Mexican Laws / Xrays / Documents / Help!

[DestoWeddingers]

Hello

 

We are a Canadian couple looking to get married in Mexico / Cuba / Dominican.  I am looking over some of the Mexican Laws, and they quote stressful and confusing.  Does anyone have any advise on these?? What tests we need?? What documents?? Do we have to get married before or after in Canada so that the "ceremony" in Mexico is real?? Also, we have been bounced around by FA's since we started trying to plan.  Does anyone have any contacts of a good TA in the BC lower mainland?? 

 

HELP!!   

 

 

Marriage in Mexico: An Introduction

Mexico has some excellent places to get married alongside some picture perfect scenarios. From golden beaches with turquoise waters, to old colonial cities with their charm, old buildings, cobbled streets domes and archways.

Mexico is becoming increasingly popular as a destination for American and Canadians to get married, and given the opportunity to get married amongst stunning scenery, it's not hard to see why!

If you want to get married in Mexico, there is nothing legal or technical stopping you from doing so; but you will need to plan ahead and get a few documents together, fill in a few forms and pay a few fees. This guide will steer you through the maze.

If after having read through this guide you wonder if you can face the paperwork and admin, don't panic!  You can hire Wedding Planners to take care of the detail and paperwork on your behalf in return for a modest fee.

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Legal Requirements for a Marriage in Mexico Consent

People under the age of 18 may not get married in Mexico without parental consent.   With parental consent, boys have to be at least 16 and girls need to be at least 14 years of age.

Foreigners Getting Married to Foreigners

You don't need to be resident in Mexico in order to get married here, you'll just need a passport and your tourist permit, plus some other paperwork (see below). If you plan to get married to a Mexican in Mexico, you will need additional documentation - read the section just ahead...

Chest X-rays and Blood Tests

These must be done locally in Mexico, as the results of the blood tests and the X-ray documentation must be in Spanish and the tests need to be done within a certain time frame of the Marriage Application Form being completed.   Not all Mexican States require the Chest X-rays: Check locally or ask your wedding planner.

Four Witnesses

You will need to have 4 witnesses present at the legal ceremony, and they must have valid identification: usually a valid Passport is used, but other forms of government-issued identification are valid too.

Validity Outside of Mexico

Your Marriage Certificate will be valid world-wide, BUT you should get your certificate 'legalized' in Mexico to ensure it is legally accepted when you get back home. The process is the reverse of getting your native documentation legalized by the necessary authorities (e.g. Foreign Office / State Department) for marriage in Mexico (see below); The registry office in Mexico will tell you where this can be done locally or if you hire a wedding planner, he/she will advise.

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[JenniferH114]

@DestoWeddingers - First, let me say that a symbolic vs. a legal ceremony is really a matter of personal preference. That aside, I can only speak to what I know about Mexico, which is where we are getting married. Most people choose a symbolic ceremony and get legally married at home either before or after their trip. Getting legally married in Mexico requires the things you listed above. It is rather costly because documents have to be legally translated and sometimes apostilled. There can also be a lengthy waiting period before you receive your legal documents. I have read many times that even the wedding coordinators at the resorts do not recommend a legal ceremony. Again, this is all a matter of preference. Some people are fine with the process.

 

We are doing a symbolic ceremony and getting married at the courthouse the weekend before our wedding. We will use our Mexican wedding date as our anniversary date.

Edited January 30, 2015 by JenniferH114

[jsparrow10]

I know legally getting married in Mexico gets a bad rep. I personally did not like the idea of starting our marriage with not being 100% truthful with the people that have traveled so far to celebrate with us and picking which date for an anniversary. My brother did the legal and it was fine, they didn't have any problems. They actually got the documents translated when they got back home because it was cheaper that way. They did not do a chest xray but they did do a blood test which was quick, harmless and done right on the resort. Check with your resort coordinator to see what is required. At ours we just have to pay for the blood test which is $180. It's a personal preference that is up to you and your FI!

[beckys98]

My sister got married in Mexico and did a legal ceremony and didn't have any issues. They did have to do the blood test and be in the country 3 days before, but she didn't find it to be a problem at all. Everything with documentation was completely fine.

[Wafflesmom]

@@DestoWeddingers we've chosen to do a legal ceremony in Mexico, Riviera Maya to be exact and we just have to get a blood test at the resort, bring a notarized copy of our birth certificates, be at the resort 3 days before the ceremony and have a couple of witnesses over the age of 18. We do have to pay for the apostille and to get docs translated but it was only around $500.

 

I have an amazing destination wedding TA from BC lower mainland so pm me if you want her contact info. She's wonderful!

[acw271011]

The other ladies are totally right in that it's very much a personal preference. My husband and I had each been married before so we had extra documentation that was required which was our divorce papers. When I looked into having everything translated and apostilled it was going to be expensive for only that reason. Otherwise we would have done the legal thing in Mexico. Instead we opted for Jamaica because the paperwork requirement was a lot easier. There are a lot of people that get married in Mexico and never have an issue but of course it's the ones that might have a problem that you hear about. I was of the same mind and didn't want two different dates. For me personally I felt it was wrong. My step-son did it and his father and I both had an issue with it. That is only our personal feelings. By all means talk with your resort coordinator and see how much help they will be. Like everything else there are good ones and bad ones and you'll get a feel for how much they're going to help you out. If you aren't totally comfortable with the process you could always consider another country like Jamaica where it's a bit easier or do like many other brides here and do your legal marriage at home before you go.

 

Good luck!

[JenniferH114]

@DestoWeddingers - PS: I just saw the chest x-ray part. I haven't come across that requirement before, but definitely the blood test.

[dreamweddings]

Hey Destoweddingers,

 

in shot this is what you will need, and your hotel coordinator should be able to help, in the riviera maya you only are required to do the blood test.

 

 

here are the requirements for a legal ceremony in mexico.

 

Copy of the passport and tourist card ( its issued at the airport)

Divorce papers if applicable

Blood test for HIV and Health Certificate must be done in mexico within 7 days before the wedding

4 witnesses must be over 18 and be present for the ceremony in order to sign the marriage certificate (we need their passport copies)

Completed application form ( we can fill that out for you)

the ceremony can be performed both in english or spanish

 

Once Legally married, you will receive a certificate, but the legal act called Acta de Matrimonio, will be send to Chetumal the capital of the State in order to be annotated.

Once we receive the authorized copy we will send it to you via DHL

Usually takes 3 weeks maximum.

 

 

As a couple and your witnesses are obligated to be 4 working days in mexico before the wedding

 

 

The ceremony takes about 20 minutes maximum. if you need us to get you the 4 witnesses this will have an additional cost.

[MNsunseeker]

Thanks for the tips!

[Moments That Matter]

Welcome to the forum, DestoWeddingers, and Congrats on your upcoming destination wedding!!!

 

We're a Canadian owned Photo Studio based in Playa del Carmen, so of course are biased to our incomparable Mayan Riviera. It's is a very popular choice for so many wedding couples, and here are some visual reasons why.....enjoy!!!

 

....from a recent Secrets Maroma Wedding Album.....

 

...and this one from their Jungle Trash The Dress Photo Session......

 

Wishing you happy research, and all the best with your plans - cheers!!! team MTM