Bride and groom with veil wedding photo
2018 Guide to Getting Married in St. Thomas

How to Apply for A Virgin Islands Marriage License

Getting legally married in the Virgin Islands is easy. In this part of the 2018 Guide to Getting Married in St. Thomas, I’ll explain the US Virgin Islands Marriage License application process and also provide the forms to fill out as well as tips to make this as easy as possible.
Here’s the Short Version:
3 Steps to Filing for a Marriage License in St. Thomas
// 01. File the Documents: Fill out and mail in the USVI Marriage License application forms to the court at 8 business days (and up to 12 months) before your wedding date. 
// 02. Sign the Register: 
Pop into the courthouse and pick up your documents when you get to the island (even the same day as the wedding!). 
// 03. Say “I Do”: 
Get married and we’ll take care of the final filing and mail the certified copies of your marriage license to you.
St. Thomas villa wedding couple.

Filing for a USVI marriage License is Easy

In fact, the ease of the marriage license application process is one of the top selling points of getting married in the Virgin Islands.

To legally wed in the USVI, you’ll need to submit your application form and payment (via mail), at least 8 business days (but up to 12 months) before your wedding date. Once you’re on the island, you and your fiance will make a 15 minute stop at the courthouse and sign the marriage registry and receive your license to marry.

Bring the license with you to the ceremony and the wedding officiant or minister and witnesses will sign after the ceremony. We’ll take the paperwork back to the court to be recorded and we’ll mail 2 certified copies to your home.

Before we get to the details filling out the forms, I want to cover some of the most frequently asked questions about the application process.

Cake cutting a St. Thomas destnation wedding with aqual blue 2 tiered cake with blue galaxy orchids
Will my marriage be legal?

As a territory of the United States, your marriage is afforded the same recognition as a marriage in any of the 50 United States.

Non-US citizens are also permitted to marry in the US Virgin Islands, however, you may need additional documentation, such as an apostille, to legalize your marriage in your home country (which we can arrange for you).

What about Same-Sex Weddings?
I am pleased to confirm that same-sex weddings are legal in the US Virgin Islands. While it’s disappointing that the Superior court has not updated the language (Bride and Groom) on their website, the application forms are now gender neutral, and most importantly, accepted and processed without issue.
Can I file for my marriage license in my home state/country or send an application to the VI from home?

Yes and no.

Yes, you can file for your marriage license in your home state. If you choose to do so, then you must complete the legal aspects of your wedding according to the courthouse in which you file unless you’re from Texas. If you choose to go this route, the instructions below do not apply to you.

No, you cannot use a marriage license application form from your home state to submit to the Virgin Islands Superior Court.

Special note: Couples who live in Texas can file for a Texas Marriage License and bring it with them to the islands! Check with your local county court for more information.

What forms do we need to fill out and when should we send them in?

To file for a VI Marriage License, you’ll need to send two forms – the Application for Marriage License and the License & Certificate for Marriage.

These forms and instructions are available for download below.

You’ll also need to send a cover letter, additional documentation (if needed) and payment for the marriage license

The court requires that they receive the forms and payment at least 8 business days in advance of the date you intend to pick up your license. I recommend mailing in your application anywhere between 6 months and 1 month of your wedding date.

How do I get the marriage license/certificate after the wedding?

When you book a wedding package with Blue Sky Ceremony, the wedding officiant will sign the marriage license and get witness signatures. He or she will then submit it to the court for processing after the ceremony.

We will mail your certified copies to your home, saving you a second trip to the courthouse.

What about blood tests and residency requirements?
There are no blood tests, waiting periods or residency requirements for a Virgin Islands Marriage License. That means you can pick up your license and get married the day you arrive to St. Thomas!

HOW TO FILE FOR A MARRIAGE LICENSE IN ST. THOMAS

DOWNLOAD THESE FORMS:

Application for Marriage License

License and Certificate of Marriage

First dance by the pool at Villa Serenita, St. Thomas
Tips for Filling Out Application Documents
  • Type or print neatly with blue or black ink
  • DO NOT use abbreviations for state name and month names
  • Forms must be signed by both the bride and groom
  • Use your current name. If you are planning to change your name, this will be done in your home jurisdiction
  • Use your current age as of the date of filling out the marriage license application
Cover Letter
Be sure to include a cover letter that includes your names, phone numbers, the island on which you plan to wed, where you are staying (or your ship name), length of stay, the date you are planning to pick up the marriage license and the company planning your wedding.
Application for Marriage License
  •  Use your complete physical address with zip code for ‘permanent residence’
  • Use your city and state for ‘usual residence’
  • Use ‘single’, ‘widowed’, or ‘divorced’ under previous marital status
  • Use your father’s full name in the ‘parents’ section for ‘present name’
  • Use your mothers full maiden name in the ‘parents’ section for ‘maiden name’
  • For place of birth, use ‘father’s birth state or country/mother’s birth state or country
  • Leave blank the remainder of the document starting with ‘Subscribed and sworn…’
License and Certificate of Marriage
  • Fill out lines 1-16 and 27-30
  • Leave lines 17-26 blank
  • Use your complete street address with unit or apartment number in fields 3a and 10a
  • Use your state and zip code in fields 3c and 10c
Other Documents (If Applicable)

If either applicant has been previously wed, a CERTIFIED COPY of the divorce decree or death certificate is required. Certified copies typically have a stamp or signature in colored ink or have a raised seal or sticker. These documents will not be returned to you.

A photocopy of the certified copy will not be accepted. Records from the Department of Vital Statistics, Department of Health, or similar office are not accepted.

If your documents are not in English, they will need to be translated. The translation must also be certified.

Payment

The cost of a USVI Marriage License is $200. Payments can be made with a cashiers/bank/certified check or money order (Western Union, USPS, etc). Payment should be made to the SUPERIOR COURT OF THE VIRGIN ISLANDS.

If your marriage license pick up date is a weekend or holiday, a fee of $150 will apply.

Submitting the Application

Marriage license applications may be submitted up to 12 months before and no later than 8 working days before your wedding date. If you are within the 8-day requirement, please email me right away to see if the license application process can be expedited.

The application forms, cover letter, additional documents (if applicable) and payment should be mailed to the court to the addresses listed below. 1 – 2 weeks later, call the courthouse 340-774-6680 (ask for family court) to confirm that they have received and processed your license request and get the confirmation number.

Via USPS 1st Class or Priority Mail
Superior Court of the Virgin Islands
Family Court Division
PO Box 70
St. Thomas, USVI 00804
Note: Get tracking number but waive signature confirmation

Via USPS Express, UPS, FedEx, DHL
Superior Court of the Virgin Islands
Family Court Division
5400 Veterans Drive
St. Thomas, USVI 00802

Must have destination wedding photo

Picking up your Marriage License

The couple must pick up their own marriage license in person and sign the registry with the clerk of the court.

If you’re coming via cruise ship, this is typically done on the way to the ceremony. Don’t worry if you want to keep tradition and avoid seeing each other on your wedding day. You can go to the courthouse separately so that your first look will be as you walk down the aisle.

If you’re staying on the island, you can pick up your license prior to the wedding day.

VI Superior Court Hours of Operation:
The court is open Monday to Friday from 8 am to 5 pm. (Don’t go at 4:59 pm.)

On Saturdays, Sundays and certain holidays, the court can be opened with prior arrangement from 9:30 am to 11:30 am and a $150 fee applies.

VI Superior Court Holiday Schedule:

The Virgin Islands has quite a few more holidays than you’re probably used to. The official calendar is posted at the beginning of the year, so 2019 and beyond closing dates are my best guess.

HolidayDate
New Year's Day - CLOSED1/1/18, 1/1/19, 1/1/20
Three Kings Day - CLOSED1/5/18, 1/6/18, 1/6/19, 1/7/19, 1/6/20
Martin Luther King's Day - 9:30 am to 11:30 am - $1501/15/18, 1/21/19, 1/20/20
Presidents Day - 9:30 am to 11:30 am - $1502/19/18, 2/18/19, 2/17/20
Transfer Day - 9:30 am to 11:30 am - $1503/31/18, 3/31/19, 4/1/19, 3/31/20
Holy Thursday - 9:30 am to 11:30 am - $1503/29/18, 4/18/19, 4/9/20
Good Friday - CLOSED3/30/18, 4/19/19, 4/10/20
Easter Monday - 9:30 am to 11:30 am - $1504/2/18, 4/22/19, 4/13/20
Carnival - Food Fair4/25/18, 2019 & 2020 TBD
Carnival - J'ouvert4/26/18, 2019 & 2020 TBD
Carnival - Children's Parade - CLOSED4/27/18, 2019 & 2020 TBD
Carnival - Adult Parade - CLOSED4/28/18, 2019 & 2020 TBD
Memorial Day - CLOSED5/28/18, 5/27/18, 5/25/20
Emancipation Day - 9:30 am to 11:30 am - $1507/3/18, 7/3/19, 7/2/20, 7/2/20, 7/3/20
Independence Day - CLOSED7/4/18, 7/4/19, 7/3/20, 7/4/20
Labor Day - CLOSED9/3/18, 9/2/19, 9/7/20
Columbus Day/Virgin Islands-Puerto Rico Friendship Day - 9:30 am to 11:30 am - $15010/8/18, 11/4/19, 11/12/20
D. Hamilton Jackson Day - 9:30 am to 11:30 am11/1/18, 11/1/19, 11/1/20, 11/2/20
Veteran's Day - CLOSED11/11/18, 11/12/18, 11/11/19, 11/11/20
Thanksgiving Day - CLOSED11/22/18, 11/23/18, 11/28/19, 11/29/19, 11/26/20, 11/27/20
Christmas Eve - 8 am to 12 pm12/24/18, 12/24/19, 12/24/20
Christmas Day - CLOSED12/25/18, 12/25/19, 12/25/20
Boxing Day - CLOSED12/26/18, 12/26/19, 12/26/20
Old Year's Eve - 8 am to 12 pm12/31/18, 12/31/19, 12/31/20

VI Superior Court Dress Code:
Dress code for picking up marriage license from VI Superior CourtBe sure to observe the dress code when picking up your license and conducting court business.

While you don’t have to dress stylishly, you do have to dress modestly:

  • no shorts (capri pants are ok)
  • no short skirts (knee-length ok)
  • no sleeveless clothing (short sleeves are ok, your shoulders should be covered)
  • no see-through coverups
  • no slippers (nice flip flops and sandals are ok)

Note: Sleeveless and strapless wedding gowns are OK. Ultra-sexy wedding dresses (think bare midriffs, cutouts, white bikinis) are NOT.

Directions to the VI Superior Court:

The courthouse is located in Charlotte Amalie (just a 5-minute walk from the shops & sights downtown, and a 10-minute walk from the shops in Havensight and Yacht Haven Grande on the corner of routes 30 & 35. See it on the map.

If you’re staying on island, I recommend going in advance, so that you have one less thing to worry about on the day of your wedding. If you are coming via cruise ship, we will most likely stop at the courthouse on the way to the ceremony.

If you are going to the courthouse on your own, simply let your cab driver know that you are going to the Superior Court for a marriage license (next to Fort Christian). If you are driving, the courthouse is located at the intersections of routes 30 and 35. There is a stop light at the intersections and a large parking lot across the street (you’ll see a big red fort – Fort Christian). Park there for the day and walk to the shops after picking up your license.

The Family Division is upstairs on the right.
Directions to VI Superior Court in St. Thomas

For more information, visit the USVI Superior Court website. Just a word of caution, the court’s website hasn’t been updated in a while and is in need of a little love.

There are several pieces of outdated information.

  • A birth certificate is NOT required to pick up your marriage license. Only a government-issued photo ID is required. In the case of non-US citizens, you will need to bring your passport.
  • The courthouse allows pick up of the marriage license between 8 am and 5 pm on normal business days. The website says 2:30 because that’s when the cashier leaves, but if you’ve followed the directions above, you will have paid both the application fee ($100) and the license fee ($100), totaling $200, when you sent in your application.  This also will expedite the pickup process so that you can get back to your vacation that much faster
  • The language on the website speaks of ‘brides’ and ‘grooms’. Same-sex weddings are legal in the USVI. When you click to download the forms, you’ll see that the forms have been updated to be gender neutral.

THE NEXT STEP

So when you’re ready to get the process started or if you have any questions about the marriage license, please call or email me.

All of my wedding planning services packages include assistance with the marriage license.