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We are aware that this uncertainty creates planning challenges but we want to lay it all out for you so that you can make informed decisions about the date of your wedding and the schedule of your trip. The solemnisation and registration of civil marriages, customary marriages and civil unions are managed by the Department of Home Affairs. Civil marriages are governed by the Marriage Act and regulations issued in terms of the Act. South Africa also recognizes customary marriages through the Recognition of Customary Marriages Act, which became effective in November 2000. Civil unions are recognised in terms of the Civil Union Act . Marriages in South Africa are automatically ‘in community of property’, meaning that assets from both partners are joined.
You need to have some sort of status meaning some sort oftemporary residence permitor visa. Yes, you are allowed to get married in SA with a visitor visa. The United Kingdom does not issue these and you would need to have an affidavit drawn up or notarised then stamped by your embassy or consulate. The reason why we say this is because the letter of impediment can take a while before you receive it.
SA citizen marrying a SA citizen:
You can apply for this letter at your country representing embassy or consulate if you are in South Africa already. In some countries, it is referred to as the single status letter and this can be obtained in your country of citizenship. Understand that marriage is automatically entered into a community of property.
The type of marriage certificate issued to you depends if you are a foreigner. The South African marriage Act states that the couple must receive a marriage certificate after they are married. The interview is quite short and if the foreign applicant is from a country where previous applicants were caught out for fraudulent marriages then you can certainly expect it to be lengthy and investigative. The couple would need to complete the above steps and then attend an immigration interview for marriage at one of your local Home Affairs. Wedding ceremonies are performed at the Department of Home Affairs or at a church which an authorised marriage officer needs to conduct.
South Africa - Getting married at Home Affairs
Once you have found the form, you will need to fill it out and submit it to the address listed on the form. The waiting time can be quite long, so it’s best to schedule well in advance. The wedding is valid by complying with all South African laws. Before applying, please make sure that you and your partner satisfy all the eligibility criteria that are listed in the Eligibility section of this page. Please explain what are other uses of obtaining this document/certificate.
The process is not complicated, but there are a few key steps you need to follow. You will require your ID, your partners ID number and a preferred date for making an appointment. Then, you will be provided with a slip on your appointment confirmation. Only the couple, two witnesses and only six guests is allowed at the marriage premises. And it is not necessary for the couple to dress up casually or formally.
Types of Permits & Visas in South Africa
Marriage ceremonies must have a licensed marriage officer. Examples of this include a religious minister, magistrate, or a Home Affairs marriage officer. The number to which SMS has to be sent can be found in the “Office Locations & Contacts” section of this page. If any of the above documents, i.e. letter of non-impediment or divorce decree, are in a language other than English then these documents need to be translated by a certified translator.
Visit the nearest DHA office and request to make an appointment to get married at Home Affairs, from the concerned department. Both persons may not be already married in terms of any other Act. If your parents and/or a Commissioner of Child Welfare refuse to grant consent for your marriage, you may then apply to a judge of the High Court for consent. The judge will not grant consent unless there is sufficient evidence that the marriage is in the interest of the minor and that prior consent has been unreasonably refused. Not all countries issue the letter of non-impediment like the United Kingdom and in this instance, you would need an official letter stating this. Copy of the passport of the Non SA Citizen together with the copy of the page containing the entry stamp into SA.
Personal tools
Make sure that you have all the documents that are listed in the “Required Documents” section of this page. To apply for getting married at Home Affairs in person, the people who have an intention of getting married should visit the nearest office of Department of Home Affairs. If either partner has previously been married, a certified copy of the divorce decree must be provided. A copy of the Divorce Order if one of the partners was previously married but subsequently divorced. Customary marriages must be registered within three months of taking place.
Another option is if you have a family member residing in South Africa, you are allowed to authorize your family member to apply for an unabridged marriage certificate on your behalf. This is the latest info from Home Affairs but can change without notice. A new regulation is that Marriage officers are no longer allowed to apply for unabridged marriage certificates on behalf of couples. An unabridged marriage certificate is like an international marriage certificate that couples who get married in South Africa require in order to register their marriage overseas . Unabridged marriage certificates are issued to non-South African couples, couples in which one partner is not South African, and couples that are not living in South Africa. You should also apply for an unabridged marriage certificate if you plan to be out of the country for an extended period of time shortly after marriage.
Please be aware of the new referral system regarding setting up an interview at Home Affairs with an immigration officer. This is when a couple get married in South Africa and one is an SA Citizen and the other is a non SA Citizen. An interview needs to happen with an immigration officer prior to the wedding. It is a new legal requirement for me to obtain fingerprints of the bride and groom. This will be done on your wedding day by the marriage officer.
Home Affairs requires the green ID book or the new ID card for SA Citizens getting married in SA. If an SA Citizen does not have an ID book or card then they will either need to apply for one prior to their wedding or apply for a temporary ID document and this will be accepted. Where applicable – final decrees of divorce where the current marital status is divorced. If all documentation is correct, a representative from the marriage section will accompany the couple to immigration to make an appointment. It is a new legal requirement for me to obtain the left thumb print of the bride and groom.
Pre-nuptial arrangements protect one party from liability of debts accrued by their spouse and allow you to maintain wealth and property accumulated during the marriage. Contact Migrate With Q to assist you with a spousal visa. We are based in Cape Town and can assist you from anywhere in the world. The process to get married can belong if you are not familiar with what needs to happen.
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