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Bahamas Marriage License Cost (2026): What You’ll Pay — and What You Can Avoid
Couples don’t just want a number — they want a clean budget that won’t blow up the week of the wedding. Here’s the real breakdown, plus the “hidden” costs you can eliminate with the right timeline.
Official fee vs “online fee” — why you see two numbers
You’ll often see BS$100 on official listings, and $120 on travel/tourism wedding pages. The practical takeaway is this: your baseline government cost is in the ~BS$100–$120 range, and the difference usually comes down to what’s included (for example, whether one certified copy is bundled in the published amount).
- How many certified copies you want (I’ll explain the smart number below)
- Whether you need an apostille for international legal use
Send arrival date, wedding date, and island — I’ll tell you what applies and what doesn’t.
What most couples forget to budget
Extra certified copies are cheap compared to the hassle later (name change, HR, immigration, banking).
If your certificate will be used for legal purposes outside The Bahamas, your country may require apostille/authentication.
“Urgent” costs usually come from timeline mistakes or missing documents — not from the base government fee.
Cost Breakdown Table
| Item | Typical Cost Range | What It Means | When You Pay It |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marriage licence fee | ~BS$100 to ~$120 (depending on published inclusions) | Base government licensing fee. Some published pricing includes one certified copy. | When applying / processing the licence |
| Certified marriage certificate copies | Often 1 included; ~US$20 each for extras | Extra certified copies are used for name change, HR, immigration, banking, and records. | Best ordered correctly the first time |
| Apostille / authentication | Commonly published around ~$120 per document (processing rules vary) | Confirms the document’s authenticity for international legal use (country-dependent). | Only if your destination country requires it |
| Avoidable costs | $0 if planned correctly | Most “extra fees” come from last-minute fixes, missing docs, or timing mistakes. | Prevented by a clean timeline |
Important: Fees and inclusions can be updated by the issuing authority. I always recommend confirming current fees at the time of application.
Related: Bahamas Apostille for Marriage Certificates • Bahamas Wedding Legal Timeline • Main Bahamas Marriage License Guide
Send me arrival date, wedding date, and island — I’ll tell you what applies and what doesn’t.
Total Cost Examples (What Couples Actually Want)
These are budgeting examples — your exact total depends on your copy count and whether your country requires apostille.
- Marriage licence fee (~BS$100–$120)
- 1 certified copy included (often)
- Total: ~BS$100–$120
- Marriage licence fee (~BS$100–$120)
- + 2 extra certified copies (~$20 each)
- Total: ~BS$140–$160
- Marriage licence fee (~BS$100–$120)
- Certified copies (as needed)
- + Apostille/authentication (often ~$120 per document)
- Total: depends on how many documents you apostille
- Rushed timeline
- Missing divorce/widowhood documents
- Wrong names/spellings on documents
- Result: expensive fixes + stress
Arrival • Wedding date • Island • Country of use • Previously married?
Do You Need an Apostille?
Not every couple needs this. Apostille/authentication is usually only required when the marriage certificate must be used internationally for legal purposes.
- Immigration / residency applications
- Legal name change processes that require authentication
- Official government filings in another country
- Personal keepsake purposes
- General proof of marriage where a certified copy is accepted
Pro tip: Tell me the country where you’ll use the certificate. I’ll advise whether apostille is typically requested and how many copies you should prepare.
How Many Certified Copies Should You Order?
Most couples under-order, then end up chasing paperwork later.
- 2–3 certified copies if you’re doing name changes, banking, or HR updates
- 3–4 certified copies if immigration/residency paperwork is involved
- Different offices sometimes require an original certified copy
- It’s cheaper and smoother to handle this once
- It reduces delays when you’re back home
My “Don’t Overpay” Rules
- Build your timeline first. Late arrivals create expensive “fixes.”
- Know what documents apply to you. Prior marriage history changes the checklist.
- Get the right number of certified copies. It’s cheaper to do this properly once than to chase paperwork later.
- Match names exactly. Passport names and document names must align—this is where couples lose time.
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FAQ: Bahamas Marriage License Cost (2026)
How much is a marriage license in The Bahamas?
The base government marriage licence fee is commonly listed around BS$100, and many travel/tourism sources quote around $120 when certain inclusions (like a certified copy) are bundled. Confirm current fees at the time of application.
Is the fee in BSD or USD?
You’ll see both presented. For budgeting, BSD is typically on par with USD, so most couples plan as if the numbers translate cleanly.
How much are certified copies of the marriage certificate?
Many couples order extra certified copies at around $20 each, especially for name change, HR, immigration, and banking needs.
Do we need an apostille?
Only if your certificate must be used internationally for legal purposes and the destination country requires apostille/authentication.
How much does an apostille cost?
Fees are commonly published around $120 per document for authentication/apostille processing. Requirements can vary by document type and process, so confirm at time of request.
What causes “unexpected” costs?
Most surprise costs come from missing documents, late arrival timelines, name mismatches, or trying to compress the legal steps into too few days.
Message me your arrival date, wedding date, island, country of use, and whether either of you was previously married.
About Glenn (Why Couples Trust This Advice)
I’m Glenn Ferguson — a Licensed Bahamas Marriage Officer and WPIC-Certified Wedding Planner. I help couples keep the legal side clean, the timeline realistic, and the costs predictable so you don’t end up paying for last-minute fixes.
- Confirm your timeline against the legal requirements
- Verify which documents apply (especially if previously married)
- Recommend the right number of certified copies for your use case
- Confirm whether apostille is needed based on your destination country
Prefer a fast answer? Message me your arrival date, wedding date, island, and country of use.
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