New Zealand - Obtain a Certificate of No Impediment to Marriage / Single Status Certificate

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Procedure

1. Download and fill up the Application for a Certificate of No Impediment to Marriage or Civil Union form (BDM 189)
2. For marriages in some countries, the representative of that country in New Zealand must endorse the Certificate of No Impediment before it is sent to the Births, Deaths and Marriages Offices.

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Required Documents

• Completed application form.
• National identity card or Passport.
• Proof of address.
• If divorced, Decree Absolute.
• If widowed, Death Certificate of previous spouse (and Marriage Certificate).
• If your name has been changed by Deed Poll, proof is necessary.
• The relevant fee.

Office Locations & Contacts

CONI Team

Births, Deaths and Marriages

Department of Internal Affairs

PO Box 10-526

120 Victoria Street

Wellington 6143

New Zealand

Freephone: 0800 22 52 52 (New Zealand only)

Overseas Phone Number: +64 4 463 9362

• you may also contact New Zealand Embassies, High Commissions or Consulates

Email: [email protected]

Fax: +64 4 382 3515 (Write - Attention: CONI Team)

Website

Apostille Certification and Document Authentication
Department of Internal Affairs
Ground Floor, Archives NZ
10 Mulgrave Street
Wellington 6011
PO Box 805
Wellington 6140
Freephone: 0800 872 675 (New Zealand only)
Phone: (+64 4) 931-6998 (from outside New Zealand)

New Zealand Representatives Overseas

Eligibility

Certain overseas countries require a 'Certificate of No Impediment to Marriage' before allowing you to marry. This proves that you are not already legally married or in a civil union in your country of citizenship or residence, and according to New Zealand laws you are eligible to be married.

Fees

The fee to obtain the certificate is in addition to the fee payable in respect of the notice to be married.

The basic fee is NZ$122.60 but the cost may vary depending on the country you intend to get married in.

(Please note that many countries require additional fees)

Validity

Some countries treats the Certificate of No Impediment as valid only for a certain period after it has been issued.

Documents to Use

To apply for a Certificate of No Impediment you will need to fill out the form Application for a Certificate of No Impediment to Marriage or Civil Union form (BDM 189).

Sample Documents

Please attach sample completed documents which would help other people who would like to follow this procedure.    

Processing Time

From the moment the Births, Deaths and Marriages Office has received and processed your application, it may take about 14 days up to four weeks for your certificate to be released.

Related Videos

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Instructions

If the country where you are entering into a marriage requires it, Births, Deaths and Marriages can issue a 'Certificate of No Impediment' showing that a search of the registers has found no lawful impediment to the marriage. There is a fee for this service. Please contact the relevant office with the details of the country in which you will be entering into a marriage for the relevant fee.

To get a Certificate of No Impediment to a marriage you will need to complete the form Notice of Intended Marriage of New Zealand Citizen in Another Country (BDM 189) and send it to Births, Deaths and Marriages with the appropriate fee.

If both parties to the marriage need a Certificate of No Impediment (for example, if both have lived in New Zealand), a separate form must be completed by each party and a separate fee paid.

Required Information

• Full Name
• Passport or ID number
• Place and Date of Birth
• Nationality
• Statement
• Date
• Signature of the person who declares
• Signature of the witnesses

Need for the Document

Marriage is a legal contract binding two people together, granting them rights and obligations. Some overseas countries would require a "Certificate of No Impediment to Marriage" to be submitted before you can proceed with the actual marriage ceremony. This certificate proves that you are not already legally married or in a civil union in your country of citizenship or residence, and by New Zealand Laws you are eligible to be married.

Following are procedures on how to obtain a Certificate of No Impediment to Marriage.

It states that you are currently free from marital ties in New Zealand and names your future spouse. Issued by the BDM central registry office in Wellington after a minimum legal two week stand-down period from receipt of application. It is advisable to get an apostille afixed to this document, even if the French authorities haven't (yet) requested it.

Information which might help

Please also be aware that a standard Single Status Certificate or Certificate of No Impediment may be insufficient on its own to allow a marriage to take place in a foreign country. You may be required by the foreign authorities to comply with the following, so please ensure that you allow sufficient time for processing.

• Certificates may need to be translated.
• Certificates may need to be endorsed or exchanged for a locally acceptable version issued by your Embassy or Consulate in the country where you will marry.
• Certificates may need to be legalized i.e. stamped with an official stamp known as an Apostille.
• Certificates may require that witnesses swear an Affidavit stating that you are free to marry and that this is appended.

Other uses of the Document/Certificate

If you are planning to marry in another country, you may be required to obtain a Certificate of Non-Impediment. This document has many different names such as Declaration of Non-Impediment to Marry, Statutory Declaration of Single Status, Affidavit of Intended Marriage, Statement In-Lieu of Certificate of Non-Impediment to Marriage Abroad, Certificate de Coutume, a Certificate of No Impediment, Certificate of Nulla Osta, Certificate of Freedom to Marry or just free to marry.

It is advisable to follow the guidelines that certain authorities deem necessary. Those wishing to marry overseas will need special documentation. First, couples will have to present a declaration that is processed by your local office where marriage documents are produced. This must be from the state where you live in the New Zealand. On this statement will be recorded the fact that there has not be any marriage in recent years.

Due to the fact that these types of documents are sought for foreign involvement one will need the local or state registrars account or declaration to be authenticated to work abroad.

• Go to the Civil Registry office where marriages are registered.
• Present and submit required documents.
• Complete a form and declare.
• Pay the fee.

External Links

• Department of Internal Affairs - New Zealand:

http://www.dia.govt.nz/diawebsite.nsf/wpg_URL/Services-Births-Deaths-and-Marriages-Getting-a-Certificate-of-No-Impediment-to-Marriage

The Department of Internal Affairs

New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade

New Zealand Representation

Others

The Bride & Groom to be married must provide from their country of Citizenship, individual Certificates of non impediment or Certificate of Single Status/Sworn Affidavit, as proof that they are both indeed single and eligible to marry. This is also called an affidavit of single status or negative statement of marriage. This document can be obtained at the Bureau of Vital statistics in their city they reside.