Many foreign couples who wish to get marries make a choice in favor of a foreign country. This is due not only to the desire to find a more romantic location for the wedding ceremony, but also to the objective difficulties in registering a marriage that lovers face in a number of countries.
The countries whose residents often use the services of wedding tourism include:
- United Arab Emirates.
- Philippines.
- Qatar and other countries of the Persian Gulf.
- Israel.
- India.
This list also includes some of the countries of Europe and America.
Most foreign couples consider marriage abroad based on the following characteristics:
- Opportunity to get married in this particular country for foreigners.
- Visa regime in the country considered for visiting.
- Terms of the marriage registration.
- Number of documents required for marriage registration.
- General requirements for the procedure for concluding the marriage.
- Recognition of the legitimacy of the marriage certificate in other countries.
- The cost of the wedding ceremony.
- Climate.
- Beauty of nature and landscape of the country.
Taking into account the initial requirements for finding the best place for marriage for foreign couples, let’s break down and compare two popular destinations for wedding tourism: Georgia and the Seychelles.
| Georgia | Seychelles | |
Opportunity to get married for foreigners | Yes | Yes |
| Visa requirement | Citizens of 94 countries may visit Georgia and stay on its territory for 1 year with no obtaining a visa. | Foreign citizens can enter the island without a visa and stay there for up to 30 days. |
| Terms of the marriage registration | Applying for the marriage, obtaining a permit and marriage registering at the House of Justice takes 24 hours. | An application must be submitted at least 11 days before the marriage. At the same time, registration is possible only if the couple arrived on the island two days before the ceremony. |
| Documents required | To register a marriage of two foreign citizens, the following package of documents is required: — Valid international passport. — Certificate of divorce or death of the first spouse, in case of not the first marriage. Both documents must have a notarized translation into Georgian and an apostille. The package of documents required for the marriage between a citizen of Georgia and a foreigner is similar*. * Georgians must provide an internal passport, which does not require translation. | To register a marriage of two foreign citizens, the following package of documents is required: — Birth certificate. — Certificates of divorce or death of the first spouse, in case of not the first marriage for one or both partners. — Clear copies of passports. All the documents must have a notarized translation and an apostille. The package of documents required for the marriage between a citizen of Seychelles and a foreigner: Requirements for the Seychelles citizen: — Birth certificate. — National identity cards. — Certificates of divorce or death of the former spouse. — Clear copy of passport. Requirements for the foreign citizen: — Original birth certificate certified by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the respective country or an apostille. — Certificate of celibacy (in some cases, for example, for citizens of the United Arab Emirates). — Certificate of divorce or death of the former spouse. — Certificate of Police Character (obtainable from the Seychelles Police Station) if your presence in the country is six months or more. Residence permit of the Seychelles. — One photo (passport size). |
| General requirements for the marriage registration | — Both partners must be of legal age (18 years old) — Partners must not be related by blood. — Personal presence at the ceremony is required. — The presence of two witnesses at the ceremony is mandatory. | — Both partners must be of legal age (18 years old) — Partners must not be related by blood. — Personal presence at the ceremony is required. — An announcement of a couple’s intention to get married is published 11 days before the expected date of the marriage. During this period, anyone can make objections and present the grounds of the impossibility of concluding this marriage. — In some cases, it may be necessary to provide air tickets and a voucher for accommodation on the island. |
Recognition of the legitimacy of the marriage certificate in other countries | Yes. After returning to the country of residence, you must legalize it with the local authorities. | Yes. After returning to the country of residence, you must legalize it with the local authorities. |
| The cost of the wedding ceremony in 2024 | — Registration of the marriage in a formal setting at the House of Justice — $28. — Registration of the marriage at the Wedding Palace — $50 on working days and $84 on weekends (Saturday and Sunday) — Offsite marriage registration — $84. | — Registration on the islands of Mahe, Praslin and La Digue — $230. — Registration on other islands — $305 (in addition, the partners bear the cost of transportation, accommodation and meals for the civil status inspector on other islands). — Special Marriage Permit — $38. |
| Climate | The climate from subtropical to temperate, depending on the region of the country. The temperature during the year varies from -2 to +31 °C. Constant air humidity is around 70%. | Tropical climate. The temperature during the year varies from +24 to +35 °C. Air humidity is from 80% and above. |
| Diversity of beautiful venues for the offsite wedding ceremony | Georgia is a country of diverse landscapes, including majestic mountains, pristine lakes, wild mountain rivers, picturesque valleys, forests and the Black Sea coast. Futhermore, Georgia is famous for its original architecture and a huge number of preserved ancient churches. | Seychelles is a classic tropical island located in the Indian Ocean with its beautiful landscape covered with green hills and tropical forests. |
Obviously, both countries offer foreign couples very loyal conditions for marriage registration and a chic natural potential for unforgettable wedding ceremonies.
But, if you check the information carefully, then the conclusion is quite obvious: Georgia is clearly winning this “race” and is showing a significant increase in its popularity as one of the best wedding destinations.
Are you the foreign couple going to get married in Georgia? Then you will definitely need the help of a qualified wedding planner who will solve all the bureaucratic issues and organize truly magic wedding ceremony in accordance with all your wishes and preferences. Let “Shu Wedding” agency take care of you and make your dream wedding come true!
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We organize weddings in Georgia , for any budget and wishes. With us, you won't have to think about how to organize your event or what documents you'll need. Georgia has simple laws and quick administrative resources, all you need for your dream wedding is your passports, we do the rest for you.
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