Tourists
We specialise in foreign weddings, if you want to do diy wedding to Malta, we can help you book the following.
- Cars.
- Venue.
- Registrars.
- Service venue.
- Airport pickups.
Getting Married in Malta
Marriages in Malta are subject to the provisions of the Marriage Act, 1975, which became effective on the 12th August 1975.
Request for the Publication of Banns
According to the said Law, a Request for the Publication of Banns (Form RZ1) must be received by this Registry earlier than six weeks but not more than three months before the date of the intended marriage. One should note that in Malta the Law does not provide for marriage by Special Licence.
When filling in the form, we would appreciate if you would also include an E-mail or fax number for swift return communication.
Marriage Registry fees
When submitting your request for the publication of banns, you are required to pay in advance a fee equivalent to €69.88 for the services rendered by the Marriage Registrar which includes the celebration of the Marriage at the Marriage Registry.
Should you choose to get married elsewhere in Malta the fee would go up to €93.17 which includes the services of a Marriage Officiator.
However, clients would be required to provide a taxi service for the exclusive purpose to transfer the Marriage Officiator to and from the marriage venue.
To avoid unnecessary bank charges, it is suggested that cheques are drawn up in EUROS (bank charges will be borne by the clients). This fee is not refundable in the event of cancellation of the marriage.
Documents required
The Request for the Publication of Banns must be accompanied by the Full Birth Certificates (showing parents’ names) and the Declarations on Oath (Form RZ2). These declarations are to be signed, on separate forms, by each of the parties either in the presence of a Commissioner for Oaths attached to an Embassy of Malta in your country of residence or, alternatively, in the presence of a Commissioner for Oaths located in your country (e.g. a Solicitor, a Justice of the Peace, a Notary, etc.).
It is absolutely necessary that the authorized person dates the declaration and affixes his/her
personal stamp or seal.
Persons who have never been married must produce a Free Status Certificate [if not otherwise specified on the certificate, the expiry date of the certificate will be taken as three (3) months from date of issue] from their local Registrar. If the Registrar cannot issue such a certificate, we require a Statutory Declaration by a third party drawn up in the presence of a Commissioner for Oaths. It is absolutely necessary that the solicitor dates the certificate and affixes his/her personal stamp or seal.
Documents require legalization stamps/Apostilles issued from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the respective country of domicile. Hence, it is advisable to contact the Marriage Registry well in advance to ensure that you procure the right documentation.
Persons previously married
Persons who have been previously married are to provide a Free Status Certificate together with other official documents certifying that such marriage/s is/are no longer binding (e.g. Divorce Judgements, Death Certificate of former spouse, etc.). Regarding Divorces, Annulments, etc., Maltese Law states that:
A decision of a foreign court on the status of a married person or affecting such status shall be recognized for all purposes of law in Malta if the decision is given by a competent court of the country in which either of the parties to the proceedings is domiciled or of which either of such parties is a citizen (Sec.33)
Widowers and divorcees have to prove by means of a Certificate of No Impediment or an Affidavit by a third person drawn up in the presence of a solicitor, that since the death of former spouse… the date of Divorce Absolute, one did not re-marry.
Documents that are not in the Maltese or English language are to be translated and legally authenticated or apostilled. There is no residence requirement.
Civil Marriages
Civil Marriages can be celebrated in:
The Marriage Registry itself, which is situated at Evans Building, Merchants Street, Valletta;
International waters on board a passenger vessel registered in Malta;
A Civil Marriage may also take place at any other place open to the public and which the Registrar accepts as appropriate. Examples of appropriate venues are: Wedding Halls, Conference Rooms and other public areas within hotel precincts.
It must be pointed out that Civil Marriages are not conducted at pool side areas or on private/public, rocky/sandy beaches.
For the actual performance of Civil Marriages, this Registry opens on any day of the week (Monday to Sunday) and after an appointment is made with the couple concerned.
It is also your responsibility to make arrangements for at least two witnesses who must be not less than 18 years old.
Religious Marriages
Religious Marriages are celebrated in the church of one’s denomination. Please consult attached sheet for addresses of Catholic National Chaplains and other Religious Denominations. One is advised to make certain of one’s place of marriage before requesting the Publication of Banns. One should keep in mind that, in order to change the place of marriage from that originally notified, the Marriage Registry needs at least three weeks’ notice.
On arriving in Malta…
… you are kindly requested to call at this Office to finalize matters. When calling at the Registry you will be required to produce your passports.
The opening hours of our Office are as follows-
Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays- from 7.30 a.m. to 2.00 p.m.
Wednesdays only- from 7.30 a.m. to 2.00 p.m. and from 3.00 p.m. to 6.00 p.m.
Saturdays only- from 7.30 a.m. to 11.00 a.m.
Please call for an appointment on 21221775
Website: www.mjha.gov.mt/services/marriageregistry.html
Email: [email protected]
Fax 21228247
Capacity to marry
Finally, may we draw your attention to Section 18 of the Marriage Act, 1975, which states that:
A marriage, whether celebrated in Malta or abroad, shall be valid for all purposes of law in Malta if -
(a) as regards the formalities thereof, the formalities required for its validity by the law of the country where the marriage is celebrated are observed;
(b) as regards the capacity of the parties, each of the persons to be married is, by law of his or her respective domicile, capable of contracting marriage.
Because of this Section of the law, may we remind you that, should it be necessary to comply with any marriage laws in order that your marriage may also conform to the laws of your country of domicile, it is your responsibility to take care of such requirements.
Obtaining Marriage Certificates
Subsequently, Marriage Certificates may be obtained by application to the Civil Status Section, Public Registry, Evans Building, Merchants Street, Valletta.
Formal Extracts cost €2.33 each and Full Copies of the original Act of Marriage cost €9.32 each.
Certificates may be ordered online: www.certifikati.gov.mt
There exist no arrangements between this Registry and the Registries of other countries for the registration in those countries of marriages which take place in Malta between two foreign nationals or between Maltese and other nationals. Therefore, if such couples are required to register their marriage in any other country outside Malta, they should effect this registration themselves in the manner described by that particular country’s laws.
It is recommended to Apostille the certificates in accordance with the Hague Convention of the 5th October 1961. The Apostilles are issued from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Valletta… contact person: Mr Kenneth Burnell, E-mail: [email protected]
NOTICE
MARRIAGES OF CONVENIENCE
The Marriage Laws of Malta provide the following:
Any person who contracts a marriage with the sole purpose of obtaining:
a) Maltese citizenship; or
b) freedom of movement in Malta; or
c) a work or residence permit in Malta; or
d) the right to enter Malta; or
e) the right to obtain medical care in Malta,
shall be guilty of an OFFENCE and shall on conviction be LIABLE to IMPRISONMENT for a term not exceeding two years.
ANY PERSON WHO CONTRACTS A MARRIAGE WITH ANOTHER PERSON KNOWING THAT IT IS A MARRIAGE OF CONVENIENCE SHALL BE GUILTY OF AN OFFENCE AND SHALL ON CONVICTION BE LIABLE FOR THE SAME PUNISHMENT LAID DOWN IN THE LAWS OF MALTA CAP. 255
All personal data required is protected and will be used in accordance with the Data Protection Act, 2001