Marriage On Saba

What Do You Need?

To get married on Saba, you must meet the legal requirements set out in Book 1 of the Civil Code BES. Below are the documents and forms needed to submit your marriage application.

Required Documents:

  1. Birth Certificate:
    • Both partners must provide a valid birth certificate. If you are already registered in the PIVA coming from the Netherlands, or if you already showed your birth certificate at Census for the registration before, this will suffice. If not, a birth certificate is required.
    • With the birth certificate, it needs to have an apostille or it has to be legalised.
  2. Passport Copies:
    • Copies of the passports of both partners and of all witnesses must be submitted. The passports still have to be valid on the day of the wedding.
  3. Marriage Application Form:
    • Complete the marriage application form, indicating:
      • The date you wish to marry.
      • The location where you want the ceremony to take place.
      • The names of the witnesses.
    • The form must be fully completed and submitted.
  4. Declaration of Single Status (if applicable):
    • If one of the partners has lived outside of Saba after reaching adulthood, a declaration of single status must be provided from the competent authority of that country.  This does not apply for people who came from the Netherlands and have never been registered anywhere else.
Please note:
  • All documents must be in Dutch or English, or accompanied by an official translation.
  • The documents must be originals or certified copies.

    Steps to Your Wedding:

    1. Submit the Marriage Application
    • Submit the complete application in person or by email to the Census Department of Saba. Be sure to include the completed form, the documents, and copies of the passports of all involved.

    2. Application Review

    • The Census Department will review your application to ensure it is complete and meets the legal requirements.
    • If documents are missing or unclear, the department will contact you for additional information.

    3. Confirmation of the Wedding Date

    • After approval of your application, you will receive a confirmation of the date and location of your wedding.
    • Any fees for the ceremony and registration will be communicated in this confirmation.

    4. The Wedding Ceremony

    • On the agreed date and location, your marriage ceremony will take place, officiated by an Ambtenaar van de Burgerlijke Stand (ABS).
    • Make sure to have the original passports of both partners and the witnesses with you for identification.

    5. Marriage Registration

    • After the ceremony, your marriage will be officially registered by the Census Department of Saba in the PIVA, if you’re registered here. If you live outside of Saba you need to take the certified copy of the marriage certificate and make sure it’s registered in your place of residence.
    • You can request a trouwboekje (wedding book) to have a copy of your marriage certificate. Please note: this is not an official document that can be used to proof your marriage.

    Fees:

    The fees for the wedding ceremony and administrative processing will be provided by the Census Department in advance. These may vary depending on the chosen location and other factors.

    Other fees are:

    • Copy of the marriage certificate: 9 USD
    • Marriage book: 14 USD