About getting married at Home Affairs

You can get married at any Home Affairs office under the Civil Union Act,2006, Act no 17 of 2006 or the Marriage Act,1961,Act no. 25 of 1961. Civil union caters for both Homosexual and Heterosexual couples and marriage act is for heterosexual couples only.

Only authorised marriage officers may solemnise a marriage.

Verify your marital status online.

What you should do

• Go to your nearest Home Affairs office to book a date for your marriage
• Bring the following:
• a letter of confirmation of marital status from the country of origin if you are a foreign National, this does not apply to Refugees/Asylum seekers, they must bring a valid Refugee/Asylum seeker permit together with a declaration from the Police confirming their marital status before entering into the envisaged marriage
• two ID photos and your left hand thumb prints will be taken from both parties to the marriage.
• If you or your partner does not have an identity document (ID), you must complete declaration for the purpose of marriage, DHA-31
• on the day of the marriage bring:
• two witnesses 
• your IDs or passport if you are a foreign national
• divorce order, if applicable
• death certificate, if applicable.
• The marriage officer and the two witnesses must sign a document certifying that the declaration was made in their presence.
• After the marriage, your marriage particulars will be recorded in the National Population Register (NPR) and you will get a hand written abridged marriage certificate (DHA- 27).

Note:

• It is free to get married
• If you are married under the Civil Union Act, you are not allowed to enter into a marriage under the Civil Marriage Act or the Recognition of Customary Marriages Act. In the same way, if you are already married under the Civil Marriage Act or the Recognition of Customary Marriages Act, you are not allowed to register a civil union in terms of the Civil Union Act.
• If you want to get married out of community of property, you must go to your attorney to obtain a marriage contract before/prior you get married.
  

Timeframe

• The abridged marriage certificate is issued on the same day.
• An application for an unabridged certificate may take 6 to 8 weeks.
  

How much does it cost

• Abridged marriage certificate: Free
• Second issue of Abridged marriage certificate: R20
  
• An unabridged marriage certificate: R75
  

Forms to complete

• Application for a marriage certificate, DHA-130
• *Declaration for the purpose of marriage, DHA-31.
  

Note: *Special specifications and requirements regarding the processing of this form apply and it may therefore not be downloaded for use as an application or registration form. All forms are available at any regional or district office of the Department.

Who to contact