Travel Advice
for visitors to Fiji and returning nationals

Getting married in Fiji

Required documents:

• Original or certified copy of birth certificates;
• Passport;
• Decree Absolute document if divorced;
• Death Certificate if spouse had died;
• Statutory Declaration signed by a Justice of Peace or Notary Public or Solicitor to prove that the persons are not married [this declaration both applies to first or the second marriage;
• Consent of the father if under the age of 21 years or mother if father is deceased. Minimum age for marriage in Fiji is 16 years and above for female and 18 years and above for male;
• Names of two witnesses who are 21 years of age or over.
  Couples must present themselves together to apply for the license.

Special license

Application form for special license can be obtained from Head Office of the Registrar of Births, Deaths and Marriages in Suva, the Divisional Registrar Offices either in Lautoka or Labasa or any offices of the district officer. This license is valid only for 28 days from the date of issue [within which the marriage may be performed] is stated in the license and the marriage officer should satisfy himself/herself that the license is still in force.


Marriage Officers/Celebrants

Marriages in Fiji are solemnized by Government Offices or Ministers of Religions of the Christian faith or other suitably qualified persons professing any recognized religion, must first be registered as a marriage officer. The names of all marriage officers are published in the Fiji Republic Gazette upon registration and then annually at the beginning of each year.

The party who intend to get married should satisfy themselves that the marriage officer or celebrant assign to solemnize their marriage has already been registered. Should a party wish to be married in a garden, hotel and etc., arrangement should be made before hand with a marriage celebrant who will officiate the marriage. Travelling expenses for the celebrant should be met by the party concerned.


Witnesses and Signing of the Marriage Certificate

Every marriage shall be performed in the presence of at least two witnesses who can sign their names and are 21 years of age or over;

The particulars filled in the certificate of marriage in triplicate must be typed or printed and must be the same as the particulars in the special license;

Three copies of the certificate of marriage must be signed by the parties, the witnesses and the marriage officer;

The duplicate copy of the certificate of marriage must be given to one of the parties, the original must be sent within seven days to the district registrar or Registrar General [it in Suva] for recording purposes.


Additional Religious Ceremony

Where the Registrar General or the district registrar has already performed a marriage, a marriage officer may, if the parties desires upon production of the certificate of marriage, perform a further religious ceremony of marriage.

No further certificate of marriage shall be completed by the marriage officer in the case of an additional religious marriage ceremony.

Validity of Marriages Solemnized in Fiji for Citizens in Other Countries

All members countries that have adopted the Convention abolishing the requirement of legalization for Foreign Public Documents. This convention, opened for signature at The Hague on 5th October 1961 applies to public documents which have been executed in one country and which are required to be produced in the territory of another country.

The convention have allowed and included documents such as Marriages, Births and Deaths Certificates are exempted from legislation of documents and the only formality required is the affixing of a certificate by a competent authority of the country from which the documents issued. This certificate or stamp is titled "Apostille [convention de La Haye du 5 Octobre 1961"]. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is equipped with the designated authority to certify public documents under the Convention. Please get your marriage certificate authenticated by the ministry of foreign affairs and External Trade before departure from Fiji.


REGISTRY OFFICES FOR MARRIAGE IN FIJI

1. Lautoka Crown Law Office
1st Floor Rogorogoivuda House
Tavewa Road
Tel: [679] 600968
Fax: [679] 304917

2. The Registrar General’s Office
Suvavou House Ground Floor
Suva
Tel: [679] 315280

3. District Office
Korivolu Avenue
Nadi
Tel: [679] 700101
Hours
Monday – Thursday 8.00 am – 4.30 pm
Friday 8.00 am – 4.00 pm
Closed for Lunch 1.00 pm – 2.00 pm


License validity

The special license is effective immediately after the application is received (within one working day) and processed by the registry. It is valid for 21 days from the date of issue.

After the marriage ceremony it is advisable to apply for a proper/typed marriage certificate. This can be obtained from the local registry office.- for returning nationals.