MARRIAGE REQUIREMENTS FOR AN ELOPEMENT IN MEXICO
Although many Americans who "marry" in beautiful Mexico opt to have a civil ceremony in the United States and a symbolic/religious one outside of the country, it's actually not much more complicated to arrange a legal* civil ceremony south of the border. Whether you're seeking culture or relaxation, Mexico is an excellent option for a luxury elopement.
CABO SAN LUCAS | CANCUN
RIVIERA MAYA
QUICK LINKS FOR MEXICO
Consulate Information:
Civil Registries for Cabo San Lucas:
Municipio De Los Cabos
Blv Mijares 63, Centro
San Jose Del Cabo, C.P. 23400
Tel: +52.624.142.3929
Municipio De Los Cabos
Cll Matamoros 1, Ejidal,
Cabo San Lucas, C.P. 23470, Bcs.
Tel: +52.624.105.1747
Municipio De Los Cabos
Bcs Blv Mijares 63 Centro
San Jose Del Cabo, C.P. 23400, Bcs.
Tel: +52.624.142.3938
Civil Registries for Cancun:
Plutarco Elias Calles 278, Esquina
Morelos, Centro
Chetumal, Quintana Roo CP
77000
Tel: +52.983.832.8521 | 832-1723
Civil Registries for Riviera Maya:
Av. Juárez, Esquina Calle
45 Interior Plaza
Papagayos (Planta Alta)
Tel: +52.984.877.3050 Ext. 13010
Cabo San Lucas in particular requires minimal advance planning for a legal marriage in a foreign city, so you can elope to the sun, sand, and gorgeous weather of this safe, popular town – at a fraction of the cost of a traditional wedding.
Basic Marriage Requirements for Cabo San Lucas
Although religious ceremonies in Mexico are not legally recognized internationally, civil ceremonies are valid as long as the local requirements for the Mexican city and state you elope to are met. The legal requirements vary by state in Mexico, so the selection of requisites below applies specifically to an elopement to Cabo San Lucas and the rest of the Los Cabos area.
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The marriage license must be obtained in the Mexican state of Baja California Sur
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Blood tests must be completed in the Mexican state of Baja California Sur
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Four witnesses with identification must be present
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A judge must perform the ceremony
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The bride and groom must be 18 years or older to marry without parental consent
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One year must have lapsed between final divorce decree(s) or death(s) of previous spouse(s) if applicable (this is state law and cannot be compromised)
The judge who performs your ceremony can usually officiate outside of the courthouse, (i.e., at a hotel, beach, etc.), but note that the ceremony will be in Spanish, so having a translator on hand is a good idea. (Also, the wording won't vary from the wording prescribed by the state.) You’ll want to schedule an appointment with the judge as soon as you've selected Cabo as your elopement destination to ensure he's free on your preferred ceremony date.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​
Getting a Marriage License in Cabo San Lucas
Many of the documents required to get a marriage license for your elopement in Mexico are the same as those required in America. The main difference is that all of your U.S. documents – listed below – will need to be translated by an authorized translator and apostilled in advance of departing the states.
Required U.S. Documents
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Original or certified copies of birth certificates
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Valid passports for the bride, groom and witnesses (if they are not residents of Mexico)
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Decree Absolute(s)/Annulment Decree(s) in the case of dissolution of previous marriage(s)
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Death Certificate(s) in the case of widow- or widowerhood
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Adoption Papers if the bride or groom were adopted
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Tourist cards (completed at the port of entry) or visas
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Apostilles and authorized translations for all of the above
Required documents specific to Cabo San Lucas
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Blood test results
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Health certificate
If you work with a Cabo hotel or resort to plan your elopement, they can usually arrange your blood tests to be done at the hotel. If not, there are walk-in medical clinics where you can arrange to have your tests completed.
MARRIAGE REQUIREMENTS FOR AN ELOPEMENT TO CABO SAN LUCAS
Sources: visitmexico.com; mexicolaw.com; mexonline.com; mygola.com
MARRIAGE REQUIREMENTS FOR AN ELOPEMENT TO CANCUN
Cancun, located in the Mexican state of Quintana Roo, does require more planning and paperwork than some of the other areas of Mexico, but there are many benefits to making the extra effort. The proximity to the Caribbean Sea, the beauty of the historic landscape, and the fact that the state of Quintana Roo allows legal same-sex marriages are often the only encouragement a couple needs to select Cancun for their elopement location. While most independent and hotel-staff event planners can handle most of the legal paperwork for you, read on for the requirements specific to marriage in Cancun so you're in the know (or plan to organize your elopement on your own).
Basic Marriage Requirements for Cancun
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The marriage license must be obtained in the Mexican state of Quintana Roo
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Blood tests must be completed in the Mexican state of Quintana Roo at least three business days before the ceremony
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Four witnesses with identification must be present
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A judge must perform the ceremony
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The bride and groom must be 18 years or older to marry without parental consent
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One year must have lapsed between final divorce decree(s) or death(s) of previous spouse(s) if applicable
The judge who performs your ceremony is limited to the wording established by the state, and the service will be conducted in Spanish (although you have the option of securing a translator). We recommend that you schedule an appointment with a judge as soon as you've selected Cancun as your elopement destination to ensure his availability on your preferred wedding date.
Getting a Marriage License in Cancun
You will apply for your marriage license at a Civil Registry in Cancun. Many of the documents required to get a marriage license for your elopement in Mexico are the same as those required in America. The main difference is that all of your U.S. documents – listed below – will need to be translated by an authorized translator and apostilled in advance of departing the states.
Required U.S. Documents
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Original or certified copies of birth certificates plus one photocopy of each
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Valid passports for the bride, groom, and witnesses (if they are not residents of Mexico)
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Decree Absolute(s)/Annulment Decree(s) in the case of dissolution of previous marriage(s) by the bride (no paperwork is required for the groom)
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Death certificate(s) in the case of widow- or widowerhood
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Affidavits of Single Marital Status that have been notarized
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Affidavit of Name Change for the bride if her surname does not match that which appears on her birth certificate
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Apostilles and authorized translations for all of the above
Required Documents Specific to Cancun
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Tourist cards (completed at the port of entry) or visas
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Blood test results
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Health certificate
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Marriage Request Form
Blood tests – which must be taken in Mexico – can usually be arranged at your hotel or resort, and your health certificate will follow once the tests results have been received. Local walk-in medical clinics can also perform blood tests if necessary.
You will complete the Marriage Request Form when you apply for your marriage license.
Learn more about the incredible beauty of Cancun or check out some of our other favorite elopement-friendly locations in Mexico!​​​​​​​​​
Sources: weddingsbylomastravel.com; state.gov
MARRIAGE REQUIREMENTS FOR AN ELOPEMENT TO RIVIERA MAYA
Marriages that take place along the gorgeous Riviera Maya require a minimum of paperwork and have the flexibility of being performed in English – just two excellent incentives for choosing the stunning seaside corridor for a luxury elopement. Known as the "Mexican Riviera," Riviera Maya is rife with lavish resorts with planners on staff to help coordinate all the details of a dream elopement, including the legalities – but make sure you're in the know by reviewing the below requirements specific to the area.
Basic Marriage Requirements for Riviera Maya
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Blood tests must be completed in the Mexican state of Quintana Roo at least three business days and not more than seven business days before the ceremony
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Four witnesses with identification must be present
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A justice of the peace must perform the ceremony
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The bride and groom must be 18 years or older to marry without parental consent
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One year must have lapsed between final divorce decree(s) or death(s) of previous spouse(s) if applicable
The justice of the peace who performs your ceremony is limited to the wording established by the state, but the service may be conducted in English if that is your preference. We recommend that you or your coordinator schedule an appointment with a justice of the peace as soon as you’ve selected Riviera Maya as your elopement destination to ensure availability on the date you wish your ceremony to be held.
Getting a Marriage License in Riviera Maya
You or your wedding coordinator will apply for your marriage license at an Oficina del Registro Civil (Civil Registry Office) in Riviera Maya, and unlike many areas of Mexico, the Riviera doesn’t require your documents to be Apostilled or translated in advance. You will need the below to complete the marriage-license process:
Required U.S. Documents
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Valid passports for the bride, groom, and witnesses (if they are not residents of Mexico)
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Decree Absolute(s)/Annulment Decree(s) in the case of dissolution of previous marriage(s) by the bride (no paperwork is required for the groom)
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Death certificate(s) in the case of widow- or widowerhood
Required Documents Specific to Riviera Maya
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Tourist cards (completed at the port of entry) or visas
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Blood test results
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Doctor's certification of blood tests
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Marriage Request Form
Blood tests – which must be taken in Mexico – can be arranged at your hotel, resort, or a local walk-in medical clinic, and often include the doctor's certification in a package. Prior to the ceremony, the bride, the groom, and their witnesses will go to the municipal office to complete the Marriage Request Form, sign the license application, and submit all of the above documentation.
Learn more about the beautiful Riviera Maya or check out some of our other favorite
Sources: rivieramaya.com; weddingsrivieramaya.com
*Published information is provided as a convenience to users and is for informational purposes only. You should verify all information before relying on it. See our complete Terms of Service for more details.