Congratulations! You’re engaged and have decided on a dream Zanzibar wedding!
Your mind is racing with pure excitement. You’re day-dreaming of walking hand-in-hand along a white beach fringed with swaying coconut palms, clear blue seas and skies, as your Vera Wang wedding dress floats in the cooling breeze and soft sands give way under your bare feet…
Thoughts of “which beach will we say ‘I do’ on…where will our dinner reception be…who will we invite…who will come… where will we spend our honeymoon…how much do we want to pay?” may perhaps even make rude albeit fleeting appearances as you bask in the dreamy glow of that newly engaged couple.
Pardon my intrusion to all this gooey, doe-eyed basking and let’s just back up a moment! I need you to come back down to Earth, if only momentarily.
What about the legalities of getting married overseas in Zanzibar?
Who wants to have an absolutely fabulous destination wedding only to return home to discover that it isn’t legally accepted?
A legal overseas wedding that doesn’t meet the legal requirements of your home country will simply not be recognised.
You won’t be able to change your name, update financial records, your passport, driver’s license, bank details or income tax records… The fact that you are not legally married in your home country could have serious implications for your legal rights as ‘husband and wife’.
This is why getting your paperwork in order early on should be a key priority. Check that you can satisfy all requirements to get legally married in Zanzibar, as well as any additional requirements for your home country – or countries if you are a couple from two different places.
Many countries are happy to accept a Zanzibar Marriage Certificate but some countries require further endorsement, such as that from your own Embassy within Tanzania.
Castaway Weddings & Events works closely with the Zanzibar Registry Office and will ensure that your marriage complies with the laws of Zanzibar – and we can also facilitate any additional requirements to satisfy the laws of your home country. However, the onus is on you to check with your local Registry Office and Embassy that your marriage complies with your home laws.
It’s a simple process but it is also one that couples sometimes overlook in the excitement of planning a destination wedding. So, here is some general guidance.
To be legally married in Zanzibar you must:
You’ll need to obtain a wedding license by submitting the following to the Regional Commissioner’s Office:
You must ensure that:
The Registry Office will accept electronic copies of your documents, however, all originals must be submitted prior to the wedding.
The Registry Office clearly publish their civil service rates but you should make sure that you agree the following in advance:
If you prefer a religious wedding you’ll need to contact your local priest, minister or pastor to check requirements. Generally, you will need to submit a letter from your parish confirming that you have fulfilled their requirements for marriage – along with the legal documents outlined earlier.
It’s all too easy in the excitement of planning your big day to overlook the legalities of an overseas wedding but I’m hoping that I’ve banged on enough about the importance today – and that you’ll make it a priority! Permission granted to go back to dreaming of walking hand in hand all doe-eyed and gooey along that dreamy white sandy beach!
You can read more about the importance of using a local wedding planner here or contact us at info@castawayweddings.com or visit www.castawayweddings.com for more information.
NOTE. This information is for guidance purposes and liable to change without notice.