Getting Married in Seychelles
Legal Requirements for a Seychelles Wedding

The enormous diversity of Seychelles' islands presents the idyllic backdrop for a tropical wedding amid stunning natural beauty.

Whether it is a beach wedding or a civil wedding, an Indian Ocean wedding amongst the welcoming smiles of the friendly Seychellois people will leave you with memories that will live with you forever.

And what's more... getting married in Seychelles is easy and hassle-free!

myMAPofSeychelles.com are grateful to Seychelles Tourism Board (STB), who, together with the Civil Status Office, have prepared the following document as a convenient reference guide so that couples will have all the information they require at their fingertips for organizing their once in a life time Seychelles wedding ceremony.

A number of our Seychelles Hotels offer Wedding Packages and we are happy to discuss your requirements with you. For those who want to organise things themselves, marriage requirements in Seychelles are straightforward but do need to be examined closely.

Below is a list of documents and conditions required by the Civil Status Office from the couple, details of the fees involved for ceremonies held at various venues and times, as well as the contact details of some of the authoritative bodies.

We hope that the information provided in this document will aid you in the preparation and organization of your wedding day in Seychelles.

Church Weddings in Seychelles

Your Wedding in Seychelles is a wedding in paradise - where your dream of a romantic Indian Ocean wedding becomes a reality.

Whilst your first thoughts may be to have your fairytale wedding ceremony at your hotel, it is entirely feasible to have a full religious wedding just like you would at home.

Roman Catholicism is the dominant religion in Seychelles, however there are also Anglican and other Protestant churches, as well as smaller Muslim, Hindu and Bahá'i communities.

In order to organise a religious Seychelles wedding ceremony you will have to contact the relevant religious body. It is important to note however, that a religious wedding without first conducting a civil ceremony is not recognised under Seychelles law.

It is therefore necessary to conduct a civil ceremony prior to the religious ceremony.

If you would like further general details regarding a Seychelles wedding than we would be more than happy to offer our general advice but for specific information you should make contact with one of the organisations below for your special day.

Hotel Weddings in Seychelles

Seychelles Hotels offering Wedding Packages

In the main there are no problems with getting married in the hotel, however the list below details what you need to know.

1. A church wedding in Seychelles without a civil ceremony is not recognised as being legal and the parties must therefore contract a civil wedding prior to the religious ceremony.
2. Persons wishing to organise 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.
3. It is advisable that the wedding is planned at least two months in advance to allow for the processing of documentation.
4. Couples must advise the Civil Status Office of their wedding date at least eleven calendar days in advance. However, this eleven-day period may be exempted by applying for a Special Licence, normally issued within two days from the date of application at a cost of SCR100.
5. The couple must be present in Seychelles at least 2 days prior to the civil ceremony.
6. 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.
7. Weddings can also be performed in the Civil Status Office on Wednesdays and Thursdays between 0900hrs and 1100hrs, in the presence of two witnesses provided by the parties themselves.
8. Couples wishing to marry outside the Civil Status Office will be required to pay a fee of SCR350. This fee applies to ceremonies held on any weekday on Mahé or one of the Inner Islands. It should be noted that the Inner Islands include: Anonyme, Bird, Cerf, Cousine, Denis, Frégate, La Digue, Moyenne, North, Praslin, Round, Ste Anne, and Silhouette islands. The couple will be required to cover the transportation cost for the Registrar officer to travel to these islands. However, the Civil Status Office also has officers on both Praslin and La Digue. For ceremonies held on Frégate Island the fee is SCR500 plus the transportation cost for the Registrar officer.
9. Couples wishing to marry on one of the Outer Islands, including Alphonse or Desroches islands, will be required to pay a fee of SCR500 plus the transportation cost to these islands for the Registrar officer.
10. The rate of SCR700 is charged for ceremonies held after 1700hrs on a weekday or at any time on a Saturday and Sunday. This fee includes the SCR350 cost for marrying outside the Civil Status Office.
11. Legally conducted marriages in Seychelles are recognised under European laws.
12. There are no nationality requirements that need to be fulfilled.
13. 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 SCR65.
14. 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)
15. 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.
16. French law requires that French nationals wishing to get married abroad follow certain specific procedures. For information concerning these, French nationals should contact either their local municipality or the Seychelles Civil Status Office or the French Embassy in Seychelles.

The following are their respective contact details.

Seychelles Civil Status Office
PO Box 430, Victoria, Mahé
tel: +248 29 36 13
fax: +248 32 10 46
email: civilstatus@seychelles.sc
website: www.seychelles.net/civilstatus
opening hours: Mon-Fri: 0800hrs-1130hrs & 1300hrs-1500hrs
closed on weekends and public holidays.

French Embassy of Seychelles
1st Floor, La Ciotat Building
Mont Fleuri, Mahé
tel: +248 38 25 00
fax: +248 38 25 10
email: michel.tretout@diplomatie.gouv.fr
opening hours: Mon-Fri: 0800hrs-1300hrs & 1400hrs-1700hrs

The Catholic Church
Cathedral of Immaculate Conception
Victoria, Mahé
Tel: +248 32 26 52
Fax: +248 32 14 64
Email: rcchurch@seychelles.net

The Anglican Church
St. Paul's Cathedral Office
PO Box 44, Victoria, Mahé
Tel: +248 32 25 08
Fax: +248 22 42 96
Email: angdio@seychelles.net

The Hindu Kovil Sangam (Hindu Temple)
Quincy Street, Victoria, Mahé
Tel: +248 32 47 01 / 51 51 75

Seychelles Civil Status Office
PO Box 430, Victoria, Mahé
Tel: +248 29 36 13
Fax : +248 32 10 46
Email: civilstatus@seychelles.sc
Website:www.seychelles.net/civilstatus

While every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of the information contained in this document, myMAPofSeychelles.com nor STB accepts any liability for any errors or omissions. The information is subject to change without notice and should be re-confirmed with the relevant authorities.

Last Updated - January 2006