South African Wedding: Required Documents and Procedures

Published on September 30, 2025 and written by Cyril Jarnias

Embarking on the sacred union of marriage is a journey filled with joy, but also with administrative formalities that must be carefully navigated.

In South Africa, a country rich in cultural and legal diversity, understanding the necessary procedures to formalize your commitment is crucial to avoid last-minute surprises.

From obtaining the certificate of custom to preparing essential official documents, and through mandatory appointments with local authorities, each step requires meticulous attention.

This article will guide you through the maze of procedures, ensuring your wedding day is dedicated solely to love rather than administrative worries, while making sure every rule—sometimes little-known—is legally respected.

Detailed Administrative Procedures for Getting Married in South Africa

Administrative Marriage Procedure in South Africa

Main steps for a civil marriage ceremony:

1. Document Preparation

• ID or passport (for each future spouse)
• Full birth certificate
• Proof of residence
• Certificate of non-impediment (for foreigners, see details below)
• Divorce certificate or death certificate if applicable
• Parental consent for minors

2. Obtaining a Marriage License

• File the application at the South African Department of Home Affairs in the province where the marriage will take place
• Complete the official form provided on-site
• Mandatory presence of both future spouses during filing

3. Verification and Publication

• Verification by the civil status officer of documents and marital status (single, divorced…)
• Sometimes publication of banns depending on the province

4. Ceremony and Registration

• Marriage celebrated before a sworn marriage officer accredited by the Department of Home Affairs or a recognized religious authority
• Immediate signing and issuance of a provisional certificate, then transmission to the national registry for final registration

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Required Documents – Details

Document	South African National	Foreign National	Specifics
ID/Passport	Yes	Yes	Valid passport + visa if needed
Birth Certificate	Yes	Yes	Bilingual full version
Proof of Marital Status	No	Yes (*certificate of non-impediment*)	Obtain from national/consular authorities
Residence Proof	Often	Often
Parental Consent	If minor	If minor	Required for under 18

Certificate of Non-Impediment

• Issued by consular or national authorities of the home country
• Generally valid for 3 months
• Mandatory: without this certificate, no marriage is permitted

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Filing & Timeframes

All documents must be physically filed at the competent local Home Affairs office before the scheduled date.

Timeframes vary:

• For obtaining South African certificate: minimum 14 weeks, sometimes longer outside South Africa
• For foreign national processing: allow several weeks/months depending on foreign administration speed

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Indicative Administrative Costs

• Minimal fees for local administrative filing
• Necessary formalities for a marriage in South Africa

Detailed List of Required Documents to Get Married in South Africa

• Valid passports of both future spouses
• Birth certificates (originals or full copies, in English or Afrikaans, otherwise official translation required)
• Certificate of matrimonial capacity (proving marriage is legally possible in home country)
• Certificate of custom (specifies legislation applicable to marriage according to foreign national’s nationality)
• Divorce certificate (if either spouse was previously married)
• Death certificate (if either spouse is widowed)
• Affidavit attesting to single status
• Letter of inquiry to marriage registry (to certify no previous marriage was registered)
• Sometimes, medical or blood test results
• Parental consent (if either spouse is under 18)

Procedures for Marriage Registration with Local Authorities

• Civil marriage must be performed by an authorized officiant (usually at Department of Home Affairs or by authorized officer)
• After ceremony, marriage is registered with Department of Home Affairs
• A South African marriage certificate is then issued

Publication of Marriage Banns

• For French nationals: banns publication is mandatory and done at the town hall of residence in France or at the competent French consulate abroad
• For South African authorities, banns publication is not systematically required, unless either spouse is a minor or depending on home country legislation

Required Timeframes

• Timeframe for obtaining South African documents (birth certificate, certificate of matrimonial capacity): at least 14 weeks
• Banns publication for French nationals: minimum 10 days before wedding date
• Variable timeframes for certificate issuance, depending on relevant administrations

Associated Costs

Type of Fee	Indicative Amount
Marriage application (Home Affairs)	Variable (approximately $20-30)
Official document translation	Depending on provider
Document authentication/legalization	Depending on consulate
Civil ceremony (Home Affairs)	Free or minimal fees
Religious ceremony	Depending on officiant

Legal Formalities for Foreigners

• All foreign documents must be officially translated and, if needed, legalized or apostilled
• Physical presence of both future spouses is mandatory during filing and ceremony
• In case of religious marriage, it must be preceded or followed by a civil marriage recognized by Department of Home Affairs to be legal in South Africa

Differences Between Civil and Religious Marriages

Civil Marriage	Religious Marriage
Performed by Home Affairs officiant	Performed by religious minister
Mandatory for legal recognition	Must be followed by civil marriage
Marriage certificate issued by state	Religious certificate without legal value

Useful Contacts

• Department of Home Affairs (South Africa): for South African procedure and marriage registration
• Embassy/Consulate of your home country (e.g., French Embassy in Pretoria, French Consulate in Johannesburg): for banns publication, marriage transcription, and personalized advice
• South African consular services in France (for remote procedures or dossier preparation)

Required Documents for Expatriates Getting Married in South Africa

To get married in South Africa as an expatriate, it is necessary to gather several official documents and proofs. Here are the required pieces, how to obtain them, and specific requirements of South African authorities:

Mandatory Identity Documents:

• Valid passport
• Full birth certificate, written or translated into English or Afrikaans
• Proof of nationality (national ID card or passport)
• Proof of address or residence

Additional Required Documents:

• Certificate of non-impediment to marriage (also called certificate of matrimonial capacity)
• Sworn affidavit attesting to single status, if required by local authorities
• Certificate of custom (for certain nationals according to foreign legislation)

Certified Translations and Certified Copies:

All documents written in languages other than English or Afrikaans must be accompanied by a certified translation.

Certified true copies of originals are required for each submitted document.

Apostille and Authentication:

Document Type	Place/Method of Apostille	Required Steps
Documents issued in home country	Apostille by competent ministry then consular legalization	Request from ministry of foreign affairs then at South African consulate
Documents issued in South Africa	Local legalization by Department of Home Affairs	Direct request on-site

Procedures to Obtain Documents:

From Home Country:

• Request full birth certificate from local administrations.
  • Allow for official translation if necessary.
  • Have document apostilled/legalized via competent ministry, then possibly at South African consulate.

In South Africa:

• Some administrative procedures can be completed at Department of Home Affairs, particularly requesting or locally certifying official documents.
  • Sworn affidavit can be made before a local notary.

Additional Possible Checks by South African Authorities:

• Preliminary hearing of future spouses
• Additional verification of civil status (previous divorce, widowhood)
• Mandatory banns publication for certain nationals
• Possible requirement for embassy interview

Average Timeframes to Anticipate:

Type of Procedure	Indicative Timeframe
Obtaining full certificate + translation	Minimum 14 weeks
Apostille/legalization	From few days to several weeks depending on country
Banns publication	Approximately three weeks

Timeframes can vary significantly depending on period and location. It is recommended to initiate all these procedures as soon as possible to avoid any delays in wedding celebration.

Additional Points:

• Original documents must often be accompanied by their certified true copies during filing.
• Expatriates are encouraged to contact their embassy directly as well as the South African embassy to verify any recent regulatory changes before finalizing the dossier.