Senegal - Apply to Get Married

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Procedure

1. Submit an application to be married at the Vital place where the marriage is to be celebrated.
2. Parties to the marriage must appear before the registrar of civil status one month before the supposed wedding date.
3. Fifteen days before the wedding date, marriage banns must be issued by the officer of civil status (unless a prosecutor authorized an exemption for the couple).
4. The presence of the parties to the marriage is required on the wedding day along with their two witnesses, one for each spouse. The witnesses must be able to present a valid identification.
5. Once the spouses have declared their vows, the state registrar will immediately register the marriage and will issue voucher No. 1 of the Marriage Certificate along with two family books.

Note: In case the marriage certificate or the family book was lost or stolen, a copy may be requested from the same civil registry where the marriage record is being kept.

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Required Documents

• A copy of birth certificate not older than 3 months 2 spouses marked "issued to marriage"
• A certified copy of the identity documents of both spouses
• A certified copy of identification witnesses

Note: For those who cannot present their birth certificates, submit an affidavit issued by the county court of the place of birth.

Office Locations & Contacts

National Centre for Civil Registration
Centre national d'tat civil (CNEC)
Department of Planning and Local Government (MATCL)
Dieuppeul Derkl Alles Khalifa Ababacar Sy - Dakar
Phone: 33 869 47 01
Fax: 33 869 47 33

Search for County Courts in Senegal
Treasury Offices

Eligibility

• The bride and groom must be at least: 18 years old for the groom and 16 years old for the bride. The minimum age requirement may be waived by the President of the Regional Court in special cases after conducting an investigation.
• Future spouses must be of different sexes
• Parties to the marriage must personally give their consent even if they are minors.
• The consent of the parent or person having custody of the minor must be obtained before a marriage is solemnized.
• The bride and groom must not be related to the 3rd degree
• A widow or divorced woman can not remarry until the expiration of the waiting period or widowhood
• A previously married man can not contract a new union within the limits of the option he had subscribed

Fees

Couples do not have to pay for anything when they file their application to be married.

Validity

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e.g. Birth Certificate Valid Forever

Documents to Use

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Sample Documents

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Processing Time

The civil registrar will issue Part 1 of the marriage act along with two family books on the same day of the marriage.

Related Videos

Videos explaining the procedure or to fill the applications. 
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sevenload, viddler, vimeo, youku, youtube
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Instructions

Applications for a civil marriage are filed at the main vital statistics centre in either of the spouses place of domicile or residence. Their marriage will be solemnized by a public officer. Once the spouses have declared their vows, the state registrar will immediately register the marriage and will issue voucher No. 1 of the Marriage Certificate along with two family books.

Required Information

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e.g.
1. Date of Birth.
2. City or County of Birth.

Need for the Document

Marriage is a legal contract binding two people together, granting them rights and obligations.

Following are procedures on how to get married in Senegal.

Information which might help

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Other uses of the Document/Certificate

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e.g. Birth Certificate can be used as proof of identity.

External Links

• Senegal Public Service Website:

http://www.servicepublic.gouv.sn/index.php/demarche_administrative/demarche/1/446/4/56

Others

More information which might help people.