NOTE: This information is for ALL weddings in Puerto Rico as of 11/28/2020
At this time there is no longer a distinction between destination weddings and local weddings in Puerto Rico. These are the current requirements, and all couples must complete lab work (blood and urine samples) and gather all of the documents listed below. [At some point this will probably change, and I will keep you informed if/when it does.]
Due to Covid-19 there is no in-person contact, as all of the documents are submitted to the website www.renovacionesonline.com. This complicated site, which is in Spanish, is where you pay for the services and enter all of the documents, receive approvals, and apply for the final Wedding License. It is best to hire a professional to assist with this, as the process is neither simple nor intuitive.
These are the requirements to get legally married in Puerto Rico as of 11/28/2020:
For both spouses
1) ID's such as Driver's License or Passport (U.S. or otherwise)
2) Birth Certificate
3) Divorce Decree/s (not entire doc, just first page and/or any primary page)
4) Death Certificate/s, in the case of deceased spouses (while married)
5) Laboratory Work: blood/urine test results (Syphilis, Gonorrhea, Chlamydia, and H.I.V.)
Fees: $35 for the application, $15 for the final license, $40-$50 for the Dr. certification, plus the cost of lab work for both spouses.
The timing of the lab work is critical, as a doctor in Puerto Rico must certify the results of the lab work within 14 days of testing, and the results must be submitted within 10 days of the wedding. My advice is to take the tests about 14 days before the wedding date; the tests take about 4-5 days, and then there is time to take them to a doctor here and download everything to the website. There are specific forms to be used, and rules to fill out the documents.
Once the application is approved, then the wedding license must be filled out perfectly in Spanish (the form will not be accepted if there are errors or corrections), and must be signed after the ceremony by the couple, officiant and two witnesses. This form must then be physically delivered to a Registry office by a licensed officiant, and if accepted, within 10 days your Marriage License is issued and must be picked up in-person. You can have someone pick up the license, but there are specific forms for this as well that must be submitted to the www.renovacionesonline.com site.
If this sounds complicated, it is. Whether you are a resident or destination wedding, no one should try this on their own. You may eventually succeed, but the challenges are not worth the trouble - hire a professional to ensure that all the details are handled and you can get legally married in Puerto Rico.
Of course, I would be glad to assist you, whether I handle your ceremony or just the legal part. I wish you a spectacular wedding!