European marrying indian in India

[alinna]

Hello,

Due to some problems with my fiance's visa we are thinking we might need to travel to India to get married.
His visa has expired and the COA is still under process, so this might be the only option since we don't want to spend time away from each other. (i already got an indian tourist visa)

Can someone please help us with some advice regarding the documents i require to register our marriage in India? (i'm an EU).

We are confused.. please help.
Thank you.

[cheshiregoan]

All marriages involving a foreigner in India fall under the Special Marriages Act 1954. This means that you’ll have to apply to the marriage registration office in your local area to get married.

The process under the Act is as follows:

At least 30 days, but no more than three months, before you intend to get married you’ll need to go to the marriage registration office in your area and submit a Notice of Intention to get married.

There’s a 30 day residency requirement, which means that either the bride or the groom has to be living in the locality for at least 30 days prior to submitting the Notice of Intention. This is usually evidenced by address on passport or ration card. Otherwise, a certificate needs to be obtained from the local police station.

At the registry office, along with the above, you’ll need to submit certified copies (by a notary public) of passports and birth certificates, and two passport sized photographs each.

In addition, evidence of eligibility to be married is usually required for foreigners. Anyone who hasn’t been married before should obtain a single status affidavit (in the US), a Certificate of No Impediment (in the UK), or Certificate of No Record (in Australia). If you’re divorced, you’ll need to produce the Decree Absolute, or if you’re widowed, a copy of the death certificate.

If no objections to the marriage are received within 30 days of the Notice of Intention being submitted, a civil ceremony at the registry office can then take place. This is called solemnizing the marriage. Three witnesses are required. They have to provide passport sized photographs, as well as identification and proof of address.

The marriage certificate is usually issued a couple of weeks after the wedding.

[alinna]

At the registry office, along with the above, you’ll need to submit certified copies (by a notary public) of passports and birth certificates, and two passport sized photographs each.

In addition, evidence of eligibility to be married is usually required for foreigners. Anyone who hasn’t been married before should obtain a single status affidavit (in the US), a Certificate of No Impediment (in the UK), or Certificate of No Record (in Australia).
The marriage certificate is usually issued a couple of weeks after the wedding.

Thank you so much for your reply.. I hope you wont mind if i ask you this as well:

The copies of my documents should be certified in India? And will an indian notary public certify my birth certificate if it is not translated in english? Assuming it will be difficult to translate it in India, if i do it here, will it be valid if it has a Uk stamp on it?

I live in the UK but i am not a UK citizen. Therefore, can i get the Certificate of No Impediment from the UK registrar office or i have to get it from my home country or embassy?

And also very important... if i travel to India on a tourist visa, will i be able to marry?

I'm really sorry but i am confused. I hope i am not causing too much trouble.
Thank you.

[cheshiregoan]

Thank you so much for your reply.. I hope you wont mind if i ask you this as well:

The copies of my documents should be certified in India? And will an indian notary public certify my birth certificate if it is not translated in english? Assuming it will be difficult to translate it in India, if i do it here, will it be valid if it has a Uk stamp on it?

I live in the UK but i am not a UK citizen. Therefore, can i get the Certificate of No Impediment from the UK registrar office or i have to get it from my home country or embassy?

And also very important... if i travel to India on a tourist visa, will i be able to marry?

I'm really sorry but i am confused. I hope i am not causing too much trouble.
Thank you.

I am not certain about marriage on tourist visa. I would advise you contact the Indian High Commission and confirm this.

Please get all your documents translated into English as it will be near impossible to get an Indian notary public to attest documents that are not in English or any Indian language.

As for the Certificate of No Impediment, please contact your country's embassy in the UK. They should be able to help.

[alinna]

Thank you a lot for all your help.

Now i have some ideas from where to start.
Thank you again.

All the best!