Honduras is a dream destination for some travelers to get married. The country allows Honduran citizens and foreigners marrying in Honduras to tie the knot legally, provided they meet certain marriage requirements. The legal age for marriage in Honduras is 18 years, with parental consent required for those below this age. Couples must gather the necessary Honduran marriage documentation and obtain a marriage license in Honduras.

American travelers planning to get married in the country must fulfill the conditions outlined by Honduran law if they are getting married there. The following is an unofficial translation of several documents about Honduran marriage laws that were published by the City Hall of Tegucigalpa.  

Requirements For All Individuals

Citizens of the United States who plan to have a wedding in Honduras must fulfill the following requirements:  

1. A copy of each party’s identification card.  
2. Two witnesses must be over Twenty-one, and each must bring a photocopy of their original identification card. The witnesses cannot be changed at the last minute, and parents and family members cannot serve as witnesses.  
3. Certification of civil status, which does not expire for three months. Their names must exactly match the one that appears on the Identification Card and evidence of relationship, which shall be requested at the registry of the people in the place of birth.  
4. In the people’s registry at the place of birth of each contracting party, proof of relationship will be required.  
5. If there are no children present, medical evidence and HIV-AIDS tests will be performed.  
6. If a traveler thinks they could be pregnant, they should get tested.  
7. Original birth certificates for the kids if they belong to both parents. This must be with the lab’s original signature and seal.  
8. Both spouses’ criminal histories should be made available upon request at La Granja Courts.  
9. Generally, a three hundred- and fifty-Lempira fee must be deposited for marriage services when it is accompanied by a Notary Ballot of five hundred Lempira.  
10. According to the current arbitration plan, a three thousand Lempira fee for a foreign Ballot needs to be deposited in Bank Ficohsa under account number 01201316404. This fee is subject to change.  
11. According to the Notarial Act of the Economic Regime, Article Sixty-Four of the Family Code, only if they have assets. For Separate assets, those interested in holding a Honduran wedding must submit originals and copies of documents that accredit it.  

Specifications for Foreigners or Non-Hondurans

Individuals from other nations who are interested in getting married in Honduras must present a "Single Declaration" proving their single civil status and the absence of any barriers to their marriage. It should be issued by a consulate of their country of origin accredited in Honduras. After then, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Government and Justice must certify the single declaration.  

Necessary Paperwork

For foreigners planning to get married in Honduras, the following documents are required:  

1. A copy of passport.
2. Before entering Honduras, for the upcoming wedding, individuals must attach a passport photocopy to the page showing the date they entered the nation through immigration.  
3. Bring a criminal record from the country of origin that has been authenticated or apostilled (both) to the Honduras Representation that is the closest to the applicant filing for marriage.  
4. If the record is in another language, translate it into Spanish and get it apostilled. If the person has lived in Honduras for one year, the Representation of Honduras is required to take them to the Ministry of Interior and Population and External Relations.  

Note: If the Single Statement and Criminal Records are in a language other than Spanish, such as English, applicants filing for marriage in Honduras must get them translated, verified, or apostilled in the country that issued them such documents.  

The witnesses must also produce copies of their passports if they are also foreign nationals. Notably, the law forbids allowing a woman under the age of sixteen or a minor under the age of eighteen to be legally wed in a civil ceremony.  

A civil wedding in Honduras is essential to validate the union, after which the marriage can be registered. The Honduras wedding ceremony can be customized according to the couple’s preferences.

Conditions for Those Under the Age of Twenty-One

For individuals under the age of twenty-one, parents must authorize in writing and have a notary authenticate the signatures. Individuals holding their marriage in Honduras need to bring a photocopy of their parent’s identification. If one of the parents has passed away, individuals planning to marry must bring the death certificate, and the survivor must give permission.  

When both parents have passed away, the contracting parties’ paternal or maternal grandparents, preferably those who reside in the same household, will be required to give the authorization. If the location of the person who should give the authorization is unknown, The Dara, the Corresponding court, will give the authorization. Moreover, the Certification of Judicial decision must be shown.  

Challenges Faced by U.S. Individuals

Travelers have reported that Honduran marriages are undoubtedly quite difficult to arrange. Some individuals had testified on external forums that they faced problems and challenges when they got married in Honduras many years ago. Those who have had their marriage in Honduras solemnized in the past have stated that the authorities are now even pickier about the paperwork.  

Some have stated it is required to submit paperwork to the municipality two weeks in advance, though it is preferable to do it earlier because there is nearly always a problem with some paper. For those who will not be in Honduras for a long time before their upcoming wedding, they can ask someone to bring the original documents along with the photocopies. These papers are required:  

1. Get an official copy of the birth certificate.  
2.  A valid passport  
3.  A letter certifying the single status that has been validated by the Honduran Embassy in the United States of America.  
4. A divorce document if they have been married before. Just a single status certificate is required if this is their first marriage.  
5. Two witnesses must have valid passports but cannot be related.  
6. All documents must be translated into Spanish and have the translator’s signature and seal.  

Travelers have cited instances that the ordeal does not end when they get married in Honduras and even when they have everything together! Even if the paperwork is in order, the formal marriage certificate frequently takes months to arrive at the official location, where they will need to make payment and pick it up at a later date. If this is the case, persons who are getting married in Honduras will need to go back to the municipality to find out why.  

Marriage in Absentia: Potential Risks

It has been reported one may get married "in absentia" in Honduras. This entails having a proxy represent one of the parties which is present at the ceremony in place of the absentee. It has no bearing on a person’s ability to end a marriage and what gender they are. However, if a married girl gets pregnant before turning sixteen, neither spouse will be able to get an annulment. This does not affect their capacity to apply for divorce.  

Additional Information

If a citizen of the United States believes they could be coerced to get married in Honduras, they are strongly advised to stay away from traveling there. If they anticipate that forced marriage is likely to occur, they should not travel.  

Nonetheless, for those who intend to travel to Honduras for a destination wedding, it is advised to exchange the following details with a reliable friend or relative:  

1. All flight and travel information.
2. Passport data includes the full name as it appears on the document, the number, the date and location of the issue, and the expiration date.  
3. Details such as the end destination’s location, including the city or village, home number, and street.  
4. Phone number, email, name, and other contact details must be shared with a confidant.  

Also, it is advised that Americans planning to marry in Honduras should enroll in the State Department’s Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP). It gives the government of the United States of America information about them and their travel intentions.  

Conclusion

Overall, holding marriage in Honduras involves meeting specific requirements and legal procedures, allowing citizens and foreigners to form a legally recognized union. Remember that for legal reasons, Honduran destination weddings necessitate a little more research on the part of those who plan to get married there.

Visitors may require separate documentation or even a new ceremony to officially sign their marriage certificate back home if they get married outside of the country in which they reside.  Before planning the wedding, it is best to reach out to the Honduran consulate or embassy and get marriage information. Applicants are advised to enquire from the embassy about the necessary paperwork and the legal procedure for getting married in the country.