couple For those who want to get married in a warm and tropical climate surrounded by the beauty and peace of a clear blue ocean, Fiji is the perfect location. There are many beautiful beaches on Fiji’s 300+ islands that couples can choose from, plus the temperature doesn’t vary much between the seasons. Whether you want a June or a December wedding, you don’t have to worry about the weather becoming cold. Moreover, even in the summer the thermometer rarely climbs above 35.5 C (96 F), so it doesn’t get unbearably hot, either.

Since Fiji is in the Southern Hemisphere, the seasons are reversed. Summer lasts from December through April, while the winter months are May through November. The rainy and cyclone season typically lasts from November to April, so you may have to check the weather before deciding to get married on the beach during this time.

However, the beach is not the only place where you can choose to have your wedding in Fiji. There are rainforest locations, magnificent private chapels, secluded boutique resorts and high-quality lavish hotels that you can decide on as well. All of these options are perfect spots for a dream wedding, so getting married on the Fiji Islands can be a truly memorable and beautiful event.

Requirements and information on obtaining a Fijian marriage license

wedingring Weddings in Fiji are legally recognized in the United States, United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand. Those coming from overseas locations who are planning to marry in Fiji are required by law to obtain and sign a marriage license at the nearest marriage registry before getting married.

Required documents for the marriage license:

Original birth certificates of bride and groom
Valid passports from each individual
Divorce papers if applicable (if divorce was finalized in the last five years, the individual must confirm current marital status)
Death certificate if a previous spouse died
Parental consent if one or both individuals are under the age of 21
Catholic weddings require a letter of freedom, along with Baptism certificates, sent 2-3 months in advance to the Fijian priest.

A certificate of single status or certificate of no legal impediment is required to be produced by (those who have visitors’ visas are excluded, except for those who were previously married and finalized the divorce in the last five years, as they would have to confirm current marital status) :

Marriage applicants who are former citizens of Fiji
Marriage applicants who are not citizens of but are residing in Fiji
Marriage applicants where one individual is a Fijian citizen and the other is a citizen of a foreign country
Asians who are not citizens of the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, Japan and any European country

Other requirements:

Girls must be at least 16 years old to obtain a marriage license, while boys must be at least 18 years old.
Consent from the father of the applicant if under age 21, or mother if the father has died or cannot be located.
Applicants who are Japanese citizens are required to produce the KOSEKI-SHOUHON to certify their personal details.
Those from Asian countries, including China, India, Korea, Pakistan and the Philippines are required to apply one month in advance, and both individuals must obtain police clearance and other additional translated personal documents.
Currently, the marriage license fee is $25.00 in Fijian dollars, though this can change. The application for a marriage license takes place at the District Office, which is open weekdays (excluding public holidays) from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Appointments usually last around 15 minutes.
Applicants must marry within 28 days of the date that the license was issued. If they are not married within the 28 days, they can return the license in the envelope provided with it.

District officers and registrars may perform marriages without a marriage license. The marriage certificate, which must be signed to make the union official, may take about 15 days to arrive after the ceremony.

Special license and apostle stamp

A special license is required if the marriage is to be performed by a Minister of Religion or at a location other than the District Offices or the Registrar General. It is recommended that appointments should be made one to two days in advance. It is valid within 28 days of the date that it was issued, and the cost of a special license is slightly lower than that of a regular marriage license.

Certain individuals may also require an apostle stamp on their wedding certificate. The estimated cost to obtain one is $150.00 in Fijian dollars, though this can change.

Same-sex marriage in Fiji

samesexcouple In short, Fiji doesn’t allow same-sex marriage or civil unions. Homosexuality is not approved of in Fiji, and it is strongly recommended for gay and lesbian travelers to Fiji to not display their affection toward each other in public.

In 1997, Fiji became the second country in the world to protect against discrimination based on sexual orientation in its constitution. However, the Fiji Constitution was abolished in 2009 because of another military coup. Furthermore, homosexuality between men is still illegal in Fiji. There are no laws prohibiting female homosexuality.

The Fijian Penal states that “any person who has carnal knowledge against the order of nature faces imprisonment of 14 years, with or without corporal punishment, and indecent practices between males are punishable by five years imprisonment.”

The 2001 murders of two prestigious and respected gay Fijian residents, John Scott and Gregory Scrivener, broke the silence and some of the false beliefs in Fiji about homosexuality. In 2002, the Marriage Act was amended to read as “union of one woman and one man to the exclusion of all others,” though in 2006, the Fijian High Commissioner in New Zealand confirmed that there is now a policy to not arrest gay men for consensual acts of intimacy.