copies will usually be accepted, but they must bear an original seal of the court. Divorce decrees of countries other than Great Britain may need to be legalised by The British Consular Authority for the place where the divorce decree was granted, except in the case of countries which have ratified the convention for abolishing the Requirement of Legalisation of Foreign Public Documents [ The Hague, 5th October 1961 ]. If you are in doubt, write to the Marriage Clerk and send a photocopy of your divorce decree. In some countries, a divorce must be transcribed in the appropriate civil registry before it becomes final and absolute. In such cases, a certified copy of the relevant entry must be produced. [d] Persons under age 18 If you are under 18 years of age, you must produce the written consent of both your parents or legal guardians. The consent to marry must be valid by the Law of the country where you are domiciled. Persons may not marry unless they are over the age of 16, unless the court of Gibraltar orders otherwise. [e] Change of Name If you have changed your name by deed poll or in some other way, you should submit your original change of name deed. 3. Service Personnel Commanding Officer's Consent [for members of the Armed Forces only] Service personnel should ensure that a Commanding Officer's Consent [if required by service regulations] is obtained in writing before submitting an application for a Marriage Licence. 4. Making an appointment for a Marriage Marriages usually take place during the following hours, on Monday to Friday between 10 am - 12 noon. Once you have chosen a date for your marriage, you may telephone the Marriage Registry to make a booking for the day of your choice. The booking will initially be a provisional booking, and will be held until 10.30 a.m. on the day immediately before that date. For example, if a booking is made for Thursday 3rd of May it will be held until 10.30 am on Wednesday 2nd May by which time arrangements to finalise the paperwork must have been commenced. If you have made a provisional booking by telephone or in writing, you can change this to another date if you so wish. When you make a provisional booking, you will not be allocated a time for the wedding. This will be allocated once all the paperwork has been completed and the Special Licence has been ordered. At this stage, the booking for the marriage becomes a firm booking and ceases to be a provisional booking. 5. How to obtain a Special Licence To obtain a Special Licence, you need to: [1] Attend our offices before 10.30 a.m. on any working day. This may be done as much as three months in advance of the marriage or as late as the day prior to the ceremony. [2] Prove to the Marriage Registrar that you and your spouse are free to marry, by producing the appropriate documents as listed at paragraph 2; [3] Bring your passports; [4] Swear an affidavit each in the manner prescribed by the Marriage Ordinance. When you attend our offices to apply for the Special Licence, we will provide the affidavits for you to complete and these can then be sworn before a Gibraltar Commissioner for Oaths. Please note that it normally takes at least 1 day to complete the paperwork, swear the affidavits and obtain a licence: You cannot get married on the same day that you apply for a Special Licence. 6. Fees When you have completed the paperwork you will be asked to pay the fees due. Governors Special Licence GBP 67.50 Ceremony 34.00 Certificates (each) 3.50 A further charge of between GBP 10-20 may be payable for the services of a Gibraltar Commissioner for Oaths. All fees are payable in pounds sterling or Gibraltar pounds. If you order a Special Licence and later decide you do not wish to get married in Gibraltar, or its validity expires, refunds will not normally be granted. 7. The Marriage Ceremony You will attend before the Marriage Registrar on a date that is mutually convenient. You will need. [1] Some means of identification [i.e., a passport or identity card which bears a recent photograph ] ; [2] Two witnesses for the marriage. Please note that under no circumstances can the Registry Office provide two witnesses. Your witnesses may be related to either of you or to each other or they may be friends or colleagues but they must be over eighteen years of age and able to speak and understand English. The ceremony is conducted in English. If you do not speak English, you must arrange and provide your own interpreter, except in the case of the Spanish language, where the Registry can provide you with a Spanish interpreter. There is a fee for the services of a Spanish/English interpreter. The Registry Office can give you the names and addresses of persons who can act as interpreters in Gibraltar. It is helpful if you notify the Marriage Registry in advance that you will need the services of an interpreter. Photography is allowed for the second part of the ceremony, viz. the exchange of rings [ if any ] and the signing of the Registers. If you wish, you may arrange for a photographer to be present at your wedding. The Marriage Registry can supply you with the names of the different photographic studios in Gibraltar. You are also welcome to make arrangements with florists in Gibraltar for any special flower arrangement that you would like to order for the Marriage room for your wedding. Lists of names and addresses of Gibraltar florists are available on request. 8. Visa requirements The Marriage Registry cannot advise you on whether you need a visa to enter Gibraltar. If you have any doubts, please enquire at a British Consulate or contact Civil Status and Registration Office, Passport Office, Joshua Hassan House, Gibraltar, telephone [ 350 ] 51728. 9. Further Enquiries The Registrar and staff at the Registry Office are here to help you every step of the way and to ensure that your special day is worry free. If you have any further enquires, these should be addressed in English to: Civil Status & Registration Office Marriage Registry Joshua Hassan House 3 Secretary's Lane Gibraltar Tel. + 350 72289 Fax + 350 42706 Note: When dialling from Spain the country code + 350 may not be work correctly, consult the operator.