Is A Jamaican Wedding Legal In Canada?

The legal validity of a Jamaican marriage in Canada depends on the laws of the place where the marriage takes place. If you plan to get married outside Canada as part of a destination wedding, it may be beneficial to ensure your marriage is legal where it takes place. To get married in Jamaica, you will need to be in Benin for at least 24 hours before getting married. Getting a marriage license requires proof of identification through legal documents such as a birth certificate, death certificate, and drivers license.

For those planning to get married outside of Canada, contact the nearest embassy or consulate of the country where your marriage will take place to find out the legal requirements. Marrying a citizen of another country may automatically make you a citizen of that country. In Jamaica, getting married has fairly standard procedures, with most hotels having wedding coordinators or someone who can plan your wedding for you. The average cost of getting married in Jamaica is around US$400.00.

Marriages performed in accordance with Jamaican law are recognized by the US government, so you have the freedom to wed in Jamaica and have your union legally recognized at home. However, you must adhere to the conditions outlined below for the marriage to be regarded as legal.

In summary, foreign marriages are generally recognized by the Canadian government if they are legal according to the laws of the place where the marriage takes place. If your marriage is legally performed in a foreign country, you do not need to register it in Canada.


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What happens if I marry a Jamaican citizen?

If you’re not married and your fiancé is in Jamaica, you can petition for your fiancé to enter the U.S. on a K-1 visa to get married. After the wedding, your spouse can apply for a green card through the adjustment of status procedure. If approved, your spouse would become a legal resident, on the way to becoming a permanent resident. You can also get married first in Jamaica or another country and then apply for an immigrant visa to enter the U.S. If you are a permanent resident, your new spouse becomes a preference relative in category F2A. Your spouse can only get permanent residence in the U.S. when a visa number becomes available. At that time, they can apply for an immigrant visa and enter the United States. Because there are annual limits on F2A visas, a waiting list is often created based on priority date. The wait is usually two to five years.

Do i need to register my marriage in canada if i get married abroad
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Can I get divorced in Canada if I was married in another country?

You need to get a divorce from the court. To divorce in Canada, you must meet all of the following criteria: You and your spouse are legally married in Canada or another country. Your marriage is over. To divorce in Canada, you must meet these criteria:

You and your spouse are legally married in Canada or another country. Your marriage has broken down. You or your spouse lived in Canada for at least a year before filing for divorce. (See the exception for non-residents who married in Canada). Grounds for Divorce. Canada has no-fault divorce. The only reason for a divorce is if your marriage has broken down. The Divorce Act says you can show your marriage has broken down if any of the following applies to you:

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How do I legalize my marriage certificate in Canada?

A Canadian marriage certificate is only valid in Canada. It cannot be used in another country. To make the marriage certificate valid for use in a foreign country, it must be authenticated by Global Affairs Canada and then legalized by the country’s embassy or consulate. In both steps, the signature is verified, making the document valid for use in that country. Some countries ask you to get your marriage certificate apostilled. Canada has not signed the Hague Apostille Convention, so the two-step process of Marriage Certificate Authentication and Legalization is the international equivalent of an Apostille.

Most Vital Statistics Departments can send the Marriage Certificate directly to a third party. Once you’ve spoken to one of our agents and decided how to proceed, we’ll give you our address where you can send the certificate. Some Vital Statistics Departments, like the Quebec État Civil, don’t allow your marriage certificate to be sent to a third party. You’ll need to get the certificate to us first, then we’ll authenticate and legalize it. Suite 400, 1390 Prince of Wales Drive, Ottawa, ON K2C 3N6, Canada.

Benefits of marrying a canadian citizen
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Am I legally married if I got married in Jamaica?

Jamaican marriages are recognized in the US as legal. You must be in Jamaica for 24 hours before getting married. No blood tests are needed. To get a marriage license, the couple should contact a wedding planner or the Registrar General’s Department two weeks before the wedding.

Both parties’ birth certificates, including the father’s name or proof of paternity; official photo ID; occupations of bride and groom; if either party was married before, certified final divorce papers or death certificate of deceased spouse; marriage license fees; the marriage officer will present the signed license to the bride after the ceremony. The Registrar General’s Department online service at the Registrar General’s Office in Jamaica can issue an official marriage certificate using the document.

New marriage law in canada
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Which marriages are valid in Canada?

An international marriage is valid in Canada as long as it is legal where the wedding takes place and complies with Canadian federal law. You need a marriage certificate to get divorced in Ontario. A destination wedding provides a beautiful backdrop for an adventurous couple or a family looking to reconnect with their roots. But if you don’t have the right papers, it can be hard for families in the future.

If a couple doesn’t get a marriage license in Canada before their destination wedding, their marriage may be considered a foreign marriage. If two Canadians get married at a Jamaican resort and get a Jamaican marriage license, their marriage would be a foreign marriage in Canada. In Canada, the law of the country where the marriage occurred determines its validity. An international marriage is valid in Canada as long as it is legal where the wedding takes place and complies with Canadian federal law.

Do you have to register foreign marriage in Canada?

My spouse and I live in Alberta but got married abroad. Do we have to register our marriage in Alberta? Only marriages that took place in Alberta are registered by Alberta Vital Statistics. If you are 18 or older, you can marry without your parents’ permission. If you are 16 or 17, you can marry with your parent or guardian’s permission or a court order. You can’t marry in Alberta if you’re under 16.

Marriage affidavit canada
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What are the prohibited marriages in Canada?

People aged 16 to 18 can’t marry without a judge’s written consent. People who are related: You can’t marry your grandparent, parent, child, grandchild, or sibling.

Marriage and Common-Law Relationships. People in married or common-law relationships have certain rights and obligations. Legal marriage makes you a spouse with certain rights and obligations. The law sets limits on who can get married. There are also rules about how a marriage is valid. Who can’t get married? You can’t marry if you’re under 16. People aged 16 to 18 can’t marry without a judge’s written consent or in other ways set out in the Marriage Act.

Close relatives: You can’t marry your grandparent, parent, child, grandchild, or sibling.

Where to get single status certificate in canada
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What happens if you don’t register your marriage in Canada?

You can’t register your marriage right away. If you don’t register your marriage within a year, you’ll have to pay extra to do it. For more information, contact Vital Statistics. Contact the Service Alberta and Red Tape Reduction Contact Centre.

Hours: 8:15 am to 4:30 pm (Mon-Fri, closed stat holidays) Phone: 780-427-7013 (Edmonton area) Toll-free: Call 310-0000 before the phone number (in Alberta). Fax: 780-422-4225.

Can you get married in Canada if you’re already married?

If you’re forced into marriage, call the police. They will protect you. In Canada, only a court can grant you a divorce. Either spouse can apply for a divorce. You must prove your marriage is over and that you’ll take care of any kids. It is illegal to marry a Canadian citizen or permanent resident just to get into Canada. Learn more about marriage fraud.

How to check marriage status in canada
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Can I remarry without getting a divorce in Canada?

You need a certificate of divorce to meet this legal requirement. This document is issued on the day the divorce is finalised. Usually, this is 31 days after the divorce order is granted. (In special cases, the divorce can happen earlier.) Your lawyer can order this document, or you can get it from the court if you represent yourself. When applying for a marriage license, the clerk will need to see your divorce certificate to prove you’re not married. It’s not required, but you might want to have a lawyer draft a marriage contract before you remarry. A marriage contract can protect your assets and limit your obligation to pay spousal support if your marriage breaks down. Each person in a marriage contract should get their own legal advice to make sure they understand the contract. A marriage contract must be fair. Courts won’t accept contracts that are one-sided.

Also, think about changing your will. When you marry, all previous wills are cancelled unless they were made before you got married. This is important if you have children from a previous marriage who will benefit from your will. Call our Ontario family lawyers at Feldstein Family Law Group P.C. at 581-7222 for divorce and remarriage advice.

How to get legal capacity to marry in canadian embassy
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How to get a divorce in Canada but you got married in Jamaica?

To get divorced in Canada, you must have been married in Jamaica for at least a year and live apart from your spouse for at least a year. You must prove that your marriage has broken down.


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Is A Jamaican Wedding Legal In Canada
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Christina Kohler

As an enthusiastic wedding planner, my goal is to furnish couples with indelible recollections of their momentous occasion. After more than ten years of experience in the field, I ensure that each wedding I coordinate is unique and characterized by my meticulous attention to detail, creativity, and a personal touch. I delight in materializing aspirations, guaranteeing that every occasion is as singular and enchanted as the love narrative it commemorates. Together, we can transform your wedding day into an unforgettable occasion that you will always remember fondly.

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12 comments

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  • Hello sir, in india there are thousands of students like me who have completed their biometrics, medical and also got AIP few months ago. Many students have also completed one semester from india by online studies. If you know can you please tell why ircc is not sending passport request to any students from last 3 weeks?

  • Thank u so much sir for such a well explained article..ur style of conveying is really impressive..I want to know that can a sponsored person do job right after his arrival in Canada or he will have to wait for 3 years..if it is so that he or she can’t do job right away,is this rule strictly followed or is there any leniency in it..plz reply..I’ll be highly grateful

  • I have a question im sponsering my wife as a student and we do not have any depenedent children, and i am a student who is not working but have been working as a co-op student, and stopped recently. Under imm5533e page 5 point 5 can i type N/A or must i put an income or proof of a way to sponsor my wife.

  • Hi, i am newly married to my Canadian husband and have recently submitted the application in Maine where we have spent 3 months living in his car or staying in a hotel while we worked on the application. My question if i may ask is what are my chances of being allowed to cross over to Canada where my husband lives while the application is being processed? I was turned down twice at border because i had only my passport and wasn’t aware of a online application. we had already planned on getting married in his home town but we decided to get married in Maine.we thought maybe if i were his wife that i would be allowed to cross without applying online so now i am going to try for the third time soon so any advice would be so great. Thanks so much. I appreciate your articles. Kim Mullin

  • Hi, thanks for the article, my partner has a temporary residence permit and he is American living in Vancouver. What is my application process after getting married with him? here in this article you mentioned Canadian Citizen or PR. So I need to know another scenario: Getting married with an American living in Vancouver, who has a temporary residency. I am Turkish btw. Thank you very much.

  • Hei Sir. I live in Norway with Norwegian citizenship and MY spose is living in Canada and he is Canadian. Is that take a year to sponsee me? In applications did he need the day of issue the Canadian citizenship? Or it’s just enough his ID number? He say May it’s take 15 months but he is not sure. Thank you for your answer in forward Best Regards M 🙂

  • I have a question I’m a Canadian citizen. I tried to bring over my Filipino fiancé on a tourist visa, but she got denied because she used to work in Saudi Arabia. She overstate her visa because they took her passport., now if I went to the Philippines and married her there, would she be eligible to come to Canada to live?

  • One question, I am a American citizen wanting to immigrat my Nigerian Fiancee to Canada on a Temp Foriengn Visa, is Gensika Immigration a legal company that you know of America is backlogged due to 2yr shut down of Covid and assylum seekers immigrations has 10 million back logged cases it would take forever getting him to America I want to come to Canada and help him settle and to get him settled there

  • Hi I am from China. My wife is going to apply 2years study visa in Manitoba, Canada. We have a daughter of 13months old. Can we apply her study visa and my SOPW together so that can fly together.Do we have good chance to get visa for both(Study &SOWP). Because our daughter is too small and my wife cannot handle alone in Canada along with study. Whereas i Also cannot handle my baby alone here. (We have enough funds and other valid documents) . Your kind response will be highly appreciated.

  • Hi sir I am sponsored by my husband from Canada and he is a Canadian citizen. my husband submitted my papers and all documents in novas Scotia Canada in December 2019 I have already done complete everything like medical and biometrics last October 29th, 2020. but till now I’m still waiting for my passport request letter but till now I don’t hear anything from immigration. I’m from the Philippines. my husband and I are both stressed and don’t know what to do.

  • Hi sir M mother of a kid frm India & my conjugal partner is staying in canada .we have 3yrs son . Before 2 week i had went fr an canada conjugal visa interview at Delhi canada immigration office .. during the interview thy kept process in hold and ask me to do the kid dna test . . Can u plz tell me why did they have ask me to do kid DNA test. Most important thing my conjugal partner is Canada citizen and our 3yrs son also canada citizen by birth ..

  • Hi, I have submitted my spouse sponsorship aplication about 6 weeks ago to the Sydney office in Canada .We never got any confirmation letter. Is that normal? How about documents which have expiry date like police certificate. What happens if they get expired in the middle of the proccess? I appreciate if you reply . Thanks