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Getting married in Seychelles: legal requirements for visiting couples

Seychelles · 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 / residency11 days' banns, or special licence
Government feeSCR 3,000
Same-sexNot available

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

Where couples get confused

In Seychelles, get your marriage certificate apostilled before you fly home - doing it later from abroad is painful.

The rules

Legal ceremony for visitorsOfficial ✓
yes
Civil marriage by the Civil Status Office; two foreigners can marry.
Residency or waiting timeOfficial ✓
Banns published 11 days before; special licence (SCR 500, subject to Chief Officer approval) for sooner.
Required documentsOfficial ✓
Registration form; birth certificates; passport copies; divorce/death certificates; all apostilled/authenticated and translated to English or French.
Apostille / translationOfficial ✓
Yes - apostille + English/French translation
Blood or medical testNot confirmed
Not confirmed, check with the registry or embassy
WitnessesNot confirmed
Not confirmed, check with the registry or embassy
Who officiatesOfficial ✓
Civil Status Officer
Same-sex couplesOfficial ✓
Not recognised (FCDO).
Recognized in the US, Canada, UKSnippet / semi-official
US: generally valid if valid where performed; confirm with your state Attorney General (State Dept). Canada: usually valid if legal where performed, no need to register (travel.gc.ca). UK: no general statement found on gov.uk - unverified.
Government feeOfficial ✓
SCR 3,000 for two foreigners on Mahe/Praslin/La Digue; SCR 4,000 on other islands (+ officer travel); special licence SCR 500

⚠ Pitfalls and scams to watch

Certificate must be apostilled by Seychelles Supreme Court + MFA letter before you leave, or you'll struggle to use it at home.

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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 Spot something out of date?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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