Getting married in Costa Rica

I would highly recommend Marcelo Galli, we just got married and he organized all official documents and ceremony for us. You can find him at marcelogalli com .

Thank you.  I have sent an email to them and now await their assistance.  Can you tell me a little about your particular circumstances and experience please?

Sure, it was pretty smooth, all documents were accepted electronically, and there are not many of them, especially if neither of you were ever divorced. We were also considering Gibraltar and Greece, but comparing to Costa Rica they require much more paperwork. Once you book the appointment with the officiant you appear at the ceremony, say "I do", sing the papers and in one month your certificate should be ready, with official translation to English and an apostille. You also need two witnesses (one could be your photographer and one can be provided by Marcelo if you don't have anyone else). The price depends where you want to have the ceremony, the further from San Jose, the pricier. We got married at the Esterillos beach near Parrita, and the location is just fantastic, but there are just too many other beautiful places to choose from. Your certificate could be sent to you by mail if you are not staying in Costa Rica.

I once acted as a combination witness and bridesmaid for a couple who were staying with us and wished to be married. It was very simple.

The "official" who performed the "ceremony" was an attorney/notary acting in his capacity as a notary. That permits him access to the National Registry where marriages are legally recorded. The couple stated their intents, signed a couple of documents, paid the fee, and walked out "married". It took about fifteen minutes and was done in the attorney/notary's office.

I think I know that there is a standard flat fee for an attorney/notary to "perform" a marriage.

In Costa Rica, marriage is a legal civil status. It is officially performed by that attorney/notary. Clergypersons are not legally able to perform marriages although they can lead those additional ceremonies that we North Americans generally think of as "weddings".

If it's a ceremony you want, I may be able to help. I'm fully qualified in norse pagan, orthodox and reform Druid, zoroastrian and rastafarian. If you want dreadlocks, I'll need some notice.

If I have an American (USA) Passport and marry a Costa Rican Female is she atomically eligble to attain an American Passport? What are the "hoops?"