Puerto Rico Officiant Government Registration Requirements

All officiants are required to register with the Demographic Registry Office before performing marriage in Puerto Rico. The Demographic Registry Office is located in Old San Juan. Registration is valid for six months after completion, so you will need to register again every six months.

The registration process is somewhat byzantine and will require some effort from you. Below are detailed instructions on how to register as a wedding officiant with the Puerto Rico Demographic Registry Office.

 

For any questions about your registration or approval, trouble adding registration to cart online or alternatives to file, please call (787)-765-2929 ext. 6233.

How To Register with the Demographic Registry Office

You will need all of the following in order to successfully register with the Demographic Registry Office:

 

1. Your official Ordination Certificate
2. A Letter of Good Standing dated within six months of registration
3. Your Government Issued Photo ID (Driver's License, State ID, Military ID, Passport)
4. AMM's Articles of Incorporation and Certificate of Existence
5. 2 inch by 2 inch photograph of yourself with a white background.
6. Your signature

 

You can register either in person or online. Follow these steps to register as a wedding officiant in Puerto Rico online.

 

STEP 1ORDER YOUR MINISTRY CREDENTIALS

Order your Puerto Rico Minister Ordination Package to receive your official Ministry Credentials. Included is your Ordination Certificate and Letter of Good Standing. Your Letter of Good Standing is signed by a church officer, dated, and notarized. Both of these documents satisfy the requirement demonstrating your status as an ordained minister to the Demographic Registry Office.

Your Minister Ordination Package also includes your AMM Minister's Manual, a valuable resource for minister registration and wedding training.

STEP 2REGISTER ONLINE THROUGH THE PUERTO RICO WEBSITE

Online registration to become a licensed wedding officiant in Puerto Rico can be completed through their website.

To start, click on “INICIAR SESIÓN”, which means start session.

 

 

From here, you will be directed to the log in page. You will need to create an account by clicking “¿No tiene una cuenta? Regístrese aquí” which means “No account? Register here.”

 

 

From here, you will need to select "Cuidadano" from the drop-down menu. This means that you are a citizen, the other selection is "Entidad/Empresa"or "Entity/Business". Then click the button that says "Continuar"(Continue).

 

You will then need to validate your email address by typing it in twice. Once you have done so, click the blue button that says "Validar" (Validate). 

 

 

You will be emailed a security code that will need to be entered. Once you have obtained and entered the code, click the blue button that reads "Validar Codigo". 

 

You will receive an email from [email protected] with a set of numbers that you will enter on the account setup page. If you do not see this email in your inbox, check your spam or junk folder. You can also search for the email address provided to locate it in your inbox. We are including a screenshot below with tranlsations included. 

 

After entering your security code, you will need to add your personal information. The application will ask for:

First Name
Last Name
Second Last Name (if applicable)

Sex
Date of Birth

The form will ask you if you are a healthcare professional in Puerto Rico, which requires extra services.

Once you have completed the form, click the blue button that says "Continuar" (Continue).

 

You will then need to confirm your email address again and create a password. Be sure to enter the same password twice in the corresponding boxes. You will also need to provide a phone number. Once complete, click the blue button that says "Continuar" (Continue). 

 

Next, you will be prompted to provide your physical and mailing addresses. Click the checkbox that says that you agree to the terms and conditions, then complete this form by clicking the blue button that says "Registrarse" (Register).



Congratulations! You have created your account through Puerto Rico's website. You should get a message that states that you have successfully created your account, and you will be redirected momentarily. If you are not redirected, you will be able to click the link in the confirmation message.

 

 

STEP 3SUBMIT YOUR REGISTRATION THROUGH THE ONLINE PORTAL

Now that you have successfully created your account, it is time to register as a wedding celebrant. Type "celebrante" in the search bar to start your application and register as an ordained minister.

 

 

Once you have located the correct application, you will be shown the instructions and requirements for registering your credentials with Puerto Rico. To start your application, click the blue button that says "Comenzar Transaccion" (Begin Transaction. Keep reading below the screenshot for a detailed translation of this page. 

 

Fee
Fee: $25.00
Convenience Fee: $5.00

Celebrant
Instructions

To ensure we provide you with the best possible experience, please follow these detailed steps to complete your application:

Step 1: Preparation

 

Gather all the necessary documents and details to complete the application. These may include personal identification, contact information, a digital copy of your driver's license, digital government documents, photographs, and any other required documents. Make sure you have them on hand before you begin. If you don't have a scanner, you can access the system from your cell phone and take pictures of the documents directly from the application. Make sure the photos are clear. 

Step 2: Starting the Application

Carefully read all the information provided about the service and its requirements. This will help you understand what is expected of you during the process. 

Step 3: Completing the Requirements

Complete each of the required fields in the application. These may include personal information, contact details, relevant background information, and other data specific to the type of application. Upload all required documents in the indicated formats. Ensure that the documents are clearly scanned or photographed and meet the size and format requirements. 

 

Step 4: Review and Verification

Before submitting the application, carefully review all the information you have provided. Make sure it is correct and up-to-date. Verify that you have uploaded all the necessary documents. If possible, consult the list of requirements again to make sure you haven't overlooked anything.

Step 5: Submitting the Application

Once you are sure that all the information and documents are accurate and complete, select the option to submit the application. You may be asked to confirm the submission before proceeding. Confirm the action and wait for the platform to display a confirmation message. 

Step 6: Follow-up

After submitting the application, you will receive a reference or confirmation number. Be sure to save it in a safe place, although you can access it from the platform whenever you need it. Use this information to track the status of your application. Depending on the service, you may receive updates via email, platform message, or through an online tracking portal. By following these detailed steps, you'll be well on your way to successfully completing your service request. If you have any questions or need assistance at any point, please don't hesitate to contact our support team for further help. 

List of Requirements: 

• Online Celebrant registration form
• Letter of Good Standing dated within six months
• Church Articles and Certificate of Incorporation
• Church Certificate of Existence
• Identification
• Signature
• 2-inch by 2-inch photograph

 

When you begin the application process, you will click the white button that says "Seleccionar" (Select) next to your name to submit your Minister Credentials. Confirm that you want to begin by clicking the blue popup button that says "si" (yes). 

 

 

From here, you will be directed to a page where you can upload the required files. Upload each file to the corresponding section. 

Begin filling out the Celebrant Form by clicking on the first blue button that says "Mostrar Formulario" (Show Form).



Fill out your information as outlined here:



The remaining fields are the sections where you will upload the files. You will get a checkmark when you have successfully submitted the files. 

 

You have two options for uploading your 2-inch by 2-in photograph:

1. Your own ready-to-upload photo

2. The photo upload template through their portal

Whichever way you select, just be sure that your face is centered, you are using a white background, and you are not wearing hats, sunglasses, or eyeglasses. 



When everything has been successfully uploaded, you will see a green check mark next to each file. You will then click "CONTINUAR" to continue. 

You will get a pop-up asking if you would like to continue and to verify that all information is correct. The pop-up reads:

"Are you sure you want to submit the transaction? Please make sure to carefully verify the entered values."

If you are sure you have submitted everything, click the blue button that reads "SI" (yes).

 

Then, you will be redirected to the checkout page to enter your payment information. 

 

Once you have provided all information and completed all required fields, you will get a pop-up that reads "I authorize the payment and submission of this transaction for evaluation." Click "Si" (yes).

 

After you have successfully submitted your payment, you will get a confirmation message:

 

You will also receive two confirmation emails. The first is your receipt, and the second is an email from the Puerto Rico Department of Health. 



Your email confirmation will contain the following:

 

If you did not receive any emails, you can also log back into your account and go to the "Mis solicitudes" (My applications) to review the status of your application. You will see one of the following statuses:
-"Sometido" - Submitted
-"En proceso" - Processing
-"Aprobado" - Approved



While your application is reviewed, you will receive three emails. One when your application is being reviewed, one stating that there is a change of status, and a final email saying that a certificate has been generated (meaning that your application has been approved). 

 

Once your application has been approved, you can return to the online portal and click on the document feature. This will only be available when your application has been processed and approved. 
 

 

Click on "Ver Certificado" to view the certificate. 



If your application is not approved, you should receive an email explaining why. This will typically occur if you are missing documents or your Letter of Good Standing is not dated within six months. You will be able to resubmit those documents to finalize your application. 

You are also able to reach out to the Puerto Rico office where your application was processed for additional information. 

Your certificate of approval will look like this. Remember to save, download, and/or print it for your records. 

 

 

An Alternative to Registration with the Demographic Registry Office

We understand that the officiant registration process in Puerto Rico can be logistically difficult for some couples. Puerto Rico is a beautiful wedding destination and we encourage couples to go there to get married. We also understand that the registration requirements may preclude Puerto Rico as a wedding destination.

There is a solution where you can have the wedding in Puerto Rico without having to jump through the legal hoops.

The couple can file for their marriage license in their state of residence. You will have to observe whatever registration requirements (if any) are required in that state. You can then complete the marriage license with the couple and required witnesses. Then you or the couple returns the marriage license to its issuance office. This satisfies all the legal aspects of the wedding.

With all the legal components of the wedding taken care of, the couple can have their destination wedding in Puerto Rico without having to deal with the local regulations.

Start Preparing for the Wedding Ceremony

Your next step is to learn how to officiate a wedding ceremony. If you have no experience, you are in good hands. Our Puerto Rico Wedding Officiant Preparation Guide covers all aspects of how to prepare for a wedding ceremony.

You will learn everything from the format for a wedding ceremony, the names of the ceremony parts, how to write a wedding ceremony, and more.

PREPARE FOR THE PUERTO RICO WEDDING CEREMONY

Use Our AMM Wedding Helper

If the process of planning, scripting, and performing a wedding is daunting, then you need our Wedding Helper suite of tools.

We have distilled years of experience into an easy-to-use platform with training materials, quizzes, a personalized ceremony script generator, and tips to prepare you for performing marriage, all accessible through your minister profile.

That's only the beginning. After the wedding, you can share your wedding on the AMM Wedding Wall with our nationwide network of ministers.