💍 Step-by-Step Guide to Getting Married in the Dominican Republic
Planning to legally marry in the Dominican Republic? It’s absolutely possible—and incredibly scenic. Here’s your complete guide to the legal process for foreigners getting married in the DR in 2025, especially in Punta Cana.
📄 Step 1: Gather the required documents
For both partners:
Valid passport copy
Birth certificate (translated to Spanish and apostilled)
Single status affidavit or divorce certificate (translated & apostilled)
Civil marriage application form
Two witnesses with valid ID (not immediate family)
Note: Documents must be legalized via apostille if you're from the U.S., Canada, or any Hague Convention country.
📬 Step 2: Submit documents in advance
Documents must be sent at least 30 days before the wedding. Local wedding planners—like Sertuin Events—can assist in submitting everything to the local Civil Registry Office.
📆 Step 3: Choose your date and location
You can legally marry:
At the Civil Registry office
On the beach, at a resort, or a private venue (with the officer present)
💍 Step 4: The legal ceremony
On the wedding day:
The officer conducts the ceremony and issues a Dominican marriage certificate
You must then legalize that document at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to register it in your home country
🔁 Alternative: symbolic ceremony
To skip the paperwork, many couples marry legally at home and have a symbolic ceremony in Punta Cana. It's visually identical and emotionally just as meaningful.
✅ Final Thoughts
A legal wedding in the Dominican Republic is completely doable with the right documents and a little planning. And with local experts like Sertuin Events, you’ll have help every step of the way. Whether legal or symbolic, your Caribbean wedding will be unforgettable.
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