Marriage Certificate Online Registration Application Form: A marriage certificate is important for married couples. It’s documentary proof of the marital status of a citizen of the country. A marriage certificate is essential for a passport, insurance claim, child custody, and other places.
In 2006, the Supreme Court made it mandatory for all citizens of the country to register the marriage. Now, it is a must for the Indians to register their traditionally completed marriage. Though this order does not make traditional marriage illegal, it has become compulsory.
Many couples don’t get their marriages registered because they are unaware of the process. The whole procedure to get the marriage certificate is easy and hassle-free. Here, we have compiled all the information related to it. So, read on to know more about the marriage certificate as per the government’s rules.
Marriage Certificate Registration
According to the guidelines of the Law Commission of India, the government of India needs to make it compulsory for all to register their marriage. The country’s diversity of religions made the process of registering a marriage a bit complex. The details mentioned here will make it easy for you to understand the whole marriage registration process for different religions.
Many may have a question: when their marriage has been concluded with the tradition of their religion, why is marriage certificate required? Religious marriage ceremonies are legal in India, and the couple will be considered husband and wife after a religious wedding ceremony.
But to apply for the spouse’s passport, visa, and immigration purposes, a marriage certificate is required. A marriage certificate is conclusive proof of marriage; hence in all legal proceedings, it is a must-show to prove your relationship with another party. A marriage certificate is the primary document of your marriage to prove your marital status.
As we stated above, the Supreme Court of India made marriage registration mandatory in 2006. Marriages of Hindus can be registered under the Hindu Marriage Act 1955. The marriage can be registered under the Special Marriage Act, 1954 for other religions. All the citizens of India can get their marriages registered under the Special Marriage Act, irrespective of their religion.
Under the Hindu Marriage Act, those marriages that has been already solemnized however, under the extraordinary marriage act the applicants get the solemnization of a marriage as well as its registration. The marriage registrar’s office does this process. Only those married couples get the marriage certificate where the minimum age of males is 21 years or older, and for the female applicant, the minimum age is 18 years.
Purpose of Marriage Certificate
If you ask any Indian, “Is a marriage certificate an important document?” then most people will tell you “NO,” but the correct answer is ‘Yes”. The court and later the government made registering the marriage and getting the certificate mandatory. This process is beneficial, especially for girls, and it plays a vital role to stop child marriage, which is illegal in India.
Apart from giving a legal identity to the marriage, the wedding certificate plays a vital role in opening a joint account, buying properties in partnership, and many other places. This has become an essential document, as you cannot ignore its importance. Further in the article, we have given the information on how to get a wedding certificate. Read on to know more about it.
How To Get Registered under the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955?
The couple belongs to one of the following religions: Hindus, Buddhists, Jains, or Sikhs religions can get their marriage registered under the Hindu Marriage Act 1955. If the couple converted to the religions above,, he is also eligible to get the marriage certificate under the Hindu Marriage Act 1955.
To get the marriage certificate, both partners need to fill out an application form separately and submit it to the marriage registrar’s office with the following documents;
- Photographs of the wedding ceremony
- Wedding invitation card
- Age and address proof of both applicants
- An affidavit to prove that the couple is married under the Hindu Marriage Act 1955)
- Documents required to prove a fit mental condition of both applicants
- Proof of non-relationship between the parties within the degree of prohibition
A Gazetted Officer should attest all the above-mentioned documents. Along with the given documents,, applicants must deposit the required fee to the cashier at the sub-registrar’s office. The date of marriage registration and the marriage certificate will be issued by the officials after checking the submitted documents.
Here, the applicants need to remember that only those marriages will be eligible to get the marriage certificate will fulfill the below-given conditions;
- The marriage should be solemnized between two Hindus only.
- Neither party should have a spouse living at the time of the wedding.
- None of the parties should be suffering from any mental disorder.
- None of the parties should be unfit for marriage due to disease and children’s procreation.
- The age of the bridegroom should be 21 years or more and the age of the bride should be 18 years or more. This is the legal age in India for marriage.
If a marriage falls in the following category, then it will be considered null and void, and the applicants who have applied for a marriage certificate may get the punishment. Have a look at the degree of prohibited marriages under the Hindu Marriage Act;
- If one of the parties is lineal ascendant to other
- If one of the parties was the husband or wife of the lineal ascendant or descendant of the other
- If both parties have a relationship like brother and sister, aunt and nephew, uncle and niece, or children of brother and sister or of two brothers or of two sisters
A marriage falling within the above categories will be considered void. On applying for a marriage certificate for the prohibited marriages, the parties will be liable to be punished with simple imprisonment of one month or a fine of Rs. 10000/- or with both.
Special Marriage Act, 1954
As stated above the Hindu Marriage Act is applicable to all Hindus and a few other religions in the country. The Special Marriage Act 1954 applies to any citizen in India irrespective of religion. To register marriage in this act the applicants need to give a written notice in the concerned marriage registrar’s office.
Under this act, religion does not play a major role and court marriages are conducted under the Special Marriage Act 1954. When two parties apply for the marriage certificate under this act then the marriage registrar’s office affixes a notice on the notice board of its office. A copy of the notice is sent to both parties’ residences. If no objection is received within a month, then the marriage may be solemnized. If any objection is raised then an inquiry is conducted, and based on this the marriage is solemnized.
To get the marriage certificate by registering the marriage under this act, both parties will have to solemnize the marriage in the presence of three witnesses. The witnesses will have to show their identification proofs such as Aadhar Cards, and others. Both parties will have to show the affidavit to prove their marital status, fit mental condition, and non-relationship between the parties within the degree of prohibition, passport size photographs, and others.
Court Marriage vs Marriage Registration
Many people get confused between court marriage and marriage registration. Both of the terms are different though to apply for court marriage and marriage registration the age of the groom must be 21 years or more, and the age of the bride should be a minimum of 18 years. In both cases, three witnesses and the same documents are required.
Court marriages are those solemnized in court in front of officials under the special marriage act. In marriage registration, the applicants will have to show proof of the wedding that has been solemnized somewhere else and now the groom and bride want to register it legally.
Online Marriage Certificate
In a few Indian cities and states, an online marriage registration facility is available like in Delhi. Here, we have given the process to apply for the wedding certificate online. If you are from Delhi then you can apply for the marriage certificate by following the below-given instructions;
First of all, you will have to visit the given website; http://edistrict.delhigovt.nic.in/
- Select the district where you live in Delhi.
- Here you will have to fill in the husband’s details
- Now select the ‘Registration of Marriage Certificate’ option
- Now fill in all the required details in the form.
- Select the date of appointment and click on the ‘Submit Application button.
Once you will submit the application then an acknowledgement page will appear on your screen. On this page, you will get acknowledgement and details of your appointment. Take a printout of this page and follow the instructions mentioned on this. You will also get a temporary number mentioned on the acknowledgement slip. This paper needs to be carried to the sub-registrar office. On your appointment day take the witness with you along with your ID proofs. The PAN card and other Id proofs of witnesses are also must carry to the sub-registrar office in your area.
Offline Marriage Certificate
In many states and cities like Utter Pradesh or Mumbai, an online marriage certificate facility is unavailable. As we stated above that if you belong to Delhi then you can apply for the marriage certificate online but for other states, this facility is not available and you will have to visit the office of concern authority physically to get the marriage certificate. If the online wedding certification facility is not available then the applicant will have to visit the office of the sub-registrar of the district with the following documents;
- Photographs of the wedding ceremony
- Wedding invitation card
- 4 passport size photographs of the bride and groom
- Age and address proof of both applicants
- An affidavit to prove that the couple is married under the Hindu Marriage Act 1955)
- Documents required to prove a fit mental condition of both applicants
- Proof of non-relationship between the parties within the degree of prohibition
They will have to attest all the documents with an application form available in the office and submit it. The applicant will get the date to register for marriage after a month. On the given date applicant will have to bring 3 witnesses with him along with their id proofs to get the marriage certificate.
To download an offline marriage certificate for your state- Click Here
How to get the marriage Certificate in Utter Pradesh?
Here are the essential steps that you will need to take up to apply for a marriage certificate in Utter Pradesh.
Eligibility To Apply for Marriage Certificate
To get the wedding certificate, you will have to fulfill the following conditions;
- Marriage of the couple should be performed under Hindu customs
- Groom and Bridegroom both should be Hindus
- As per the law, the Groom should have completed 21 years and the bride should have completed 18 years at the time of marriage
- Any of the following places should fall within the jurisdiction of the Registering Officer in Uttar Pradesh
- Residence of bridegroom
- Residence of the bride
- Solemnization place
Marriage Registration Procedure in UP
The government of Utter Pradesh gives the option to the applicants to apply for the wedding certificate online. The marriage registration in this state can be done through Aadhar based process. To apply for the wedding certificate in UP the bride and groom both need to have a valid Aadhar Card.
Read on to get the further guidelines for registering marriage in Uttar Pradesh;
- Step 1: First of all you will have to visit the home page of the Integrated Grievance Redressal System (IGRSUP).
- Step 2: Here you will have to click on the ‘Vivah Panikaran’option.
- Step 3: Click on the option ‘Aaveden Karen’ under this category.
- Step 4: Now you will have to tick on the given box asking if you consent to use your Aadhaar number and Aadhaar information by UIDAI Authentication for marriage registration as per the Aadhaar Act 2016.
- Step 5: As the next step you will have to enter the groom’s Aadhar number and enter the OTP sent on the registered mobile number.
- Step 6: Once you enter the OTP all details of the Groom will be sourced from the Aadhaar database (UID), including photos.
- Step 7: Now enter the bride’s Aadhar Number and the same process will happen.
- Step 8: Mention all the details including the wedding date, venue and others.
- Step 9: Now add the details of three witnesses.
- Step 10: Read all the mentioned details by clicking on the preview button and recheck the form.
- Step 11: Click on the submit button and generate your application number and password.
- Step 12: Pay the application fee and you will get the marriage certificate after processing the information.
Procedure to Track Application Form
- Applicants have to open the official portal.
- Then need to click on the “Track Your Application” option given top right side under “Services” on the homepage.
- On the new page, applicants have to enter their information such as Dept Name, Application No, and Applicant Name on it.
- Click on the Search button and the application status will be displayed on your device.
To download the marriage certificate you will have to log in to the portal and get it.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Here are a few FAQs related to the marriage certificate.
Are weddings without any certificate illegal in India?
A traditional marriage done with the customs of different religions is legal in India. However, it is also mandatory to register it.
Who is the concerned authority to register the marriage in any district?
Applicants can approach the office of the Sub Divisional Magistrate to register the marriage. Applicants can contact the jurisdiction of the district where the marriage has taken place or where either of the spouses stayed for at least six months before the marriage.
What are the documents required for the registration of the wedding?
According to the official website of the Delhi Government, the following documents are required for marriage registration. These documents should be submitted after being attested by a Gazetted Officer:
An application form for marriage registration or a Memorandum of marriage duly signed by the husband and wife.
Documentary evidence for proof of date of birth of both parties.
The residence proof of the husband and wife (Ration Card, Aadhar Card, Passport, Bills like Electricity Bill, etc.)
Two passport-size photographs of both bride and groom.
One marriage photograph.
Marriage invitation card.
A certificate from the priest is needed to solemnize the marriage (If Applicable).
To prove the place and the date of marriage, date of birth, marital status at the time of marriage and nationality an affidavit is required from both of the parties.
To register the marriage under Hindu Marriage Act Rs. 100, and for Special Marriage Act, Rs. 150, is the application fee. The fee needed to be submitted to the cashier of the district and the receipt is to be attached along with the application form.
An attested copy of the divorce decree/order in case of a divorcee and the death certificate of the spouse in case of a widow/widower.
The parties are required to give an affirmation that does not fall within the degree of prohibited relationship, as mentioned under the Hindu Marriage Act 1955 and the Special Marriage Act, 1955.
If one of the parties belongs to other than the Hindu, Jain, Buddhist and Sikh religions, a conversion certificate will be required from the priest.
Under which act can the applicants get the marriage certificate?
Applicants can register the marriage based on the following two acts;
Hindu Marriage Act: This act implies on the brides and grooms belong to the Hindu, Jain, Buddhist, and Sikh religions. In case either party does not belong to the above-mentioned religion, they will have to show the conversion document to the officer to get the marriage certificate.
Special Marriage Act: Under this act, all those couples can get the marriage certificate that belongs to other religions as mentioned here. If any of the parties do not belong to the same religion as the other then he/she will have to show a conversion certificate. To register the marriage under this act the registration is done 30 days after showing it on the notice board of the office and sent it to the residence of both of the parties. In case no objection is received in 30 days then the marriage certificate can be issued.
How a marriage certificate can be issued for a wedding between an Indian and a foreigner?
Indians can marry any foreigner. They can get the marriage certificate under, the Foreign Marriage Act, 1969.
What happens if the authorities refuse to issue the marriage certificate?
If the concerned officer refuses to issue the certificate of marriage despite showing all the documents then both or any one of the parties can appeal to the District Court for the certificate. This appeal should be done within 30 days of the proposed marriage. The decision of the District Court will be final and binding for the marriage registration.
What if the first wife is alive and the marriage certificate is issued?
If the first wife of the person is alive and he has married again and gets the marriage certificate as well then the second wife has the right to apply to the court to consider the wedding and void. If both the women feel cheated by the husband then they both can take legal help and the first wife can apply for a divorce as well.
Is a wedding solemnized in a temple valid and legal?
If two adults want to get married in the temple solemnized according to the rituals, customs and practices of the Hindu culture then this wedding will be legal. They can get the marriage certificate on showing proof of their marriage was solemnized in the temple. It is a must that there will be three witnesses of the wedding other than the priest.
Can I apply marriage certificate through offline mode?
Yes, you can easily apply for a certificate of marriage offline.
The Bottom Line
So to conclude this we can say that marriage registration is an essential document and you need to get it. The process is easy to register the marriage. All citizens are free to get married according to their customs and religion. For any further queries about this topic, feel free to write to us in the comment box below.
