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Getting married in Puerto Rico: legal requirements for visiting couples

Puerto Rico (US territory) · last checked 2026-10-21

Not legal advice. Marriage rules change and local offices interpret them differently. Confirm every requirement with the civil registry or embassy before you book or pay. Disclaimer
Legal for visitors?Yes
Wait / residencyNone; 10-day medical window
Government feeUS$30 + lab tests
Same-sexNot confirmed

7 of 10 facts read on an official page; 2 not confirmed. Badges show the source level of each fact.

Where couples get confused

Puerto Rico is the one US destination that still requires lab tests before a wedding.

The rules

Legal ceremony for visitorsOfficial ✓
yes
US territory - domestic US marriage via the Registro Demografico (Health Dept).
Residency or waiting timeOfficial ✓
No residency stated; medical certificate valid only 10 days, so timing is tight.
Required documentsOfficial ✓
Form RD-12 medical certificate signed by a doctor licensed in Puerto Rico; lab results (VDRL, chlamydia, gonorrhea, HIV); valid photo ID; birth certificate if not born in PR; all divorce decrees.
Apostille / translationOfficial ✓
No for US documents
Blood or medical testOfficial ✓
Yes - VDRL, chlamydia, gonorrhea and HIV labs; RD-12 must be signed by a PR-licensed doctor (form rev. 06/26). A non-resident alternative appears only on an unofficial copy - unverified.
WitnessesNot confirmed
Not confirmed, check with the registry or embassy
Who officiatesOfficial ✓
Celebrant registered with the Registro Demografico
Same-sex couplesNot confirmed
Not confirmed, check with the registry or embassy
Our unconfirmed note: US Supreme Court Obergefell v. Hodges, 2015 applies; not re-read on an official page this pass
Recognized in the US, Canada, UKSnippet / semi-official
Domestic US marriage: valid across the US. Canada/UK: generally recognised if valid where performed (Canada per travel.gc.ca; UK unverified).
Government feeOfficial ✓
US$30 per couple (certification and declaration)

⚠ Pitfalls and scams to watch

10-day window from doctor's signature to wedding; labs + PR doctor needed; couples assume 'it's the US, no tests'.

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Sources

Quotes copied from official pages on 2026-10-21. Items marked as a snippet were seen in search results because the page blocked our checker.

All sources consulted

Last checked 2026-10-21. Spot something out of date? Email [email protected].

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