Application for special licences and solemnization of special licence marriages

(1) In this section, a special licence is a licence granted by the Minister to tourists who visit Belize allowing such tourists to be married in Belize without any minimum period during which such tourists would have resided in Belize, and “special licence marriage” shall be construed accordingly. and (2) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Act or any other law, but subject to the provisions of this section, the Minister, or any person authorised by him or her, may if he or she thinks fit in any case grant a special licence at any time before it is required to any tourists who will be in Belize to marry without the publication of banns. (3) The person who desires to obtain a special licence to marry shall apply therefor by petition, and the petition shall state, (a) the Christian or other names and surnames of the parties, their respective rank, profession or occupation; 30 (b) the place where the marriage is to be solemnised; (c) whether the parties or either of them have or has been previously married, and if so, evidence that the marriage has been dissolved in accordance with the law; (d) that the parties known of no impediment of kindred, or alliance, or other lawful cause, to prevent the proposed marriage; (e) that both the parties are tourists who will be in (f) that both the parties are of or above the age of eighteen years. (4) The petition shall be signed by both parties and shall be verified by affidavit and accompanied by the parties identity documents such as certified copies of their birth certificates, passports, drivers licences, social security identification cards, and, in the case where either of the parties has changed his or her name, the deed poll or other document evidencing such change of name. (5) The document referred to in this section shall be in English, and if such documents are not in English, they shall be accompanied by a notarised English translation. (6) It shall be permissible for the parties to submit the petition from outside Belize, through a wedding planner in Belize, at any time in anticipation of their arrival in Belize to celebrate the marriage. (7) A special licence shall be in the form prescribed by the Minister, and no such licence shall be issued unless the applicant has paid into the Consolidated Revenue Fund a fee of five hundred dollars. 31 (8) No residency requirements in Belize shall be required from the parties intending to have their marriage solemnised pursuant to a special licence issued under this section, and such marriage may be performed by a senior justice of the peace at any place in Belize between the hours of five o’clock in the morning and nine o’clock in the evening, inclusive of Saturdays, Sundays and public and bank holidays. (9) A marriage solemnised under this section shall be solemnised in the presence of two credible witnesses each of whom is at least eighteen years old. (10) At any marriage solemnised under this section, each of the parties shall say to the other in the presence of that witnesses that, “I call upon these persons here present to witness that I, A. B., do take thee, C. D., to be my lawful wedded wife(or husband)”. (11) Any residency requirements in any Form in the Second Schedule to this Act, shall not apply to a marriage solemnised pursuant to a special licence.