Marriage Licence in Grenada: Documents, Timing and Where to Apply

Grenada is a popular place to marry: couples from the diaspora come home for the ceremony, and many visitors choose a beach or garden wedding. Whatever the setting, the marriage is only legal if the licence is in order, and the licence is where most of the stress happens. The rules are clear, but they are strict about documents, and a missing decree absolute can derail a carefully planned day.

Special marriage licences are applied for through the Prime Minister's Office, which has long handled them from the Ministerial Complex at the Botanical Gardens in St George's, with fees paid at the Treasury. Regulations amended in 2017 introduced provisions aimed at destination weddings, including a faster service for an additional fee. This guide covers who can marry, what to bring, how long it takes and what happens afterwards.

Documents both partners must bring

Bring originals, not copies, and assume any document not in English must be accompanied by a certified translation. Most couples need the following.

• Valid passports for both partners.
• Original birth certificates.
• A sworn affidavit or statutory declaration of single status for each partner, made before a notary, lawyer or commissioner for oaths, confirming that neither is currently married.
• If divorced: the decree absolute or final divorce order. A decree nisi is not enough.
• If widowed: the death certificate of the late spouse, and usually the previous marriage certificate.
• If either name has changed: the deed poll or other document linking the names.
• If either partner is under 21: written parental consent in the form required.
• Details of the marriage officer, venue and intended date, which your wedding planner or officiant can supply.

Where to apply and who can do it for you

The application is made to the Prime Minister's Office in St George's. Couples planning everything themselves can attend in person once they arrive; many others use a licensed destination wedding agent, resort wedding coordinator or local lawyer who prepares the application in advance and accompanies them for signatures. The 2017 regulations formalised the role of licensed destination wedding agents.

Fees are set by regulation and paid at the Treasury, with stamp duty on top. Since 2017 there has been a supplementary charge for issuing a licence within 24 hours of application, and a separate fee where both partners are non-citizens. Resort packages often fold government fees and the officiant into a single figure, so ask exactly which charges are included.

Grenadian residents marrying locally follow the same core process but often marry in church after banns have been read, in which case the church handles much of the paperwork through its own marriage officer. Ask your parish priest or pastor which route applies.

Because the regulations set a separate fee where both partners are non-citizens, it matters if one of you holds Grenadian citizenship, as many people in the diaspora do alongside another passport. Bring proof of Grenadian citizenship, such as a Grenadian passport or birth certificate, and ask how it affects the fees in your case.

Timing: how early to arrive

Residency rules have changed. Older guides quote a requirement to be in Grenada for several days before applying. Amendments over the years have relaxed this, and the 2017 changes tied the special licence to the intended date of marriage. Confirm the current position with the Prime Minister's Office or your planner before booking flights.

Processing time. Straightforward applications have typically been processed within about two working days. Where either partner was previously married, documents may be referred to the Ministry of Legal Affairs, which adds time.

Avoid tight margins. Do not plan to land the day before the wedding. Flight delays, a public holiday or a question about a document can easily eat a day or two.

Weekends and holidays. Government offices do not process licences on weekends or public holidays. Check the Grenada holiday calendar, especially around Independence on 7 February, Easter, Emancipation and Carnival in August, and Christmas.

From licence to married certificate

Once the licence is issued, the legal steps on the day are short. The ceremony itself can be civil or religious, on a beach, in a garden, at a resort or in a church, provided the officer is authorised and the venue is the one named on the licence.

1. The marriage officer checks the licence and both partners' identification before the ceremony.
2. The ceremony takes place at the licensed venue, with at least two witnesses present. Planners can provide witnesses if you travel alone.
3. Both partners, the witnesses and the officer sign the marriage register.
4. The officer returns the register entry to the registry for recording.
5. You order your official marriage certificate from the Registrar General's office in St George's. It may not be ready on the day, so arrange collection or courier delivery.
6. If you will use the certificate abroad, ask whether it needs an apostille or other authentication before you leave Grenada.

Mistakes that delay weddings

The commonest problem is a divorce document that is not final. Couples bring a decree nisi, or an order that only refers to a divorce, and the application stalls while someone arranges the final decree from abroad. The second is an affidavit of single status that is too old or not properly sworn; prepare it close to the wedding date and have it notarised.

Name differences across documents cause trouble too. If a partner's birth certificate, passport and divorce papers show different surnames, bring the documents that connect them. Couples marrying in religious ceremonies sometimes assume the church wedding alone suffices; it does only if the church and officer are licensed and the civil paperwork is completed.

Finally, check whether your home country recognises a foreign marriage automatically or requires you to register it with your consulate or local registry on your return. Most do recognise legally performed Grenadian marriages, but the registration step is up to you.

Planning a wedding on Carriacou

Carriacou's calm bays and small guesthouses make it a favourite for intimate weddings. The licence process is national, so the paperwork still runs through St George's, but couples staying on Carriacou should allow for ferry or flight times when appointments are needed. Many use a planner with links on both islands to handle the trip into town.

Recovery work since Hurricane Beryl struck in July 2024 has been steady, but check that your intended venue and accommodation are operating and ask about generator back-up and water supply, both important on the sister islands.

Bring all original documents with you on the ferry or flight rather than leaving them in St George's, and keep copies in a separate bag. If a question about a document comes up, sorting it out from Hillsborough by message and courier takes much longer than handling it face to face on the main island.

Costs to budget for

Government fees. The licence fee and stamp duty are modest on their own, but the supplementary charges for fast-tracked licences and for couples where neither partner is a citizen add noticeably. Confirm current amounts rather than relying on older guides.

Officiant. Marriage officers charge for their time and travel, more for beach or out-of-town venues and for weekend ceremonies.

Document preparation. Notarised affidavits, certified translations and courier fees for divorce papers can cost more than the licence itself, especially if arranged at short notice from abroad.

Certificates. Order more than one certified marriage certificate. Name changes on passports, bank accounts and immigration files each want an original.

Planner or agent. A licensed wedding agent saves time with the Prime Minister's Office and the Treasury. Agree in writing which government charges are included in the package price.

Frequently asked questions