Getting Married in Seychelles is becoming more and more popular for residents of the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Because it’s easy to get to and you don’t need a visa to enter Seychelles, it makes it easier for UAE expats to plan their special day here. Until as recent as February 2022, it has been next to impossible for expatriate couples to get married in the UAE. The easiest solution to this problem has been to fly to Seychelles and have a Seychelles beach wedding instead.
Whether our Seychelles wedding packages have caught your attention or you know that a marriage certificate from here is recognised worldwide, they are just a couple of examples of everything that’s great about a Seychelles wedding that makes the experience hassle-free.
If you reside in the United Arab Emirates and have been wondering whether to have your wedding day in Seychelles, we’ve got all the details you need to know to help you with your decision.
Getting Married In Seychelles If You’re a UAE Resident
Easy To Get To
There are several options you have for booking flights to Seychelles from UAE. Kenyan and Ethiopian Airways have flights that will get you there, however, there is also a direct flight from Dubai with Emirates that’s 4 hours long and has become a very popular choice among UAE couples.
Qatar Airways also offers direct flights to Seychelles on a daily basis, making it even easier and ideal for busy couples wishing to tie the knot on a gorgeous, sandy beach. Some couples like to keep the experience short and will fly in to only stay for a weekend or even just for a night, meaning they can fly straight back home to their “normal” lives.
No Visa Required
Seychelles is a visa-free country. This means that anybody who wishes to travel here for a holiday or wedding can do so without applying for a visa beforehand. Although you don’t need a visa, you will instead be given a visitor’s permit that is valid for up to three months from the day of your arrival. This gives you plenty of time to enjoy your special day and also have a honeymoon afterwards if you wish to do so.
A warning for you, to apply for your travel authorisation, you will need proof of complete COVID-19 vaccinations or a negative COVID-19 test result. You can apply for your mandatory travel authorisation to Seychelles through the official government website: https://seychelles.govtas.com.
Documents You Will Need
Although a Seychelles Wedding requires almost no paperwork, there are some documents that you will need to present prior to your wedding day. These documents include:
Copies of your birth certificates (translated into English or French)
A Decree of Divorce (if either of you has been previously divorced)
Death certificate of a former spouse if either of you is a widow/widower
In the case of a name that has been changed, you will need to provide legal proof
Copies of the first two pages of both valid passports
These documents will need to be handed in 12 days before your chosen wedding date. If you’re in a hurry for some reason and planning a quick wedding sooner than the 12 days, you will have to pay a late fee of €50.
Your Marriage Certificate
No matter where in the world you live, Weddings in Seychelles are valid worldwide. You will be issued with two original wedding certificates, each with an apostle and letter of authentication, which is what makes them recognised globally. One of your marriage certificates will also have the UAE attestation on it. The certificates will take approximately 5-14 working days to process.
Special Wedding Package For UAE Residents
Our “Fast Track Room Wedding” package is especially designed for UAE residents, bi-national couples and any couple who are looking for a quick and hassle-free wedding. This package is our smallest and most affordable and includes:
A wedding planner
A registrar
Two complimentary witnesses
Your wedding certificates
Apostille by the Supreme Court of Seychelles
Authentication letter from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Complimentary UAE registration
DHL shipping
Handling and delivering of all paperwork (provided by our team)
This package provides you with the essentials you need to have a small, intimate wedding in the comfort of your booked accommodation. All you have to worry about is handing in those important documents and booking your flights and accommodation.
Other Packages We Offer
You can find everything you need for a magical wedding day in Seychelles in all of our wedding packages. They’re all slightly different to offer certain experiences and details that suit every budget. We wanted to make sure that there was something for everyone, which is why we offer various choices.
If you’re looking for something simple that includes a bit extra compared to the “Fast Track Room Wedding”, we have our “Simplicity Special” package that gives you:
One bottle of sparkling wine
Simple aisle decoration
A ring holder
Transportation to your ceremony and back to the hotel
If you’d prefer to go all out and make your day as special as possible, you’ll want our “Exclusive VIP Wedding” package. We give you the best treatment and details you deserve, such as:
Welcome drinks
Choice of Bamboo Gazebo or Flower Arch
A decorated wedding aisle
A bridal bouquet and boutonniere for the groom
A bridal flower crown
A bottle of champagne
A wedding cake
Photographer and videographer for the wedding
Hair and makeup artist for the bride
Musician for your ceremony
Airport transfers for arrival and departure from Seychelles
Your wedding planner will take care of all of these for you so you won’t have to worry about anything, except for what you’re going to wear!
A Vital Final Step
Once you’ve received all of your documents after the wedding, you will need to bring your wedding certificate to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in UAE to complete the UAE wedding registration. You will also need to take your certificate to your respective embassies for attestation and registration of your wedding.
Plan Your Seychelles Wedding With Seycaptures!
We hope that these tips have helped you realise that planning a wedding in Seychelles is easier than planning a wedding in UAE while also being valid worldwide. The simplicity of choosing a wedding package and letting your wedding planner do all the hard work means that you can focus on other things.
At Seycaptures, our wedding packages offer you the best of the best, from services to value and customer satisfaction. We pride ourselves in being the best and will do whatever we can to help turn your wishes into the perfect wedding day. If you happen to not be able to find something that suits your taste and style, we can certainly create a Unique Seychelles wedding package just for you.
If you would like to plan your wedding with a business you can trust, have the experience and put the customer first, then Seycaptures is for you. You can give us a call, send us an email or fill out the contact form on our website and we will help you plan a wedding day that you will never forget!