Marriage Certificate application process
Procedure for application of Marriage Certificate
Mumbai, India
Marriage certificate remains very important document post marriage for the married couple and more importantly for the bride as with the help of this it is easier for her to change name, address, apply for new passport, license etc. The process for application was initially centralized, wherein you had to go to the court in Bandra (not much aware of this process though). Now post the localization of the process it is very convenient for married couples to apply for marriage certificate and get the same within a 4 - 6 weeks time and that also by paying a nominal amount of INR 150 - INR 300, depending on the time lapsed between the marriage and the application for certificate (time and money post bribe or through an agent is not accounted in this blog)
Process:
- Applicants (married couple) have to fill in the attached form and submit at the (Groom's) local BMC office. The age limit for Bridegroom is 21 years and for bride is 18 years. [If you want to apply for certificate before marriage, for the purpose of passport of visa or any other purposes then you can so by visiting court at Bandra - . Not sure if it can be done at any other courts in Mumbai]
- After completing the form and attaching the necessary documents and photographs, you will have to go to the marriage registrar's office at local BMC office
- The officer might do one of the following two things: (a) check the documents, return the original documents and shall give you a date after 2 - 4 weeks [but if required in urgency, request can be made to the officer for an earlier date], to come with the original documents and the witnesses or (b) check the documents and ask the witnesses to sign then and there itself [It is advisable to check the procedure followed at your local BMC office beforehand, for convenience of the witnesses]
- Once, the attested copies of the documents are submitted at the office, and the form is subsequently signed by the applicants and the witnesses, you will be asked to pay the money at the cash counter
- On showing the receipt of payment you will be given a date to come and collect the certificate [Usually it takes 1-4 weeks, but if required in urgency, request can be made to the officer for an earlier date]
Below is the list of documents that are required.
All the documents should be submitted with attested photocopies [Attested by regular Notary or SEO, please note: affidavit or the red notary stamp is not required unless as mentioned below]
- 1 x Bride and Bridegroom Photo proof (Pan Card or Driving License or College ID or Passport)
- 1 x Bride and Bridegroom Age proof (School Leaving Certificate or Passport or Birth Certificate or Domicile Certificate or SSC Board Certificate)
- 1 x Bride and Bridegroom Residential proof (Ration Card or Passport or Election Card or Light Bill And Telephone Bill of own name) [Bride's address proof should be with parents compulsorily]
- 3 x Photograph of both Bride and Bridegroom
- 3 x Witness required and their proof (Attested photocopy of any one of the following and any govt. photo ID - Ration Card or Passport or Election Card)
- 1 x Photograph of each witnesses
- 1 x Wedding card (in Marathi or English) [for any other language translation from notary is required. Affidavit on Rs.100/- stamp paper in case of wedding card not printed]
- In case of Divorcees, Divorce Decree Certificate must be produced
- In case of widow and widower, Municipal Death Certificate of concerned person must be produced
- Nikahnama (in English) in case of Muslim Marriages
- Affidavit on Rs.100/ stamp paper in case of inter religious marriages
Note :
- BMC offices are usually open between 11:00 - 13:00 on weekdays only
- Marriage should have taken at any place in India and both should be residing together in marriage officer jurisdiction
- Column 7 of the form: Signature of Priest / Kazi who solemnized marriage is required
- This procedure was in place in 2010/11. If you have come across anything new, let me know and I will update the blog accordingly
