Region Specific Information
Getting Married in Guyana
Marriage in Guyana can be done by calling Banns, publishing Notices or by License. Below are the requirements for marriage, provided by the Government of Guyana.
Procedures before Calling Banns or Publishing Notices
1) The Contracting Parties should submit the following to the Marriage Officer:
1. If parties are single – Birth Certificate or passports.
2. If divorced – Decree Absolute along with birth certificates or passports.
3. If widowed – Copy of first marriage certificate, copy of the death certificate
along with birth certificates or passports
2) Banns could now be called for three consecutive Sundays and Notices put up in the temple or mosque, etc., for 21 days. After Banns are called and Notices are put up then the Marriage Ceremony could take place.
3) License Marriages – The license is obtained from the General Register Office. The License together with the birth certificates or passports must be given to the marriage officer.
4) Marriage Registration Form – Whether by Banns, Notices or License, a set of three Marriage Registration forms must be purchased from any post office for $10.00. The set of three must be submitted to the Marriage Officer.
As detailed in the hand out, received Marriage Registration forms must be completed, together with the Marriage Register, before the ceremony. The entry number in the Register must be the same as the entry number on the form.
5) After the ceremony, when the contracting parties Witnesses and Marriage Officer have all signed, the original with the stamp must be submitted to the General Register Office. The first copy should be given to the contracting parties and the second copy kept by the Marriage Officer as additional records to the Register.
6) Please note carefully the following:
1. Both contracting parties must be present in Guyana when Banns are called and
Notices published. If parties are located in different parts of the country, Banns must be called or Notices must be published in the districts in which the parties live.
2. If one party is resident in Guyana and the other party is coming in for the
ceremony, no ceremony could be performed by Banns/Notice. Only a ceremony by
License is legal unless the parties fulfill the terms set out in 6 (1) above.
3. Two persons coming into the Country to be married cannot be issued a License,
unless they are in the country for 15 days. After that period, the License could be
granted, then the marriage could take place. A marriage by Banns or Notice could
not take place if the requirements detailed in 6 (1) are not met. It is advisable that
passports be examined to ascertain the date the parties arrived in country.
7) The completed petition form with the relevant documents must be lodged at the General Register Office for 48 hours before the permission to marry by License in lieu of the calling of Banns or the publishing of Notices would be given.
8) It should be remembered that the Minister of Home Affairs or the Registrar General may if she or he wishes grant the permission to have a ceremony conducted by License. As regards the granting of a License, in lieu of the calling of Banns or the putting up of Notices which is stipulated in the Marriage Act (chapter 45:01).
It should be remembered that the submission of a Petition for Marriage by License is no guarantee that the License would be given.
The Law stipulated the calling of Banns or the publication of Notices for 3 Sundays or 21 days before the ceremony should be conducted.
Persons under 14 years must obtain the approval to marry from a High Court Judge.
Persons between 14 and 18 years must obtain permission from their parents or legal guardian before a ceremony could be conducted.
This page was updated on April 26, 2005