Getting Married In Gibraltar
Expat Tips
Published: 22 June 2015 12:58 CET
Updated: 22 June 2022 12:58 CET
Many people dream of getting away from it all and having a romantic wedding somewhere warm and sunny. Well, you could do far worse than exploring whether to hold your wedding in Gibraltar. Marriages in Gibraltar have the benefit of being legally recognised worldwide and if you're planning on Spain as the destination for your honeymoon, Gibraltar is ideally placed.
Don't worry about the language barrier either, wedding ceremonies in Gibraltar are held in English or Spanish and you can marry within 48 hours under special licence. In addition, Gibraltar has British customs and laws and uses Sterling as its currency. Having your marriage or legal civic partnership in Gibraltar is therefore a straightforward process and submitting the necessary documentation is easy.
Civil Marriage
Who Can Be Married in Gibraltar?
Anyone can be married in Gibraltar. There are no residential requirements. In law in Gibraltar, marriage between a man and a woman is provided for under the Gibraltar Marriage Act. Residents and non-residents alike can be married in Gibraltar by means of a special licence. The law allows for a marriage ceremony to be conducted at approved locations outside the registry, outside working hours and at weekends.
Required Documents
All documents must be in the English language or must have certified translations.
Persons wishing to get married have to prove their identity by providing originals of the following:
Single persons never having been married or never entered into marriage
- Passport or national identity card or other acceptable form of identity
- Full birth certificate
Widows/widowers/surviving partners
- Passport, national identity card or other acceptable form of identity
- Full birth certificate
- Previous marriage certificate
- The death certificate of your late spouse
Persons who have been previously married or who have previously entered into marriage
- Passport, national identity card or other acceptable form of identity
- Full birth certificate
- Final and absolute divorce decree or certificate of annulment of your previous marriage
Change of Name
If you have changed your name in any way, you should produce evidence of your change of name.
Other Documentation
In addition to the above the registrar may, at his/her sole discretion, request other documents considered necessary.
General conditions for marriage and documents required
You must be able to prove you are free to marry by completing affidavits and signing them before a Commissioner for Oaths or a Notary Public of your choice in Gibraltar. A list of registered Commissioner for Oaths or notaries public will be provided by the registry. Charges for these services will apply.
Civil Partnership
Who Can Enter Into A Civil Partnership In Gibraltar?
In Gibraltar, a civil partnership between two persons is provided for under the Gibraltar Civil Partnership Act. A special licence can be granted under section 12 of the act, for residents and non-residents alike to enter into a civil partnership in Gibraltar. Civil partnership ceremonies can be conducted at approved locations outside the registry, outside working hours and at weekends.
Required Documents
All documents must be in the English language or must have certified translations.
You may enter into a civil partnership at the Civil Partnership Registry by means of a special licence, after satisfying the registrar that you are free to do so by completing affidavits and signing them before a Commissioner for Oaths or a notary public of your choice in Gibraltar. A list of registered Commissioner for Oaths or notaries public will be provided by the registry. Charges for these services will apply.
Non-residents must offer the registrar documentary evidence that they will either be staying in Gibraltar at least one night immediately before or, immediately after the ceremony.
The registrar will accept any of the evidence listed below:
- A hotel bill covering the night before the entering into the civil partnership
- A hotel booking form confirming that the night of the entering into the civil partnership is paid for
- A statement by a resident of Gibraltar, confirming that the parties spent the night before the entering into the civil partnership or will spend the night that the civil partnership is entered into as their guest at the relevant address (which must be specified)
- Another form of proof that the parties were or will be in Gibraltar on the night before or of the date they are entering the civil partnership. Alternatively, a similar statement confirming, to the satisfaction of the registrar, that the parties of the proposed civil partnership have spent or will spend at least one night in Gibraltar immediately prior to or immediately following the entering into the civil partnership
In addition, the other documents required by those wishing to enter into a civil partnership include originals of the following:
Single persons never having been married or never entered into marriage
- Passport or national identity card or other acceptable form of identity
- Full birth certificate
Widows/widowers/surviving partners
- Passport, national identity card or other acceptable form of identity
- Full birth certificate
- Previous marriage certificate
- The death certificate of your late spouse
Persons who have been previously married or who have previously entered into marriage
- Passport, national identity card or other acceptable form of identity
- Full birth certificate
- Final and absolute divorce decree or certificate of annulment of your previous marriage
Change of Name
If you have changed your name in any way, you should produce evidence of your change of name.
Other Documentation
In addition to the above the registrar may, at his sole discretion, request other documents considered necessary.
Ceremony Venues
When you apply for your marriage you will need to indicate whether you wish to be married at the registry or at an approved external location. The approved locations are:
The Caleta Hotel. Contact: +350 20076501 +350 20042143 conf.banq@caletahotel.gi
The O'Callaghan Eliott Hotel: Contact 2 Governor's Parade, +350 20070500 +350 20070243 eliott@ocallaghanhotels.com
The Rock Hotel: Contact 3 Europa Road +350 20073000 +350 20073513 conference@rockhotel.gi
The Dell – Alameda Botanic Gardens (between 1 – April and 30 October weather permitting). Contact: Red Sands Road P.O. Box 843 +350 20041235 events@gibraltargardens.gi
The Mount: Contact The Mount, Ministry for Sports, Culture, Heritage & Youth +350 20075669 +350 20040843 bookings@culture.gov.gi
Top of the Rock – Mons Calpe Suite, Cable Car Station Cloister Building: Contact 6/8 Market Lane, P.O. Box 554 +350 20072735 events@moscalpesuite.com
http://www.monscalpesuite.com
The Queens Hotel: Contact 1 Boyd Street +350 20074000 queenshotel@gibtelecom.net
On board a passenger ship registered in Gibraltar of over one hundred gross tonnes and carrying more than twelve passengers.
Marriages held at the Registry Office take place Monday to Friday between 09.00 and 14.00 only (excluding public holidays).
For further information about these locations and on Gibraltar generally, you should visit the Gibraltar tourist board's websites at: www.visitgibraltar.gi
Procedure
The parties need to make arrangements for themselves and their guests to be at the marriage or civil partnership venue before the ceremony begins. If the marriage or civil partnership is to take place at an external location, they might also need to arrange for transport to convey the registrar to and from the marriage or civil partnership venue. If transport is required, arrangements are to be made when you come in to complete your paperwork.
Non-EU Nationals
Please note that if you do not reside in Gibraltar and are not an EEA national, you may require a visa to enter Gibraltar. The registrar or your embassy can advise you on whether a visa is required. If you require a visa, you will need to apply for one at UK Visa Application Centres in your country of normal residence.
Booking Your Marriage or Civil Partnership
You should make an appointment to arrange your marriage or civil partnership by either attending The Registry of Marriages and Civil Partnerships in person or by submitting a request by email or by post, including the required documents as specified above. Remember that bookings will not be guaranteed until payment has been received.
Public Counter Hours are 08:30 to 15:00 on week days. Telephone enquiries can be made Mondays to Thursdays 08:00 – 15.30 and on Friday between 08:00 – 15.00. Call 00 (350) 200 72289 or email marriages.csro@gibraltar.gov.gi
Booking can be made by phone, letter or email, but you will need to attend in person not later than 12.45 on any working day prior to the date of the ceremony to present the original documents, complete the corresponding affidavits and apply for a special licence. This can be done at any time up to a maximum of 3 months in advance of the date of the ceremony, or as late as the working day before the date of the ceremony.
The Registry of Marriages & Civil Partnerships
Civil Status & Registration Office
Joshua Hassan House
Secretary's Lane
Gibraltar
Tel: + (350) 200 72289 or +(350) 200 51725 (switchboard)
Email: marriages.csro@gibraltar.gov.gi or civilpartnerships.csro@gibraltar.gov.gi
Civil Wedding and Partnership Fees
Registrar's Certificate - £32.50
Notice (Residents Only) £30.00
Special Licence for Marriage - £67.50
Ceremony and Registration (at registry office) - £40.00
Ceremony and Registration (at external venue) on weekdays £140.00
Ceremony and Registration (at external venue) at weekends and weekdays after working hours - £240.00
Marriage Certificates - £3.50 each
Payment of Fees
Fees may be paid either in person or via credit card.
You will need to ask the clerk to send you a copy of the credit card payment details form, which has to be returned via email.
