Church weddings without a civil ceremony are not recognized as being legal and the parties must therefore contract a civil wedding prior to the religious ceremony.
1.Persons wishing to organize their own wedding must apply to the Seychelles Civil Status Office in Victoria on Mahé for a civil ceremony and the relevant church body for the religious ceremony.
2.Civil ceremonies may be conducted around the hotel property with permission from both
the hotel and the Civil Registrar. Weddings outside the hotel property can only be
performed in private and authorised places. The authorisation needs to be obtained from
the Civil Registrar.
3.The Civil Status Office must be made aware of a wedding date at least eleven calendar
days in advance. The eleven-day period may be exempted by applying for a Special Licence, normally issued within two days from the date of application at a charged fee.
4.Plan your wedding at least two months in advance to allow for the processing of documentation.
5.The couple must be present in Seychelles at least 2 days prior to the civil ceremony.
6.Weddings can also be performed in the Civil Status Office on Tuesdays and Thursdays
between 0900hrs and 1100hrs, in the presence of two witnesses provided by the parties
themselves.
7.Couples wishing to marry outside the Civil Status Office will be required to pay a fee. This
fee applies to ceremonies held on any weekday on Mahé or one of the Inner Islands (Inner Islands include: Anonyme, Bird, Cerf, Cousine, Denis, Frégate, La Digue, Moyenne, North, Praslin, Round, Ste Anne, and Silhouette). The transportation cost for the Registrar officer must be covered by the couple to travel to these islands. Civil Status Officers can also be found on both Praslin and La Digue.
8.Couples wishing to marry on one of the Outer Islands, including Alphonse or Desroches, will
be required to pay a different fee plus the transportation cost to these islands for the Registrar officer.
9.A fee is charged for ceremonies held after 1700hrs on a weekday or at any time on a Saturday and Sunday.
10.Legally conducted marriages in Seychelles are recognized under European laws.
11.There are no nationality requirements that need to be fulfilled.
12.A special stamp (apostille) is required to validate the marriage certificate obtained after the
civil ceremony for all nationalities except for British nationals. This stamp is available at the
Registrar’s office located at the Supreme Court for a fee of SCR140.
13.The couple must produce the following documents:
– Birth certificate or certified copy thereof
– If either party is divorced, the decree of divorce must be produced
– If either of the parties is a widow or widower the death certificate of the former spouse must be produced
– Legal proof in the case of a name having been changed
– Copies of the first 2 pages of both parties’ valid passports
– Document to show that there is no impediment or lawful hindrance to the intended marriage (If this cannot be obtained, an affidavit has to be signed in Seychelles after a solemn declaration has been made to that effect)
14.All the above documents must be originals or copies duly certified before departure from
one’s home country and must be translated into either English or French if the translation
has not already been made.
15.French law requires that French nationals wishing to get married abroad follow certain specific procedures. For information concerning these, contact either your local municipality or the Seychelles Civil Status Office or the French Embassy in Seychelles.
Seychelles Civil Status Office
PO Box 430, Victoria,
Mahé
Tel: +248 429 3614 / 429 36 04
Email:
info@civilstatus.gov.sc
Opening hours:
Mon-Fri: 0800hrs-1130hrs & 1300hrs-1500hrs
Closed on weekends and
public holidays.
Praslin Office
Tel: +248 423 2604
La Digue Office
Tel: +248 252 0753
1st Floor, La Ciotat Building
Mont Fleuri, Mahé
Tel: +248 422 5513 or +248 422 5516
Email: marie-may.confiance@diplomatie.gouv.fr
Opening hours: Mon-Fri: 0800hrs-1300hrs & 1400hrs-1700hrs
