You have decided to get married in Gibraltar. Good choice — no residency requirement, British legal jurisdiction, worldwide recognition, and the whole thing can be done in a long weekend. But between that decision and the moment you sign the register, there is paperwork to gather, fees to pay, and a process to follow. This guide walks you through every step, from your first email to the Registry to collecting your marriage certificate afterwards. No fluff, no venue inspiration — just the practical detail you actually need. You can book your ceremony up to three months in advance and technically marry with as little as 24 hours' notice, provided your documents are pre-approved. But do not cut it that fine. The recommended timeline looks like this: three months before your date, email scanned copies of all documents to the [Civil Status and Registration Office](https://www.gibraltar.gov.gi/civil-status-registration-office/marriages-civil-partnerships) at marriages.csro@gibraltar.gov.gi. Include a completed Booking Form (Appendix A from the official Guidance Notes) with your preferred date, time, and venue. The Registry reviews your documents and, if everything is in order, confirms the booking and requests payment by international bank transfer in British Pounds Sterling within three working days. Six to eight weeks before, book your flights and accommodation — you must stay at least one night in Gibraltar and provide proof of that stay. One to two days before the ceremony, arrive in Gibraltar and visit the Registry at Joshua Hassan House, 2–8 Secretary's Lane, by 10:30 AM on a working day. There you present your original documents, complete affidavits declaring you are free to marry, and sign them before a Commissioner for Oaths. The Registry then grants your Special Licence. One important date to know: no ceremonies are held between 21 December and 5 January, and none on Gibraltar public holidays. Every couple needs valid passports (minimum six months' validity from the ceremony date), original full birth certificates showing parents' names, and documentary proof of your overnight stay in Gibraltar — a hotel booking confirmation or bill. All documents must be originals, not photocopies, and must be in English. Foreign-language documents require a certified English translation. UK citizens do not need a Certificate of No Impediment — eligibility is confirmed via affidavits signed in Gibraltar. EU citizens need a Single Status Certificate or Certificate of No Impediment from their country of origin, plus a valid residence permit. US and Commonwealth citizens also need a Single Status Certificate; if your country does not issue one, you need formal written confirmation from the relevant authority stating so. Check visa requirements at [bca.gov.gi/visa](http://www.bca.gov.gi/visa) before booking, as some nationalities require a visa for Gibraltar. If you have been previously married, you need the original court-stamped Decree Absolute (not a photocopy — this is the single most common reason for rejection). If widowed, bring the original Death Certificate of your late spouse. If you have changed your name at any point, bring official evidence such as a Deed Poll or Change of Name Certificate. Gibraltar's Marriage Act, Section 13, is what makes destination weddings here so straightforward. It allows non-residents to marry via a Special Licence with no residency period. The process runs in four stages. First, you email all documents as PDFs in a single email to the Registry, with a subject line clearly stating both names, the date, time, and venue. Second, the Registry reviews everything and confirms — you then pay fees by bank transfer. Third, you visit the Registry in person in Gibraltar to present originals and sign affidavits before a Commissioner for Oaths (the Registry arranges this, typically at a solicitor's office on the same street). Fourth, the Special Licence is granted and your ceremony proceeds as booked. The Special Licence fee is £117.50. The ceremony and registration at the Registry Office on a weekday costs £176.50. If you marry at an outside venue on a weekday during office hours, the fee is the same £176.50 — but for evening, weekend, or holiday ceremonies at outside venues, it rises to £293.50. A certified copy of your marriage certificate costs £35 each. Affidavits before a Commissioner for Oaths run £30 to £40 for both parties. If you need witnesses arranged for you, expect around £50 for two. An apostille — required if you live in an EU country and need official recognition there — costs approximately £17 per certificate. Registered post for certificate delivery is around £30. Add it up and a basic weekday Registry Office wedding costs approximately £360 to £400 all in. An outside venue on a Saturday evening pushes the official fees closer to £500 before you factor in venue hire, photography, or anything else. All fees are non-refundable and must be paid in British Pounds Sterling. Registry