If the idea of an exotic Caribbean locale appeals – complete with white-sand beaches and idyllic weather year-round – the Turks and Caicos Islands (TCI) should be at the top of your list of luxury elopement options. The beautiful British territory features English as its first language and doesn't require blood tests. In fact, the biggest hurdle to eloping to TCI is the timeline, which necessitates approximately a week in the islands to complete the legalities. Event coordinators (both independent and hotel-staffed) will often help facilitate the legal aspects, but familiarize yourself with the requirements below so you can gauge if a luxury elopement to Turks and Caicos is right for you and get your paperwork in order before you leave the states.

Basic Marriage Requirements for Turks and Caicos

• The marriage license must be obtained within the islands of Turks and Caicos

• There is a required residency period of 72 hours for the bride and groom before an application for marriage may be placed

• The bride and groom must be 21 years of age or older to marry without the written, notarized consent of a parent or guardian

The marriage ceremony must be conducted by an authorized marriage officer (a minister or justice of the peace with a government-issued license)

Getting a Marriage License in Turks and Caicos

Although per the above, the bride and groom are required to be in TCI together for 72 hours before the application for a marriage license is made, it is their marriage officer who submits the application for a special license at the office of the Registrar in Providenciales. You or your planner will need to coordinate with the marriage office in advance and make sure all of the required documents are in order.

Required U.S. Documents

• Valid passports

• Original or certified copies of birth certificates

• Evidence of the couple’s arrival date(s) in Turks and Caicos (passport stamp, etc.)

• Decree Absolute(s)/Annulment Decree(s) in the case of dissolution of previous marriage (a copy may be used but must be notarized and sealed by a County Clerk)

• Death certificate(s) in the case of widow- or widowerhood

• Notarized Affidavit(s) of Single Marital Status in the case of the bride and/or groom not having been married previously

• Affidavit(s) of Name Change in the case of name change by Deed Poll or adoption

• Apostilles for all of the above

• Letters of personal declaration that state the bride and groom’s occupations, their current marital status, ages as of their last birthdays, their present address(s) of residence, and the full names of their fathers

Processing of the application takes between 48 to 72 hours, which brings the current time required in TCI before the ceremony may take place to as few as five and as many as six days before the ceremony may take place (including the 72-hour residency requirement before the application may be submitted).

Learn more about Turks and Caicos, or discover some of the other amazing locations for luxury elopements in the Caribbean.