Hawaii Marriage License Information
If you wish to be legally married in Hawaii and USA, you'll need to get a marriage license from the State of Hawaii. Marriage licenses can only be issued by the State of Hawaii Health Dept. and are valid for 30 days. The "decorative wedding certificate" we include in our packages is not a marriage license! FYI: If you are already legally married and are renewing vows or just doing a ceremony re-creation, you do not need to get a marriage license.
As of 2012, you can now apply for your marriage license on-line. Go to the official website below for requirements, directions, and the on-line application form. When you complete filling out the on-line form and make the required payment, you will be issued a reference number. Take that number with you to the marriage license office, present it with proper ID, and they print out your license and validate it.
You both (bride & groom) must appear in person at the Health Dept., with proper photo-identification, to either apply for a license or validate the license you were issued using their website. No one can do this for you.
Licenses are issued Monday to Friday before 3:30 pm at the marriage license office except on US and Hawaii state holidays, and "furlough" closure days (see link below). Check the official website to confirm all open dates.
WEEKENDS: Marriage licenses can be issued on Saturdays and Sundays and other closure dates by appointment only with one of their designated agents. Please check with the marriage license office for availability of their agents. FYI: We also have a few agents name who you can try.
FURLOUGH CLOSURE DAYS: The Health Dept. and marriage license office has furlough closure days. Make sure you plan to get your license on a day when it is opened! Go to the official website (see below) to see furlough closure days.
Validation for Foreign Countries
A certified copy of a marriage certificate issued by the State of Hawaii may need to be officially authenticated in order that it be recognized and accepted by some foreign countries.
For those countries who are nations that have joined the 1961 Hague Convention (see below), the authentication process requires a certificate called an Apostille to accompany the marriage certificate.
In the State of Hawaii, Apostilles are prepared by the Office of the Lieutenant Governor. Request the form needed to apply for the Apostille from the Sate Health Department when you apply for your marriage license. Not to worry, it's quite simple.
Albania
Antigua & Barbuda
Argentina
Armenia
Australia
Austria
Bahamas
Belarus
Belgium
Belize
Bosnia & Herzegovina
Botswana
Bulgaria
Colombia
Croatia
Cyprus
Czech Republic
El Salvador
Estonia
Fiji
Finland
France
Germany
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Greece
Honduras
Hungary
Israel
Italy
Japan
Kazakhstan
Latvia
Lesotho
Liechtenstein
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Macedonia
Malawi
Malta
Marshalls
Mauritius
Mexico
Netherlands (Aruba)
Niue (Savage Is)
Norway
Panama
Portugal
Romania
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Russia
San Marino
Serbia & Montenegro
Seychelles
Slovak
Slovenia
Spain
South Africa
Suriname
Swaziland
Sweden
Switzerland
Tonga
Trinidad & Tobago
Turkey
Ukraine
United Kingdom & Northern Ireland
USA
Venezuela
Yugoslavia
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FYI: For nations who have not joined the Convention, the authentication process requires two separate forms to accompany the certificate. In Hawaii, one of these forms is called a Certification and is prepared by the Lieutenant Governor’s Office. The third form is called an Authentication and is prepared by the State Circuit Court
For Philippines Only
If you got married previously in the Philippines and had your marriage annulled, you will need to present your annulment documents to the Health Dept. when you apply for your marriage license.
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