The Department of Home Affairs is responsible for the registration and safekeeping of all records of marriages. Three laws currentl govern the registration of marriages in South Africa.

These are:

• The Marriage Act, 1961 (Act No. 25 of 1961), which commenced on 1 January 1962 (union of one man and one woman)
• The Recognition of Customary Marriages Act,1998 (Act No. 120 of 1998), which commenced on 15 November 2000 (a marriage concluded in accordance with customary law, and the customs and usages traditionally observed among the indigenous African people of SouthAfrica and which form part of their culture)
• The Civil Union Act, 2006 (Act No.17 of 2006) which commenced on 30 November 2006. Civil Union means the voluntary union of two persons (irrespective of gender) who are both 18 years of age or older, which is solemnised and registered by way of either a marriage or a civil partnership. Civil Unions may be solemnised by either religious marriage officers, ex offıcio marriage officers, employees in the public service or the diplomatic or consular service of the RSA who are designated marriage officers by virtue of their office.

Important information to note:

In South Africa, the definition of a Customary Marriage is one that is “negotiated and entered into or celebrated” according to any of the customs and practices of indigenous African customary law, which exist in South Africa. This does not include marriages concluded in accordance with Hindu, Muslim or other religious rites.

As of 6 January 2022, the Department commenced with the registration of Muslim marriages (Nikah) and is now issuing marriage certificates that reflect these as Muslim marriages.

In respect of Civil Marriages, the Department commenced with the issuance of unabridged marriage certificates on the spot in all offices as of 31 March 2025.

In the case where the persons intending to get married seek an ante-nuptial contract, the persons should first register their ante-nuptial contract with the Deeds Office (Deeds Registries Act: 47 of 1937) before approaching Home Affairs for solemnisation of the marriage.

Before solemnisation of marriages can take place, persons intending to get married should visit their nearest Home Affairs office to obtain a verification of status on the National Population Register(NPR).

Only South African citizens are allowed to marry in a foreign country at the Republic of South Africa’s missions.

Bigamous marriages and relationships by blood or affinity are prohibited in the case of civil marriages.

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Requirements for a Civil Marriage

On the day of the marriage, persons intending to get married, must present the following documents to the designated marriage officer officiating/solemnising the marriage:

Please note: The forms mentioned below are provided at Home Affairs offices, unless otherwise specified.

Required Documents:

• Identity documents (for each person getting married);
• Identity documents/passport if the witness(es) are foreign nationals;
• If a foreign national is marrying a South African citizen, the following are required: a valid passport, a letter of no impediment and a completed Declaration of Marriage (Form DHA 31 – obtainable at a Home Affairs office) and Immigration Report;
• If any of the persons getting married are divorced, a final decree of divorce should be furnished;
• If widowed, the deceased spouse’s death certificate must be submitted;
• Minors (below 18 years old) must obtain consent from the parent(s)/guardian(s);
• When consent of a parent(s)/ guardian(s) cannot be obtained, the Commissioner of Welfare (Children’s Act 38 of 2005) or the Minister of Home Affairs or a Judge of the High Court can be approached before they get married. 

Requirements to become a Marriage Officer

• The controlling body of the religious denomination/organisation must apply on behalf of the Nominated Persons in writing to be designated as Marriage Officers by the Minister of Home Affairs;
• Applications must be submitted to the nearest Home Affairs office in writing via the designated religious denomination/organisation for solemnising marriages by the Civil Marriages and Civil Union Acts respectively, and also stipulating the rites of that religion;
• Every designation of a person as a Marriage Officer under section 5 subsection (4) shall be by an appointment or designation letter.

Requirements for the application as a designated marriage officer (where the church has been approved on the DHA database for marriage officers)

• Full names and surname;
• Copy of Identity document;
• Physical and postal address;
• Contact telephone number.
• The nearest Home Affairs office (where the marriage officers submit registers).

Requirements with regard to the religious denomination/organisation (where the church is not approved on the DHA database)

• A signed copy of the religious denomination/organisation’s constitution (Preferably in English);
• Full names and contact details including the address of the chairperson of that denomination/organisation;
• Full names, contact details including the address of the executive officer (e.g. Secretary/Registrar) who will be responsible for the correspondence.

Officiating/Solemnising a marriage

Only designated Marriage Officers authorised by a religious denomination/organisation and/or appointed by the Department of Home Affairs can solemnise a marriage.

Two competent witnesses and the Marriage Officer must sign the marriage register after the solemnisation of a marriage.

Marriage Certificates

The Marriage Officer issues the parties with a handwritten marriage certificate(DHA 27) free of charge.

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Requirements for a Customary Marriage

The Recognition of the Customary Marriages Act (No 120 of 1998) became effective on 15 November 2000.

If entered into after 15 November 2000, it must comply with the following requirements:

• The marriage must be negotiated and entered into or celebrated by customary law
• The prospective persons intending to marry must be above the age of 18 years
• Both prospective persons intending to marry must consent to the marriage
• No further Customary Marriages may be entered into unless the prospective husband obtains a court order to approve a written contract regulating the future matrimonial property system of these marriages.

Registering a Customary Marriage

Customary Marriages must be registered within three months from the date of marriage. This can be done at any office of the Department of Home Affairs.

The following people should present themselves at a Home Affairs office to register a Customary Marriage:

• Two persons/spouses intending to marry (with copies of their valid IDs and a lobola agreement);
• If one spouse is deceased, the surviving spouse can register at Home Affairs;
  • At least one witness from the bride’s family
  • At least one witness from the groom’s family and/or the representative of each of the families
• Minors (below 18 years old) must obtain consent from their parent(s)/guardian(s). When consent of a parent(s)/guardian(s) cannot be obtained, the Commissioner of Welfare (Children’s Act 38 of 2005) or the Minister of Home Affairs or a Judge of the High Court can be approached before they get married;
• Both spouses must submit their valid IDs along with copies to the Registering Officer for verification against the National Population Register;
• Two representatives, one from each family, must have certified copies of their IDs and a sworn declaration (affidavit) from the South African Police Service (SAPS) confirming the details of the marriage celebration and their attendance;
• An application for Customary Marriage (DHA 1699 – obtainable at a Home Affairs office) has to be completed at a Home Affairs office.

Registering more than one Customary Marriage

If a husband is already in a Customary Marriage and wishes to enter into another Customary Marriage, he must, at his own cost, obtain a court order from a competent court that will regulate his future matrimonial property system.

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Civil unions may be conducted by:

• Designated marriage officers for specific religious denominations or organisations
• Designated officers employed by the Department of Home Affairs and the Magistrates’ Courts
• At least two competent witnesses must be present at the ceremony.

Requirements for registering a Civil Union/Partnership:

• Both persons must be 18 years or older to enter into a Civil Union/Partnership
• Both persons may not be already married in terms of any other Act 

Required documents to conclude a Civil Union/Partnership:

• A valid South African ID for both persons entering into the Civil Union/Partnership
• A valid passport if one of the partners is a foreign national;
• If a foreign national is marrying a South African citizen, the following are required: a valid passport, a letter of no impediment and a completed Declaration of Marriage (Form DHA 63 - obtainable at a Home Affairs office) and an Immigration Report;
• If any of the persons getting married are divorced, a final decree of divorce should be furnished;
• If widowed, the deceased spouse’s death certificate must be submitted;
• Minors (below 18 years old) must have consent from the parent(s)/ guardian(s)
• When consent of a parent (s) / guardian(s) cannot be obtained, the Commissioner of Welfare (Children’s Act 38 of 2005) or the Minister of Home Affairs or a Judge of the High Court can be approached before they get married;
• If any of the required documentation cannot be produced, an affidavit is required to confirm that documents cannot be made available for concluding the Civil Union/Partnership.

Updating a Marital Status following a Divorce

Following the dissolution of a marriage through the courts (Department of Constitutional and Justice), the marital status needs to be updated at Home Affairs.

Required Documents:

• Submit the final decree of divorce and a valid ID to a Home Affairs office for updating of the National Population Register
• Foreign divorce orders must be translated and apostilled
• Inform the official at Home Affairs should you wish to revert to your maiden name

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