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Legal Requirements

The following list of legal requirements is needed for legal marriage. The Dreams Sapphire Resort & Spa wedding coordinator must receive the following doments to begin the application for marriage in the Civil Registry Office.

  • Bride(s), groom(s) and witnesses must arrive in Cancun four business days prior to the wedding. (Day of arrival cannot be Saturday, Sunday or a Mexican holiday).
  • Tourist card (you will receive your tourist card when you arrive to the Cancun airport).
  • If Bride(s) or groom(s) are divorced, they will need their original birth certificates and final divorce decrees. These documents must be translated into Spanish and each must have a stamp (Le Apostille) of the Registry of their country.
  • If someone is divorced, they must send three months prior a scanned copy of the divorce decree and birth certificate apostille, so the resort can send it to be translated in Spanish by a certified translator in Mexico. Translation must be done in Mexico, otherwise will not be valid. The judge will keep the original divorce decrees.
  • Valid passports as well as the couple’s birth certificate (this is essential, otherwise the wedding cannot be performed).
  • Blood tests are required and must be taken in Mexico; they are not valid if it is taken elsewhere. To be considered valid the test should not be taken more than 14 days prior to the ceremony. The blood will be tested for HIV, sexually transmitted diseases and blood type. The results will be ready in 24 hours together with a certificate of the blood test and the charge will be paid directly to the doctor in cash the day when the test is taken.
  • The judge usually performs the civil ceremony in their office but will perform at the resort if transportation is provided. This should be paid directly to the judge on the wedding date or you can arrange this in advance through the wedding coordinator.
  • The marriage certificate is only valid in Mexico. To make the marriage certificate valid in your county, you must bring it to the courthouse in your country and have it registered.
  • The names, addresses, nationalities, ages, occupation, relationship, copy of a tourist card and a valid identification of the four witnesses. The wedding coordinator will request this information at the moment of the reservation of the wedding date.
  • If bride(s) or groom(s) are widowed, they will need the original death certificate. This document must be translated into Spanish and must have a stamp (Le Apostille) of the Registry of their country. Translation must be done in Mexico; otherwise, it will not be valid. The judge will keep the original document.
  • If you would like your parents’ names on your marriage certificate, an official copy of the couple’s birth certificates need to be sent to the wedding coordinator two months prior to the wedding. These documents must be translated into Spanish and each must have a stamp (Le Apostille) of the Registry of their country. All translation must be done in Mexico; otherwise, it will not be valid.