Legal Wedding Ceremony in Costa Rica: 2026 Guide
Everything you need to know before you sign
Saying “I Do” Legally in Costa Rica
Yes, you can get legally married in Costa Rica as a foreigner, and your marriage is recognized back home. A legal wedding ceremony in Costa Rica is performed by a Costa Rican notary public, who is also a licensed attorney, and registered with the national Civil Registry.
There’s no residency requirement, no blood test and no waiting period. Most of the work happens weeks before you travel: a few documents, a notary who reviews them, and two witnesses on the day.
We’ve photographed more than 650 couples across Costa Rica since 2018, and the legal side is one of the questions we hear most. This guide brings together what Costa Rican law requires and what the law firms that specialize in destination weddings actually include in their legal ceremony packages.
A legal ceremony doesn’t have to feel like paperwork. It can happen on a beach in Guanacaste, in the misty cloud forest of Monteverde or facing Arenal Volcano, with personalized vows and the same emotion as any wedding day.
“Your marriage certificate will carry the date you said your vows, in the place you chose to say them.”
Quick answer
To get legally married in Costa Rica you need a valid passport, a birth certificate, proof that you are free to marry, two adult witnesses and a Costa Rican notary public. The notary signs the marriage with you on your wedding day and registers it with the Registro Civil. You receive a provisional Marriage Statement the same day, and the official marriage certificate is usually ready about six weeks later.
Understanding the legal process
What Is a Legal Wedding Ceremony in Costa Rica?
A legal, or civil, wedding ceremony is the one that makes you legally married. In Costa Rica it can be performed by a notary public, an official of the Civil Registry or a Catholic priest. For destination weddings, a notary public wedding is the standard choice.
The notary reviews your documents, leads the legal part of the ceremony, signs the marriage record with you and your two witnesses, and registers it with the Registro Civil.
Who can officiate?
In Costa Rica a notary public is a licensed attorney, not the stamp-and-sign role notaries have in the US. That’s why the Costa Rica wedding officiant and the lawyer are the same person.
Catholic weddings are also legally valid. Couples can marry free at a Registro Civil office too, but it requires a published notice and a ceremony at the registry, so it rarely fits a destination wedding.
Is it recognized back home?
Yes. A marriage performed and registered in Costa Rica is valid in the United States, Canada, the UK and most other countries.
You don’t need a second ceremony at home. You’ll simply present your Costa Rican marriage documents to your local registry.
Can it still feel personal?
Absolutely. Officiants who specialize in destination weddings offer several vow options and adapt the speech to each couple’s beliefs.
You can also include a unity candle, rose ceremony or sand ceremony. Only the legal declaration and the signing are fixed.
Civil vs. symbolic
Civil vs. Symbolic Ceremony in Costa Rica: Which One Do You Need?
A civil ceremony makes you legally married; a symbolic ceremony is the celebration without the paperwork. Many couples sign the legal papers at home and have a symbolic ceremony here. Others want a legally binding wedding in Costa Rica, so the date on their certificate is the day they said their vows by the ocean or in the cloud forest.
Legal ceremony
- ✦Legally binding and internationally recognized
- ✦Officiated by a Costa Rican notary public (attorney)
- ✦Passport, birth certificate and proof of single status
- ✦Two adult witnesses required
- ✦Documents sent to the notary weeks ahead
Symbolic ceremony
- ✦No legal validity; you marry legally at home
- ✦Officiated by anyone you choose
- ✦No documents required
- ✦No witnesses required
- ✦Fully free-form rituals and words
Can we do both on the same day?
Yes. Many couples combine a short legal signing with the notary and a symbolic ceremony led by a celebrant, on the same day or on different dates.
Does the legal ceremony have to be in Spanish?
Most law firms that specialize in destination weddings perform the ceremony in English and translate your marriage documents. Confirm the language when you book, especially if one partner doesn’t speak Spanish.
What if we’re already legally married at home?
Then a symbolic ceremony is all you need. Read our symbolic wedding ceremony guide to choose the ritual that fits you.
The paperwork
Costa Rica Marriage Requirements for Foreigners
Both partners must be at least 18, legally free to marry and able to give full consent. Costa Rica has no residency requirement, no blood test and no mandatory waiting period. These are the documents needed to get married in Costa Rica:
1. Valid passport
Bring the original on your wedding day, and send a copy of the photo page to your notary in advance.
2. Birth certificate
A certified copy issued in your home country. Ask your notary whether it must be apostilled; requirements vary by firm and by issuing country.
3. Proof of single status
Usually a sworn affidavit stating you’re free to marry. Wedding law firms typically prepare it as part of the legal documents.
4. Divorce or death certificate
If either partner was married before: a certified copy of the divorce decree or the death certificate of the former spouse.
5. If marrying a Costa Rican
The Costa Rican partner provides their cédula and a civil status certificate from the Registro Civil.
6. Your personal details
Full name, nationality, occupation, address and parents’ names for both partners, usually collected through a short questionnaire.
Apostille documents for your wedding in Costa Rica
Costa Rica is part of the Hague Apostille Convention, so documents from the US, Canada, the UK and most of Europe are validated with an apostille instead of consular legalization.
The apostille comes from the authority that issued the document; in the US, the Secretary of State where you were born. Documents not in Spanish need an official translation. Start early: apostilles can take several weeks.
Your two witnesses
You need two adult witnesses with valid ID who declare under oath that they know you and that you’re free to marry. Foreign witnesses simply bring their passport.
Online sources disagree on whether witnesses can be relatives, so confirm the rule with your notary. Eloping with no guests? Witnesses can often be arranged by your notary or planner.
Step by step
How to Get Married in Costa Rica Legally
The whole process takes about three months from first paperwork to certificate in hand, but only one short signing happens on your wedding day.
3–4 months before
Book your notary
Confirm your date and ceremony location, and ask what the legal package includes.
2–3 months before
Order and apostille your documents
Request certified birth certificates and, if needed, divorce decrees. Apostille them if your notary requires it.
4–6 weeks before
Send your documents to the notary
Email copies of passports and documents. The law firm counsels you on anything missing and prepares the paperwork Costa Rican authorities require.
Wedding day
Say your vows and sign
The officiant delivers a personalized ceremony, you exchange vows, and you, your witnesses and the notary sign the marriage record. The legal signing takes about 30 minutes.
Same day
Receive your Marriage Statement
You get a provisional Marriage Statement certifying your marriage, often with an English translation, ready to present at home.
After the wedding
Registration at the Registro Civil
The notary registers your marriage with Costa Rica’s Civil Registry and follows up until it’s recorded.
About six weeks later
Your official marriage certificate
The Civil Registry issues the official certificate in Spanish. Many firms translate it into English, certify copies and send them to you by certified mail.
Planning a legal wedding?
Let’s Talk About Your Ceremony
Tell us your date and location. We’ll help you connect the legal side with your photography, so every signature, vow and happy tear is documented.
What’s included
What a Legal Wedding Package in Costa Rica Includes
Law firms that specialize in destination weddings usually bundle the entire legal process into one package. A complete one covers three stages:
Before the Wedding
Paperwork and a ceremony written for you.
- •Counseling and preparation of the legal documents Costa Rican authorities require
- •Personalized ceremony speech with several vow options
- •Optional unity candle, rose or sand ceremony
On the Wedding Day
The ceremony, the signatures and your first proof of marriage.
- •Ceremony performed at your venue
- •Legal documents signed by you and your witnesses
- •Provisional Marriage Statement, plus its English translation, delivered the same day
After the Wedding
Registration and documents delivered to your door.
- •Registration at the Registro Civil and follow-up (about six weeks)
- •English translation of the official marriage certificate
- •Certified copies sent to you by certified mail
Questions to ask your notary before booking
- Is the ceremony performed in English?
- Which vow options and rituals can we include?
- Do our birth certificates need an apostille?
- Can our witnesses be family members, and can you provide witnesses if we elope?
- Is travel to our venue included?
- Do we receive the Marriage Statement and its English translation on the wedding day?
- How many certified copies of the official certificate do you send, and to which countries?
Budget
Cost of a Legal Wedding Ceremony in Costa Rica
Expect roughly $500–$1,200 in total legal costs, depending on the notary, the location and how much paperwork they handle for you.
| Item | Typical range (USD) |
|---|---|
| Legal ceremony package (documents, ceremony, registration) | $300–$700 |
| Notary travel to a remote venue | Varies by distance |
| English translations of the Marriage Statement and certificate | Often included |
| Apostille of the Costa Rican marriage certificate | $30–$75 |
| Apostilles of home-country documents | Set by your state or country |
Ask exactly what the package includes: travel, translations, the number of certified copies and international mailing are where quotes differ most.
Back home
Is a Costa Rica Wedding Legally Recognized in the US, Canada and Europe?
Yes. A marriage performed and registered in Costa Rica is valid in the United States, Canada, the UK and most other countries. Here’s how you prove it once you’re home.
Provisional Marriage Statement
Delivered on your wedding day with an English translation. It’s often enough to register your marriage at home right away; one Costa Rican wedding law firm reports it has worked in about 90% of its cases in the US, Canada and England.
Official Marriage Certificate
If your local office won’t accept the provisional statement, you’ll use the official certificate issued by the Registro Civil, usually about six weeks after the wedding.
Apostille & translation
For name changes, taxes or visa sponsorship, some authorities ask for the official certificate to be apostilled by Costa Rica’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Check with your local registry before you travel.
Good to know
Can same-sex couples legally marry in Costa Rica?
Yes. Same-sex marriage has been legal in Costa Rica since May 26, 2020, the first country in Central America to recognize it. The requirements and process are exactly the same for every couple.
Marital property & prenups
Without a prenuptial agreement, Costa Rican law applies a community property regime to assets acquired during the marriage. Prenups (capitulaciones matrimoniales) are recognized and can be signed before a notary ahead of the wedding.
Photographing the signing
The signing is short but full of moments: your witnesses leaning in, your hands on the marriage record, the notary declaring you married. We plan the timeline so it’s covered as carefully as your vows.
Let’s design your day
One Day, Fully Designed
Most couples don’t stop at the paperwork. They want every vow, every signature and every tear captured. Explore our wedding photography packages or our elopement packages, and browse the best wedding venues in Costa Rica to choose where to say “I do.”
Your questions, answered
FAQ: Legal Weddings in Costa Rica
Do I need a lawyer to get married in Costa Rica?
+
For a civil wedding at your venue, yes. The ceremony is performed by a notary public, and every notary in Costa Rica is a licensed attorney.
How long does it take to register a marriage in Costa Rica?
+
You leave with a provisional Marriage Statement on your wedding day. The notary registers the marriage, and the Civil Registry usually issues the official certificate in about six weeks.
Do we need to be in Costa Rica a certain number of days before the wedding?
+
Costa Rican law sets no minimum stay. Some resorts set their own arrival rules for legal ceremonies, so check with your venue.
Can the legal ceremony be in English?
+
Most law firms that specialize in destination weddings perform the ceremony in English and translate the marriage documents. Confirm the language when you book.
Can we write our own vows in a legal ceremony?
+
Yes. Officiants usually offer several vow options and adapt the speech to your beliefs, and you can add rituals such as a unity candle, rose or sand ceremony. Only the legal declaration and the signing are fixed.
Can we get married legally on a beach, at a waterfall or in the cloud forest?
+
Yes. The notary can perform the ceremony at your chosen location, as long as it’s reachable and your witnesses are present. Confirm access and travel fees with your notary.
Is a Costa Rica marriage valid if we’re from different countries?
+
Yes, as long as each partner brings valid documents from their own country.
This guide is for general information and isn’t legal advice. Requirements can change; confirm the details with your notary before you travel.
KEEP EXPLORING
Plan Every Detail of Your Costa Rica Wedding
From dreamy venues to real elopement stories, here are a few more guides to help you plan every detail of your Costa Rica wedding.
