Marriage registration in India: the basics

Check with the official source. This page is a general summary of the law as it stood on 11 November 2026. It is not legal advice. Rules, forms, fees and time limits differ from state to state and change over time. Confirm everything with your Sub-Registrar or Marriage Officer, or on your state government's marriage registration portal, before you act.

Why register

A marriage certificate is the accepted proof of marriage. It is asked for when applying for a passport or a visa for a spouse, changing a name, opening joint accounts, and claiming insurance, pension or inheritance. A wedding album is not a legal document. A certificate is.

Two routes

1. You marry by religious rites, then register

Hindus, Sikhs, Jains and Buddhists who have married by their customary rites can register the marriage under section 8 of the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955, according to the rules of their state. Sikh couples may also register under the Anand Marriage Act, 1909, in states that have made rules for it. Christian marriages are solemnised and recorded under the Indian Christian Marriage Act, 1872. Parsi marriages are registered under the Parsi Marriage and Divorce Act, 1936. A Muslim marriage is recorded in the nikahnama. In addition, many states have their own laws that require every marriage, of any religion, to be registered.

2. Civil marriage under the Special Marriage Act, 1954

Any two people can marry under this Act, whatever their religion. The steps set out in the Act are:

The couple give a written notice of intended marriage to the Marriage Officer of the district where at least one of them has lived for not less than 30 days.
The notice is displayed at the office. Anyone may object within 30 days on the grounds listed in the Act.
If there is no valid objection, the marriage is solemnised before the Marriage Officer and three witnesses. The couple and the witnesses sign a declaration.
The Marriage Officer enters the marriage in the Marriage Certificate Book. This certificate is conclusive proof of the marriage.

The marriage must take place within three months of the notice, or a fresh notice is needed. A couple already married by other rites can also have the marriage registered under this Act.

Basic conditions under both Acts

Neither person has a living husband or wife at the time of the marriage.
Both are able to give valid consent.
The groom has completed 21 years and the bride 18 years.
The two are not within the degrees of prohibited relationship, unless a custom governing them permits it.

Papers usually asked for

Proof of age of both: birth certificate, school leaving certificate or passport
Proof of address of both: Aadhaar, voter ID, passport or similar
Passport-size photographs of both
A photograph of the wedding and the invitation card, where the marriage has already taken place
Witnesses with their identity proof
A divorce decree or the death certificate of a former spouse, where that applies
The filled form and the fee set by the state

The exact list is set by each state. Many states now accept applications and appointments online.

Practical tips

Register soon after the wedding. Late registration often means extra forms, an affidavit or a late fee.
Make sure names and dates of birth match exactly across all your documents before you apply.
Take the original documents and photocopies, and take your witnesses with their identity proof.
Ask for several certified copies of the certificate. You will need them for years.
Do not pay agents who promise a "same day court marriage". The 30-day notice under the Special Marriage Act cannot be skipped.

Questions people ask

Is marriage registration compulsory in India?

In 2006 the Supreme Court directed that marriages of all citizens be registered, and most states have made rules for it. The time limit, the office and the penalty for delay differ by state.

What is a court marriage?

It is the common name for a civil marriage under the Special Marriage Act, 1954, performed by a Marriage Officer without religious rites. It is open to any two people, of the same or different religions.

How long does a court marriage take?

At least 30 days, because the notice of intended marriage must stay posted for 30 days before the marriage can take place.

What is the minimum age for marriage?

On the date this page was checked, the law set 21 years for the groom and 18 years for the bride. Check the current law before you rely on this.