St. Maarten
The deceptively small Dutch St. Maarten presents some interesting contrasts for the explorer. Wide beaches along the coast, full of sunbathers and surfers, seem a far cry from the quiet country roads and small towns of the hillsides. In the evening the hills of the interior become even more peaceful, while the glittering casinos and pulsing clubs of the coast just begin to come alive.
MARRIAGE REQUIREMENTS:
Couples planning on getting married on St. Maarten must be at least 18 years of age. Requests must be submitted at the least 14 days prior to the scheduled ceremony to be conducted by the Registrar.
The following notarized original documents must be submitted to the Registrar with your request:
A full abridged birth certificate to prove the legality of the same. The birth certificate must have an “Apostille” stamp which can be obtained from the City Hall;
1. In the event persons are not of Dutch nationality, a valid passport is required;
2. Address of both parties;
3. Duration of stay on St. Maarten;
4. Unmarried persons must present a declaration of marital status not older than 3 months;
5. If widow(er), a death certificate;
6. If divorced, a divorce certificate or a final judgment decree;
7. For minors, permission of the parents is required;
8. Names of parents, maiden names of mother including place of birth and birth date;
9. Professions of the bride, the groom and the parents.
10. 6 (six) witness if the marriage is performed outside of the Marriage Hall. Non-Dutch witnesses must present a valid passport or a birth certificate with a picture I.D.
Original documents other than Dutch or English need to be translated into the Dutch language (i.e. a French or Spanish document must be translated into Dutch, not English).
The cost for contracting foreign marriages is US$275.55 and includes civil ceremony, marriage books, stamps and certificates.
Questions can be directed to:
Chief Registrar
Census Office
Soualiga Road
Philipsburg, St. Maarten
Fax: + 599-542-4267
ST. MAARTEN MARRIAGE POLICY
For the contracting of marriages on the Island Territory of Sint-Maarten, the following procedures are applicable and required (in accordance with the Civil Code at the Netherlands Antilles 1869 and as amended).
1. Birth Certificates of both parties are required (article 120). Persons of foreign nationalities should be 21 years and over in order to contract a marriage without consent of their parents, Guardians (such also in accordance to the laws of their respective countries of origin). Persons of the Netherlands nationality should be 23 years and over (article 91).
2. Divorced persons may remarry in Sint-Maarten, but should provide a recent extract of divorce of this current year. Divorced women, can only remarry after 306 days upon inscription into the registry of divorce at the office of Civil State (article 83).
3. A period of 10 (ten) days is required by law in accordance to article 124 of the Civil Code of the Netherlands Antilles to register at the Office of Civil Registry. Persons dearing to get married must first declare before the office of Civil State of their intentions of contracting a marriage. Office hours are Mondays through Fridays from 8.30 am to12.00 noon and from 1.30 pm to 3.30 pm (article 99, 100 101) Publication of marriage banns. Starts from the Saturday thereafter (article 124).
4. On Tuesdays through Thursdays Marriages can be contracted for the price of Nafls. 90(approx, $51); on Fridays for Nafls. 120 (approx. $67); and on Saturdays for the price of Nafls 270 (approx. $152). Price includes the marriage book. (These prices are in effect as of October 1, 1994, in accordance with ‘AB 1194 No. 11 Stamps ordinance 1994)
5. To contract a marriage on the Island, one of the parties concerned must be an inscribed Residence at the Census Office. Two witnesses are also required to be present at the marriage ceremony and must also be inscribed residents at one of the Census Office of the Netherlands Antilles (articles 125 and 126). To become a resident of the Netherlands Antilles one must first have a valid residence permit and/or a permit granted by the Government Authorities, of which must be handled by the Immigration Department in question (P.B. 1986 No. 96).
6. Foreign persons wishing to get married in St. Maarten and who are not inscribed as a resident can request permission from the Lt. Governor of the Island Territory of St. Maarten. If permission is granted a temporary tourist permit will be issued in order to contract a marriage. A written request must be submitted to the attention of the Lt. Governor; this can be send to:
Lt. Governor Franklyn RICHARDS
Government Administration Building
P.O. Box 943
Philipsburg, St.Maarten.
Netherlands Antilles
You may also fax the Lt. Governor at 011-59954-24884. Please allow at least 2 months for a Reply, please note that you need to be on the Island at least two days before the wedding date.
7. Registration at the office of Civil Registry needs to take place at least ten days before the marriage. This can be done by faxing their office at 011-59954- 21267. Please send the Fax to the attention of Mr. Alberto Mathew, Chief Registrar. The following documents are needed in order to register: - Copy of approval letter from Lt. Governor (temporary tourist permit) - Birth certificates of both parties - Copy of Civil Status (In case of Divorce Certificates is needed).
The office of Civil Registry is located at:
Sualiouga Rd. #6
Philipsburg,
St. Maarten
Phone: 011-59954-22457 Fax: 011-59954-24567
Please note that all documents must be translated into the Dutch language by an official sworn translator and/ or by a Notary Public with their signature, stamps and seal.
The following person can do translation on Island:
Ms. Cheryl LaBega- Language translator - Government Administration Building
Philipsburg, St. Maarten.
Please note that one to weeks is needed to translate the documents.
8. The Office of the Civil State performs the marriages after all documents are found to be correct, after which if requested by parties, a clergyman can perform the wedding ceremony at the Wedding Hall situated at Sualiouga Rd. # 4, Pondfill, Philipsburg.
9. Other required documents are:- A valid return ticket, or to travel elsewhere outside the Netherlands Antilles- Required documents for returning to the country of origin, or for further travel elsewhere- Sufficient means to be able to support your stay in St.Maarten.
St. Martin
St. Martin is 21 square miles (54 sq km) of French territory with a strikingly French way of life. The currency, the language, the goods in the shops, the escargot and frog legs in the restaurants and the pastries and breads in the bakeries, the cars, the fashions and the sheer style – it’s all unashamedly French, with the added Caribbean attraction of superb beaches on which to spend the hot, sunny days.
MARRIAGE REQUIREMENTS:
Marriage Requirements for marriage coming soon.
TOURIST BOARD INFORMATION:
Contact St. Martin Tourist Office at 1 
877-956-1234
St. Barth
St Barthelemy is the Monte Carlo of the Caribbean, without the traffic jams but with the added advantage of flawless beaches. Shortened to Saint Barth in French and St Barts in English it is an exclusive eight square mile (21 sq km) embodiment of 24-carat French chic. It attracts millionaires on luxury yachts, movie stars and French expatriates fleeing the European winter. If you’re looking for a Caribbean island where relaxation and Gallic style under a tropical sun have been refined to perfection, you’ve found it.
MARRIAGE REQUIREMENTS:
While it is impossible for anyone other than St. Barths residents to have a civil marriage ceremony in St. Barths, a lot of people of many nationalities with a close connection to St. Barths do decide to have their Christian marriage or wedding blessing on the island.
St. Bartholomew’s Anglican Church is willing to discuss the possibility of holding wedding services, but sufficient notice must be given in time for the necessary preparations. The Anglican Church undertakes weddings in both English and French but does not provide for wedding services outside of the Church. The priest, Revd Charles Vere Nicoll, lives on the island and can help with enquiries - Tel: (59) 05 90 29 74 63.
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The Philipsburg Boardwalk is by far the biggest attraction in town. Nearly 50 feet wide and running nearly the entire length of the city’s Great Bay waterfront, the Boardwalk serves as a lively “back porch” for the hotels and restaurants on the south side of Front Street. You’ll find strollers, skaters, and even Segway tours cruising along the half-mile-plus ribbon of concrete. Within sight of the cruise-ship dock, the Boardwalk is a great place to grab an inexpensive cold Carib or Heineken from one of the many beach bars and linger while street musicians perform, or duck inside one of the many restaurants lining the strip for some local Dutch/Indonesian influenced cuisine or just a burger or hot dog. Other attractions include a sun-drenched Catholic Church that looks out over the bay, an arcade with pinball and video games, and a beachfront playground. Speaking of the beach, you can rent beach chairs and an umbrella — with a half-dozen cold beers thrown in — for about $20. Between the Boardwalk, the beach, bright spaces like the Islan Flava Beach Grill, and the very cool Holland House, there’s more than a little touch of Miami Beach on the Philipsburg waterfront. It’s a great place to spend a few hours shopping, dining, gambling, or just hanging out on the beach, whether you’re staying on the island or taking the short walk from the cruise pier. You can even mix a bit more history into your visit by exploring the nearby Fort Amsterdam, built in 1631, or Fort Willem, both designed to protect Philipsburg from seaborne invaders.
