Photo Credit: AngelM
In my previous posts I presented the costs of a legal wedding in Tahiti, that is, how much it does cost at home to order the documents, have them stamped for international use, translated into French, and shipped to French Polynesia, as well as the requirements to get legally married in Tahiti.
Now that you have determined that having a legal wedding in Tahiti fits in your budget, and that you meet the requirements, I will list here the official documents you’ll need to order and/or to apply for, to have a civil marriage in Tahiti.
Tahiti Legal Wedding Documents: What Do I Need To Organize?
This series of posts explains the requirements for foreigners marrying in the Islands of Tahiti. People of French citizenship and/or residing in France permanently (or in any of its overseas territories) are liable to specific requirements.
So, if you are of foreign citizenship and NOT residing anywhere in France, here are the documents you’ll be asked for:
– Certified copies of your birth certificates
Even if you already have copies of your birth certificates, unless they’re super recent, you’ll need to order new ones as those copies of your birth certificates must be dated less than 6 months from the planned wedding date. You are not required to provide your original birth certificates, but certified copies of them that you can order with the competent authorities in the country you were born whenever you need it.
These certified copies must then be authenticated with an Apostille (this is a stamp to legalize your documents for international use). You may find such service online. Note: there are several websites offering Apostille services in every country so you may want to check & compare prices; simply type “Apostille” + “your city/state/country” in your browser and see what comes up.
Countries that are not a member of the 1961 Hague Convention (abolishing the requirement for legalisation for foreign public documents by replacing it, in member states/countries, with the simplified system of Apostille) will each have a specific procedure for legalizing their public documents.
– Certificates of non-marital status
This is called certificates of no impediment to marriage in Australia (CNI), certificates of absence of marriage record in Hong-Kong (CAMR), public marriage license certificates or certificates of no record of marriage or some other names in the U.S.. These are certificates that attest that you are not already married and in the capacity of doing so. You may usually find a form that can be downloaded online to apply with the competent authorities in your home country.
In the U.S. where there is no central registry of marriages, but only birth / death / marriage records for each state when they take place within that state, such a certificate attests that a search has been conducted and no record of marriage has surfaced, so you will typically get such certificates by applying for one at your county or town office (which will conduct a state-wide document search).
– Optional: prenuptial agreement if you intend to have one
These Documents Will Need To Be Translated Into French
The certified copies of your birth certificates + Apostilles + certificates of non-marital status, and your pre-nuptial agreement if you intend to have one (this is optional) will then all need to be translated into French.
All translators you can contact in your area can usually be found on the website of the French Consulate closer to your place; simply type “French consulate” + “your city/state” in your browser and do a search for the “translators” page on the site, this will take you to a page will all the sworn translators’ contact details.
* if either one of you has been previously married and is currently divorced, the divorce certificate/decree will also need to be translated. Same if you are a widow(er) the death certificate will need to be translated.
That’s it!
In the 4th post of this series, we will wrap up with a few additional things that need to be sent along with the above listed paperwork, before your application to a Tahiti legal wedding can be approved in French Polynesia.
Everybody Hold Tight, You’re Almost Done!
Missed the other posts in the series? Here is the best article that sums up everything I shared about getting legally married in Tahiti.
I am experienced in assisting my clients from around the world in this process and will guide you through step-by-step, to make it as easy as possible on your end to gather all your Tahiti legal wedding documents. I will also be there on the day to act as the translator during the ceremony (into English) and will be accompanied by another staff to act as your witnesses as well when needed.
