They say you only marry once, and if that is so, you should hold your wedding in the Seychelles. There is hardly a lovelier place to say a romantic "I do".
A civil wedding in the Seychelles needs little preparation and is recognised in the European Union without difficulty. That makes it an attractive option for couples who would rather spend their wedding budget on the trip than on a big family celebration. If you want to combine the wedding with a longer stay, you will find more ideas under Romantic holidays in the Seychelles.
Requirements and procedure
Organising it yourself: the Civil Status Office
There is nothing to stop you organising the wedding yourself. You deal with the formalities in advance by contacting the registry office, the Civil Status Office. The authority also keeps a list of wedding planners on its website. You can register with them directly, through your hotel or through an agency on the islands.
Email for all locations: info@civilstatus.gov.sc. The customer centre is open Monday to Friday from 8am to 4pm and closed at weekends and on public holidays.
| Location | Address | Telephone |
|---|---|---|
| Mahé | Independence House, Victoria | +248 4 29 36 36 |
| Praslin | Pension Fund Complex, Grand Anse | +248 4 29 36 83 / 84 |
| La Digue | La Passe | +248 252 07 53 |
Documents required
To marry in the Seychelles, you must prove your identity with passports and birth certificates, and present a recent official certificate showing that you are not already married. Depending on your circumstances, you will also need:
- The original birth certificate of both partners, with apostille. Countries that are not party to the Hague Apostille Convention certify documents through their foreign ministry instead.
- A certificate of legal capacity to marry or of single status (Celibacy Certificate), if requested, also as an original with apostille.
- The divorce decree if either of you is divorced, or the death certificate of the former spouse if you are widowed.
- The completed application form from the authority.
All documents that are not in English or French must be translated. Under the procedure introduced in April 2025 for couples who are both foreign nationals, the couple or their representative submit the application on paper to the Civil Status Office. The wedding planner also sends copies to the registrar. Please have the current requirements confirmed directly by the office before you book.
The procedure in six steps
- Fix the date and place, then contact the Civil Status Office, the hotel or a wedding organiser. Registration must be made at least eleven days before the wedding, but it is better to allow several weeks.
- Obtain the certificates, have them apostilled and, if necessary, translated.
- Submit the application with the documents.
- Wait for the notice period to run. If you want to marry sooner, you need a special permit (Marriage Licence), which the head of the Civil Status Office must approve.
- The ceremony, with two witnesses. It is conducted in English, French or Creole.
- Collect the marriage certificate and have it authenticated for use abroad (see below).
Costs
| Service (as of November 2026) | Fee |
|---|---|
| Two foreign applicants on Mahé, Praslin or La Digue | 3000 SCR |
| Two foreign applicants on another island | 4000 SCR, plus transport, accommodation and meals for the registrar |
| Special permit for marriage before the 11-day waiting period has expired | 500 SCR |
Venue and organisation
You can often arrange the wedding and all the optional extras (photographer, cake, floral decorations and so on) with the help of the hotel where you are staying. Large hotels also have rooms suitable for the ceremony and often staff who know how it all works. Some hotels even offer wedding packages free of charge if the couple books a certain minimum number of nights. You can find accommodation via Hotel booking.
If you would rather not marry in the rather drab registry office in Victoria, but in a hotel or on the beach, you need the registry office's permission. Ceremonies in hotel grounds are possible with the consent of both the hotel and the registry office. Outside a hotel, they are allowed only at private, approved locations. A beach therefore has to be cleared with the Civil Status Office beforehand.
There are registrars on Mahé, Praslin and La Digue, where the office has a branch on each island. On all other islands, you must also cover the costs of the registrar travelling there specially, including his or her flight (Domestic flights). To help you choose an island, see the pages on Mahé, Praslin and La Digue.
Religious wedding ceremony
A church wedding or other religious ceremony can also be arranged, but not through the registry office. In such cases, couples should contact the representatives of their religious community at home, who can then put them in touch with colleagues in the Seychelles and explain the necessary preparations. A religious ceremony of any kind is not officially recognised as a marriage without a preceding civil ceremony.
Roman Catholicism is the country's main religion, but the Anglican Church and communities of Muslims, Hindus and Baha'is are also represented. Under Seychelles law, a religious wedding is valid only if a civil ceremony has taken place beforehand. The civil wedding must therefore be arranged before the religious ceremony. Many couples therefore marry at the registry office or in the hotel the day before and then celebrate with a church service.
In Victoria on Mahé, you will find the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception (Catholic), St Paul's Cathedral (Anglican) and the Hindu temple Hindu Kovil Sangam on Quincy Street. The best way to get contact details is through your congregation at home, your hotel or a local organiser, who will be glad to help you plan your special day.
Marriage certificate and apostille
The marriage certificate from the Civil Status Office is a legal document that, according to the authority, is valid worldwide. Under the procedure for foreign couples, it is issued within 24 hours of the ceremony, on payment of the government fee. Before you leave, the certificate should be given an apostille by the Supreme Court of Seychelles. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs also issues a Letter of Authentication. The couple or their wedding planner are responsible for this.
If you need to have the certificate issued later, contact the Civil Status Office. Private service providers also offer to obtain it with an apostille. Whether your authorities at home additionally require a translation or registration is something to clarify with your local registry office before the trip.
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to spend a certain amount of time in the Seychelles?
The authority does not specify a fixed length of stay. The notice period is eleven days. All documents must be submitted by then, and the planner can agree your arrival with you. You can find out which documents you need to carry on arrival under Entry requirements.
Does a beach ceremony without an official count as a marriage?
No. Only a ceremony conducted by a registrar of the Civil Status Office is legally binding. A symbolic ceremony cannot replace it.
Can same-sex couples marry in the Seychelles?
According to wedding websites, same-sex marriage is not legally recognised in the Seychelles. The official pages say nothing clear on the subject, so it is best to ask the Civil Status Office before you plan anything.
Which currency do I need for the fees?
The fees are quoted in Seychelles rupees (SCR). You will find advice on cash, cards and cash machines under Money and Banks.
