To get married in Puerto Rico, you need a valid marriage license from the island’s Demographic Registry (Registro Demográfico), a recent medical certificate with lab results for specific diseases, an officiant authorized by the registry, and two witnesses at least 21 years old. There is no residency requirement and no waiting period once the license is issued, so visitors can arrive, apply, and marry on the same trip. The one requirement that dictates your entire schedule is the medical certificate, which is only valid for 10 days.
Who Can Legally Marry
Puerto Rico sets the age of majority for marriage at 21. If you’re between 18 and 20, you can still marry with written consent from a parent or legal guardian.1Justia. Puerto Rico Code Section 242 – Consent Minors Males under 18 and females under 16 are generally considered legally incapable of marrying, with only narrow exceptions requiring court approval.2Justia. Puerto Rico Code Section 232 – Capacity Incapacity to Contract Marriage
Marriage between close relatives is prohibited. That covers direct ancestors and descendants, siblings, and collateral relatives up to the third degree, meaning aunts, uncles, nephews, and nieces, whether the relationship is by blood or adoption. Anyone already legally married cannot obtain a new license, and both applicants must be of sound mind and able to give meaningful consent.2Justia. Puerto Rico Code Section 232 – Capacity Incapacity to Contract Marriage Same-sex marriage has been legally recognized on the island since June 2015.
Documents to Gather Before You Go
Assemble the following before your visit to the Demographic Registry:
- A valid, current government-issued photo ID for each applicant (passport or driver’s license).
- A certified birth certificate for each applicant, with names matching exactly across all documents. If you’ve legally changed your name, bring the court order or other official proof.
- A certified copy of the divorce decree or the former spouse’s death certificate if either applicant was previously married.3Discover Puerto Rico. Everything You Need to Know About Getting Married in Puerto Rico
- The medical certificate (see below).
Non-residents must also submit a sworn affidavit to the registry declaring that they do not live in Puerto Rico and that the purpose of their visit is to get married, along with a government-issued photo ID from their home state or country.4Justia. Puerto Rico Code Section 236 – Persons Who Suffer From Diseases or Developmental Deficiencies Foreign citizens must also confirm they will not stay beyond the term of their visa.
The Medical Certificate and Its 10-Day Window
This is the requirement that catches most couples off guard. Puerto Rico requires every couple to present a medical certificate showing they have been tested for syphilis (VDRL), chlamydia, gonorrhea, and HIV.5Poder Judicial de Puerto Rico. Civil Marriage in Court The certificate is valid for only 10 days from the date it is issued. Get married after it expires and you’ll need new lab work.4Justia. Puerto Rico Code Section 236 – Persons Who Suffer From Diseases or Developmental Deficiencies
If you live in Puerto Rico, a local doctor must issue and sign the certificate. Non-residents get a helpful shortcut: you can bring a medical certificate from your home state or country as long as it includes the tests required to marry where you live. Non-residents are not required to complete the specific Puerto Rico lab tests.4Justia. Puerto Rico Code Section 236 – Persons Who Suffer From Diseases or Developmental Deficiencies Most couples visiting from the mainland get their blood work done at home and bring the certified results. Ask your doctor to confirm the certificate lists the diseases above so it satisfies both jurisdictions.
Applying for the Marriage License
With your documents in hand, apply at the Demographic Registry. Staff will review your IDs, birth certificates, medical certificate, and any divorce or death records, and both applicants must sign an affidavit attesting to their legal capacity to marry.5Poder Judicial de Puerto Rico. Civil Marriage in Court
The license fee is $30.00, paid with Internal Revenue stamps (Code 5120).5Poder Judicial de Puerto Rico. Civil Marriage in Court You can buy the stamps at any Banco Popular branch. The bank operates more than 130 locations across the island and charges no service fee for the purchase.6Popular. Branch Services Pick up the stamps before your registry appointment to save yourself a second trip. Once the registry approves the paperwork, the license is issued and you can marry the same day. No waiting period applies.
Choosing an Authorized Officiant
Only three types of officiants can perform a marriage in Puerto Rico: judges of the General Court of Justice, authorized religious ministers, and lawyer-notaries (notarios).5Poder Judicial de Puerto Rico. Civil Marriage in Court Whoever you choose must be registered and authorized by the Demographic Registry. Wedding coordinators on the island handle this routinely; if you’re arranging things yourself, ask the officiant for their registry authorization number and confirm it in advance.
For a courthouse civil ceremony, contact the court directly to schedule a date. Religious ceremonies follow whatever process your faith community uses, but the officiant’s registration with the Demographic Registry is what makes the marriage valid under Puerto Rico law.
The Ceremony and Witnesses
Whether the ceremony is civil or religious, two witnesses must be present. Each witness must be at least 21 years old and must bring a current government-issued photo ID.5Poder Judicial de Puerto Rico. Civil Marriage in Court If you’re arriving on the island without family or friends, your wedding coordinator, hotel concierge, or officiant can often arrange witnesses. Both witnesses and both spouses must sign the marriage license during or immediately after the ceremony.
After the Wedding
Your officiant is responsible for submitting the signed marriage license and accompanying paperwork to the Demographic Registry within 10 days of the ceremony. Until that filing is complete, the marriage is not officially recorded. If you hired the officiant yourself, confirm before the wedding that they understand and will meet this deadline.
Once the marriage is registered, you can request certified copies. The Demographic Registry charges $10.00 per certified copy plus a $2.00 service charge per copy.7Government of Puerto Rico Department of Health. Department of Health Application for Marriage Record Copies can be requested by mail to the Registro Demográfico in San Juan or online through VitalChek, an authorized service that processes vital records orders. Order at least two or three; you’ll need them for name changes, insurance updates, and other legal processes.
Because Puerto Rico is a U.S. territory, the marriage is legally valid throughout all 50 states. You do not need an apostille or any special authentication to use your Puerto Rico marriage certificate on the mainland. The Puerto Rico Department of State’s apostille service exists for documents headed to foreign countries, not for use within the United States.8Government of Puerto Rico – Department of State. Apostilles A certified copy from the Demographic Registry is enough to update your name with the Social Security Administration, apply for a new driver’s license, or change beneficiary designations.
A Word on Community Property
Puerto Rico is a community property jurisdiction. If you do not sign a prenuptial agreement before the wedding, your marriage automatically falls under the community property regime, meaning both spouses share equal ownership of assets acquired and income earned during the marriage, and assets are presumed to be community property unless proven otherwise.9Internal Revenue Service. Chief Counsel Advice 202433011
To choose a different arrangement, Puerto Rico law requires a prenuptial agreement (capitulaciones matrimoniales) executed as a public instrument before the marriage takes place. This matters even if you live in another state, because the law of the place where you marry can affect property classification in certain disputes and community property rules carry federal tax implications. If either of you has significant assets or debts, talk to an attorney before the ceremony rather than after.
A Realistic Timeline for a Destination Wedding
The 10-day validity window on the medical certificate drives your entire schedule. A workable sequence for non-residents:
- Several weeks before travel: gather birth certificates, any divorce or death records, and valid photo IDs. Schedule lab work with your doctor at home.
- Within 10 days of the ceremony: have your doctor issue and date the medical certificate. Issued too early, it expires before the wedding.
- On arrival: visit the Demographic Registry with all documents and the $30 in Internal Revenue stamps. Submit your non-resident affidavit. The license is issued the same day.
- Day of the ceremony: marry with your authorized officiant and two qualified witnesses. Everyone signs the license.
- Within 10 days after: your officiant files the completed paperwork with the Demographic Registry.
Count backward from your wedding date to schedule the doctor’s appointment. A buffer of a day or two helps if flights are delayed or the registry appointment runs long.