Malawi - Apply for a Marriage Certificate

ProcedureEdit

Apply In-Person:

Any person, who desires to marry, shall sign a Notice and send it to the Registrar of Marriages specifying the intention of the parties to marry. Contact link
Interested parties can find the notice here: Notice
Once the notice has been received by the Registrar of Marriages, he or she may issue a Certificate enabling the parties to proceed with lawfully celebrating their marriage.
A notice of the intention to marry is then pinned to the registrar’s office for a specific period.
Note: The purpose of the notice is to enable any person who has a legal objection to the marriage to lodge the objection with the Registrar of Marriages.
After the issuance of a Registrar’s Certificate or a Minister’s special license, the marriage may then be celebrated.
After the celebration, the official officiating the marriage will register the marriage issue a Marriage Certificate.
On the day of the registration, the bride and groom must carry with them the documents mention in the “Required Documents” section of this page for smooth processing of the certificate.
Please refer the “Fees” section of this page for fee details.
The processing time for this procedure is takes up to 21 days.

Required DocumentsEdit

Proof of parent’s consent.
Application form which is completely filled and signed by both husband and wife.
Address proof of current residing address which should be on Bride or Groom’s name.
2 passport-sized photographs.
Identity proof
2 Photos of Bride and Groom in marriage attire, taken during marriage ritual to clearly show they are taking part in the marriage ceremony.
Separate Marriage Affidavits in prescribed format from Husband & Wife.
Proof of Date of Birth of both husband and wife (Documents which serve as a proof of Age preferably 10th class mark sheet with date of birth).
Marriage Invitation Card.
Three witnesses to certify the marriage.
2 affidavits that a couple wishes to marry each other willingly free from threats are required for marriage at a later stage.
Divorce Decree in case of Divorce.
Death Certificate of a spouse, in case of widow/widower.
Notice of intention of marriage.
Proof of nationality.
Proof of payment of fees for marriage certificate.

Office Locations & ContactsEdit

The Registrar General,
P.O. Box 100,
Blantyre, Malawi.
The National Registration Bureau
Office of the President and Cabinet,
Capital Hill Circle, Private Bag 301,
Capital City, Lilongwe 3, Malawi.
Telephone: +2651789311 / +2651789 411
Contacts: Link

EligibilityEdit

Persons intending to marry should be Malawians aged 21 years and above.
Marriages solemnized under any personal law can be registered.
A marriage that has already been solemnized can be registered under the Malawi Marriage act 1903.

FeesEdit

Fees required are 20,000 Malawian Kwacha.

ValidityEdit

A marriage certificate/ license is valid forever unless a divorce is granted.

Documents to UseEdit

Notice: Link

Sample DocumentsEdit

Please attach sample completed documents that would help other people.

Processing TimeEdit

It takes 21 days to process a marriage certificate in Malawi.

InstructionsEdit

Newly wedded couples must register the marriage within three months.
The marriage contract is principally regulated by the Marriage Act.
One of the parties must be ordinarily resident in the district where the marriage is to be celebrated 15 days prior to the issue of the certificate.
Each of the parties must be 21 years of age or older or the parties do not fall within the prohibited degrees of relationship, and the parties are single or if married at custom, they are married to each other.
The intending parties must obtain consent from a parent before a marriage license can be issued.
Celebration of the marriage can be by a minister of religion in a licensed place of worship or in specially authorized premises; or by the Registrar of Marriages.

Required InformationEdit

Name & Address of both spouses.
Date/ place of birth of both spouses.
Contacts.
Nationality Proof.
Signature of bride and bridegroom.
Signature of 3 attesting witnesses who were present at the time of marriage along with their name and address.
Joint photo of bride and bridegroom with signature over such photo.

Need for the DocumentEdit

It is compulsory to register a marriage in Malawi and acquire a marriage certificate.
The Certificate is a proof that the parties have complied with the preliminary requirements of the Act.

Information which might helpEdit

Marriage has to take place within three months after the date of the notice.
If the marriage shall not take place within three months after the date of the notice, the notice and all proceedings consequent thereupon shall be void, and fresh notice must be given before the parties can lawfully marry.
That one of the parties has been resident within his district for at least fifteen days preceding the granting of the certificate.
That each of the parties to the intended marriage (not being a widower or widow) is 21 years old, or that if he or she is under that age, the consent hereinafter made requisite has been obtained in writing and is annexed to such affidavit.
That there is not an impediment of kindred or affinity or any other lawful hindrance to the marriage.
That neither of the parties to the intended marriage is married by customary law to any person other than the person with whom such marriage is proposed to be contracted.

External LinksEdit

More About Malawi Marriage act 1903: Link

OthersEdit

More information which might help people.