The Legalities of Marrying in Mexico: Mexico offers a choice of a civil marriage or areligious / spiritual marriage ceremony. The difference between the two is important: the civil is legally-binding and the religious / spiritual is not. We handle both for non-Mexicans (tourists) and we handle both for Mexican nationals wishing to marry persons of a different nationality. Requirements differ.
Civil Marriage / Matrimonio Civil
Mexico's civil marriage or matrimonio civil is the only procedure that changes your marital status from 'single' to 'married' in Mexico AND in the 60 other countries around the world that signed a treaty whereby they agree to accept each others public documents--and a marriage certificate is a public document. In other words, Mexico’s civil marriage is recognized by all those countries.
The civil marriage process is handled by judges from the civil registry / registro civil and generates a marriage certificate that as a public document is permanently filed with the State Civil Registry office in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico . The couple receive a carbon copy of the certificate that is duly stamped and signed in ink by the judge.
See below for the very short list of what you must bring with you in order for us to handle your legal marriage,
You provide:
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A valid passport [which you need to get into Mexico anyway]
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A photocopy of your birth certificate duly apostille and translated into Spanish
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Mexican entry/tourist visa [issued you upon entering Mexico]
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two witnesses: non-Mexican witnesses must provide passports and visas; Mexican witnesses may show a valid passport or their credencial de elector.
We supply the rest:
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Civil Registry forms and filings
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Civil Registry fees
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Blood tests [must be done in Mexico within 3 days of the wedding date] We take you, we collect the results
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Doctor's Letter [one for bride, one for groom] No exam required
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Judge, his/her gratuity and transportation
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One copy of your Mexican marriage certificate given you the day of the wedding
Religious / Spiritual Marriage Ceremonies
Religious / spiritual ceremonies of whatever denomination are perfectly acceptable as long as both parties are aware the ceremony does NOT change one’s marital status in Mexico or anywhere else in the world. In this case in order for the couple to be legally in their country of origin, they must be married by a justice of peace or the civil registry when they get home.
Catholic weddings can be celebrated only at a church.
Christian weddings or spiritual weddings can be held at the beach.
No blood tests, no paperwork and no official documentation are required for a religious ceremony. The officiating minister/pastor specifies the number of witnesses required (usually two) and either he or the wedding planner presents the couple with a certificate commemorating the event. Such a certificate is NOT proof of legal marriage in Mexico or in any other country.
Civil Marriage / Mexican National with Person of Different Nationality
We are one of the very few companies, that handle this type of marriage. The paperwork varies from a normal civil marriage and includes a permit from Immigration among other requisites. It’s a bit labor intensive, and 2 more payments.
Puerto Vallarta
