To get a Guam marriage license, both applicants go together to the Office of Vital Statistics in Tamuning, present photo ID and supporting documents, sign the application in person, and pay the $30 fee. A five-day waiting period follows unless you pay an extra $50 to waive it. Once issued, the license is valid for 60 days and can only be used for ceremonies performed in Guam. There is no residency requirement, which is why couples from the mainland, Japan, and elsewhere in the Pacific regularly marry here.1Justia Law. Guam Code Title 19 GCA – The Contract of Marriage
Who Can Marry in Guam
Anyone 18 or older who is not otherwise disqualified can marry in Guam on their own consent.1Justia Law. Guam Code Title 19 GCA – The Contract of Marriage
Applicants aged 16 or 17 need both written consent from a parent or guardian and a written order of approval from the Superior Court of Guam. Parental consent on its own is not enough; both documents must be filed with the application. For anyone under 16, a court can authorize a license only if the minor already has a child.
Marriages between close blood relatives, including siblings, parents and children, and other direct-line relatives, are prohibited. An application that reveals a prohibited relationship will be denied.
Documents You Need
Both applicants need government-issued photo ID. A valid U.S. passport, current driver’s license, or active military ID works. Non-U.S. citizens should bring a passport. The name on your ID has to match the name on the application exactly, so reconcile any name variations before you go.
Bring birth certificates for both parties. If either of you was previously married, bring a certified copy of the final divorce decree, or a certified death certificate if a former spouse has died. Photocopies are not accepted.
The application form asks for a lot of detail, and most of the delays at the counter come from fields people haven’t thought about in advance. You’ll be asked for:
- Full legal name, date and place of birth, current residence, and citizenship status
- Immigration status if you’re not a citizen (resident alien or nonimmigrant)
- Number of prior marriages, where each took place, and how each ended
- Each applicant’s parents’ names and birthplaces, and the mother’s maiden name
- Social Security number, or a statement on the form that you don’t have one
- Whether either spouse will retain, hyphenate, or change their surname or middle name
- Whether you want a village Mayor or Vice Mayor to perform the ceremony
Pull together your parents’ birthplaces and your mother’s maiden name before you walk in.1Justia Law. Guam Code Title 19 GCA – The Contract of Marriage
Extra Steps for Non-U.S. Citizens
Guam does not require either applicant to be a U.S. citizen or resident. Non-U.S. citizens must complete a Marriage License Affidavit, and it has to be notarized in Guam rather than abroad.
If your birth certificate, divorce decree, or other supporting document is not in English, arrange a certified professional translation before you travel. The translation should include a statement of accuracy from the translator. Machine translations are unlikely to be accepted.
Where to Apply, What It Costs, and the Waiting Period
Both applicants must appear together at the Office of Vital Statistics to sign the application in person so the clerk can verify identity and confirm both are participating voluntarily. The office is at 761 S. Marine Corps Drive in Tamuning, open 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM on weekdays. Appointments may be required; call (671) 300-9263 in advance.2Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Where to Write for Vital Records – Guam
The application fee is $30, paid when you file. A mandatory five-day waiting period then begins. If your travel window is short, you can waive the wait for an additional $50 fee. After the waiting period passes or the waiver is granted, both of you return to the office to pick up the physical license.
How Long the License Is Good For
A Guam marriage license expires 60 days after it is issued, and no ceremony may be performed under an expired license.1Justia Law. Guam Code Title 19 GCA – The Contract of Marriage If the 60 days run out before the wedding, you start over with a new application, new fee, and new waiting period. The license is only valid for ceremonies performed in Guam.
Who Can Perform the Ceremony
Guam authorizes a wide range of officiants. The Governor, judges of the U.S. District Court and the Superior Court of Guam, the Speaker of the Guam Legislature or a designee, and the Directors of Revenue and Taxation, Administration, and Public Health and Social Services may all perform marriages. So may every village Mayor and Vice Mayor, and any ordained clergy or priest recognized by their religious organization, including ministers ordained online through groups like the Universal Life Church. No member of the clergy is required to perform a marriage that conflicts with their beliefs.1Justia Law. Guam Code Title 19 GCA – The Contract of Marriage
Officiants must register with the Office of Vital Statistics before performing any ceremony. Registration takes a valid government-issued photo ID and proof of ordination or official status. If you’re bringing your own officiant to Guam, have them email ovs@dphss.guam.gov well ahead of the wedding to confirm what they’ll need.
After the Ceremony
The ceremony itself does not create the legal record. Your officiant has to sign the license and return it to the Office of Vital Statistics within 10 days of the wedding. Until the signed license is filed, your marriage is not officially recorded. If you’ve hired someone specifically for the day, confirm they understand that deadline.
Once the license is filed and processed, the Office of Vital Statistics issues a marriage certificate. You can order certified copies from the same office, in person or through VitalChek.com, for $10 per copy.2Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Where to Write for Vital Records – Guam Order two or three. Banks, insurance companies, and the Social Security Administration will each want their own certified copy for a name change or benefits update.
If you need your Guam marriage certificate recognized in a foreign country that belongs to the Hague Apostille Convention, you’ll need an apostille attached to the certified copy. Ask the Office of Vital Statistics about the current apostille process before you leave the island, since it’s a separate step beyond ordering the certified copy.