In short. In Delhi, apply online on the e-District portal, upload identity, age and address proof with notarised affidavits, and appear at the Marriage Officer's office on the appointment date with your witnesses. A Hindu Marriage Act registration needs two witnesses and must be done within 60 days of the wedding. A Special Marriage Act marriage needs 30 days' notice and three witnesses.
Registration feels like paperwork, and for most couples it is. But the certificate is the document that every later step depends on: a passport in a married name, a spouse visa, a bank nomination, an insurance claim, and, if the marriage breaks down, the first exhibit in a maintenance or divorce case. Getting it right once saves a great deal of trouble later.
This post covers registration and civil marriage in Delhi. For what happens when a marriage runs into legal trouble, see our page on family and divorce law. If you want an advocate to check your papers or to accompany you through a Special Marriage Act notice, our online enquiry form is the quickest way to reach us.
- Compulsory
- Yes, for marriages solemnised in Delhi: Delhi Compulsory Registration of Marriage Order 2014
- Time limit
- 60 days from the final ceremony; a further 60 days with a late fee
- Where
- Marriage Officer (SDM office) of the district; apply on Delhi's e-District portal
- Witnesses
- Two under the Hindu Marriage Act; three under the Special Marriage Act
- Special Marriage Act notice
- 30 days' notice, after one partner has lived in the district for 30 days
- Minimum age
- Groom 21, bride 18
Is marriage registration compulsory in Delhi?
Yes. After the Supreme Court in Seema v Ashwani Kumar (2006) directed states to make registration of marriages compulsory, the Delhi Government issued the Delhi Compulsory Registration of Marriage Order 2014. It applies to every marriage solemnised in Delhi, whatever the religion of the parties, where the groom is at least 21, the bride at least 18 and at least one of them is an Indian citizen. Marriages already registered under another law do not need to be registered again.
The Order requires the couple to apply jointly within 60 days of the final ceremony, not counting the day of the ceremony. The Marriage Officer can condone a further delay of up to 60 days on payment of an additional fee, and a couple who fails to register within the time allowed can be made to pay a penalty, which the ADM or DM can waive for reasonable cause. In practice, couples who register late are not turned away; they pay the late fee or penalty and register.
Registration does not make a marriage valid, and failing to register does not make it invalid. The Order itself says so, and section 8(5) of the Hindu Marriage Act says the validity of a Hindu marriage is not affected by an omission to register it. A marriage that is void because one partner already had a living spouse stays void even if it is registered. What the certificate does is prove the marriage cheaply and reliably, which is why you want it.
Hindu Marriage Act or Special Marriage Act: which applies to you?
The Hindu Marriage Act applies where both partners are Hindu, Sikh, Jain or Buddhist and the marriage has been solemnised by the customary rites of either of them, such as saptapadi or Anand Karaj. Registration under that Act records a marriage that has already taken place. You hold the wedding, then you register it.
The Special Marriage Act is a civil marriage law open to anyone, whatever their religion. It is the usual route for couples of different faiths who do not wish to convert, and for couples of the same faith who prefer a civil ceremony. Under it, the Marriage Officer solemnises the marriage after a 30-day notice period, so the certificate and the marriage come into existence together. This is what people mean by a 'court marriage' in Delhi, though it happens at the Marriage Officer's office rather than in a court.
The choice has consequences beyond the ceremony. A marriage under the Special Marriage Act is governed by that Act for divorce and related remedies. Where a Hindu, Sikh, Jain or Buddhist marries someone outside those faiths under the Special Marriage Act, section 19 treats the marriage as severing that person from his or her undivided family, and section 21 applies the Indian Succession Act to succession; section 21A switches off both rules where both partners belong to those four faiths. If family property matters to you, take advice before choosing.
Hindu Marriage Act and Special Marriage Act registration compared
| Point | Hindu Marriage Act | Special Marriage Act |
|---|---|---|
| Who can use it | Hindus, Sikhs, Jains and Buddhists | Anyone, of any religion or none |
| Ceremony | Religious rites, before registration | Before the Marriage Officer, or an earlier marriage registered under section 15 |
| Advance notice | None | 30 days' notice under section 5, displayed for objections |
| Residence condition | Marriage solemnised in Delhi, for the 2014 Order | One partner resident in the district for 30 days before the notice |
| Witnesses | Two, with proof of Delhi residence | Three, with proof of Delhi residence |
| Time to certificate | Often the appointment day | At least 30 days after the notice |
| Divorce and remedies | Hindu Marriage Act | Special Marriage Act |
| Effect on family property | No change | Severance and Indian Succession Act in interfaith cases, sections 19 and 21 |
Who can register a marriage? The conditions that must be met
Both laws require that neither partner has a living spouse at the time of the marriage, that both are capable of giving valid consent and are not suffering from a mental disorder that makes them unfit for marriage, and that the groom is at least 21 and the bride at least 18. Both also bar marriages within the degrees of prohibited relationship. The Hindu Marriage Act adds a bar on marriages between sapindas, a defined set of close relatives through common ancestors, unless a custom governing both partners allows it.
If a partner has been married before, the earlier marriage must have ended by a final divorce decree or by the death of the spouse. A divorce decree is final only when the appeal period has passed without an appeal, or the appeal has been decided. Remarrying before that is a common and avoidable mistake, and the Marriage Officer will ask for the decree.
A marriage where the bride was under 18 or the groom under 21 cannot be registered under the 2014 Order. Under the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act 2006, such a marriage is voidable at the option of the partner who was a child, and in some circumstances void. If the partners have reached the required age since, take legal advice before trying to register, because the registration application asks for dates of birth on affidavit.
How to register a Hindu marriage in Delhi, step by step
The process is mostly online, with one personal appearance. This is how it usually runs.
Create an account on the e-District portal
Delhi's marriage registration service runs on the e-District portal of the Delhi Government. One partner registers, fills in the application under the Hindu Marriage Act, and enters details of both partners and the witnesses exactly as they appear in the identity documents.
Prepare and notarise the affidavits
Each partner signs an affidavit in the prescribed format on non-judicial e-stamp paper, covering date and place of marriage, date of birth, marital status at the time of marriage, nationality and the absence of a prohibited relationship. The affidavits are notarised and scanned.
Upload the documents
Upload identity, age and address proof for both partners, address proof for the witnesses, the certificate from the priest or place of marriage if available, the wedding invitation and photographs as the portal asks, and the affidavits.
Pay the fee and book an appointment
Pay the government fee online and choose an appointment date at the Marriage Officer's office. A tatkal option for an earlier date has been available for an additional fee. The original affidavits are delivered to the office as the portal instructs.
Appear together with two witnesses
On the appointment date both partners and two witnesses go to the SDM office with all originals. The Marriage Officer verifies the documents, may ask a few questions, and both partners and the witnesses sign the register.
Collect or download the certificate
Once approved, the certificate is issued, usually digitally signed and downloadable from the portal. Check every spelling and date before you leave, because corrections later take another application.
The affidavit format changes from time to time. Ask us for the current format, or see our page on legal forms and formats, rather than relying on an old copy from a typist outside the office.
Documents needed for marriage registration in Delhi
Carry originals and one set of self-attested copies. Names and dates must match across every document.
For both partners
- Identity proof such as Aadhaar, passport or voter ID
- Proof of date of birth, such as a birth certificate, Class 10 certificate or passport
- Address proof before and after marriage
- Passport-size photographs as specified on the portal
- Notarised affidavit in the prescribed format
Proof of the wedding
- Certificate from the priest, temple, gurdwara or Arya Samaj, if issued
- Wedding invitation card
- Photographs of the ceremony, as the portal requires
- Under the Special Marriage Act, the notice and declarations instead
Witnesses
- Identity proof
- Proof of permanent residence in Delhi
- Their presence in person on the appointment day
Special cases
- Divorced partner: final divorce decree
- Widowed partner: death certificate of the former spouse
- Foreign national: passport, valid visa and embassy certificate of marital status and nationality
- Name changed: gazette notification or other proof linking both names
How does a court marriage under the Special Marriage Act work in Delhi?
It starts with a notice. Under section 5, the couple gives written notice of the intended marriage to the Marriage Officer of the district where at least one of them has lived for at least 30 days immediately before the notice. In Delhi the Marriage Officers sit in the district revenue offices, and the notice can be given through the e-District system or at the office. Each partner also files proof of age, address and marital status.
Under section 6, the Marriage Officer enters the notice in the Marriage Notice Book and displays a copy at a conspicuous place in the office. If either partner permanently lives in another district, a copy is sent to the Marriage Officer there to be displayed as well. The Act does not require notice to be sent to the couple's parents. Any person may object within 30 days under section 7, but only on the ground that the marriage would break one of the conditions in section 4, such as an existing spouse, lack of capacity, age or prohibited relationship. An objection that the families disapprove, or that the partners are of different religions, is not a ground at all.
If there is an objection, the Marriage Officer must inquire into it within 30 days under section 8, and cannot solemnise the marriage until it is decided; an appeal lies to the district court. If there is no objection, or once it is rejected, the marriage can be solemnised after the 30 days. Both partners and three witnesses sign the declaration in the form set out in the Act, and the partners say to each other, in a language they understand, words to the effect of 'I take thee to be my lawful wife' or husband. The Marriage Officer then enters the certificate in the Marriage Certificate Book under section 13.
The marriage must be solemnised within three calendar months of the notice, or the notice lapses and a fresh one is needed. Couples who plan a religious ceremony as well sometimes give notice, hold the family wedding, and then complete the civil marriage within that window.
Can we register a marriage that took place earlier or outside Delhi?
Yes, in most cases. If you married in Delhi and simply did not register within 60 days, apply in the same way; the Marriage Officer can condone a delay of up to a further 60 days on a late fee, and beyond that the penalty under the 2014 Order applies. Registration years after the wedding is common, usually prompted by a visa or passport application. Expect closer questions about the ceremony and more proof that it took place.
Section 15 of the Special Marriage Act offers another route. A couple who married in any other form, religious or customary, can have the marriage registered under that Act if they have lived together as husband and wife since the ceremony, neither has another living spouse, both are capable of valid consent, both are at least 21 at the time of registration, they are not within prohibited degrees, and they have lived in the Marriage Officer's district for at least 30 days before applying. A 30-day public notice inviting objections follows under section 16, and once registered, the marriage is treated as one under the Special Marriage Act from then on.
If the wedding took place in another state, the simplest route is usually to register where it took place, under that state's rules. Delhi's 2014 Order and the e-District Hindu Marriage Act service are designed around marriages solemnised in Delhi. Couples who have lived in Delhi for some time can consider section 15 of the Special Marriage Act, keeping in mind the effect on succession described above for interfaith couples. Ask the Marriage Officer's office before applying, because local practice on residence-based registration varies.
Interfaith marriage in Delhi: notice, objections and safety
An interfaith couple does not need to convert to marry in Delhi. The Special Marriage Act is designed for exactly this, and each partner keeps his or her religion. The 30-day notice is the part couples worry about, because it is displayed publicly. The display is in the Marriage Officer's office, not in the newspaper, and the Act does not provide for it to be sent to the families. Objections are limited to the legal conditions, and the Marriage Officer has no power to refuse a marriage because relatives object.
If you face threats from family or others, act early. You can make a complaint to the SHO of the area and, if needed, approach the Delhi High Court for protection; the courts regularly direct police protection for adult couples who have chosen to marry. Keep copies of your notice, identity documents and any threatening messages. Couples in Ghaziabad or Noida should know that a marriage involving conversion in Uttar Pradesh is subject to the state's anti-conversion law, which requires advance declarations before the District Magistrate; the Special Marriage Act route avoids conversion altogether.
Converting so as to marry under a different personal law is a separate and more delicate step. A conversion that is not genuine, made only to get around a bar such as an existing spouse, can be challenged later, and it does not protect a second marriage from being void. That is a matter for proper advice before anything is signed.
Are Arya Samaj, temple and gurdwara certificates enough?
No. A certificate from an Arya Samaj mandir, a temple or a gurdwara is evidence that a ceremony took place. It is not a registration certificate, and passport offices, embassies and banks usually want the one issued by the Marriage Officer. Arya Samaj marriages are valid under the Hindu Marriage Act read with the Arya Marriage Validation Act 1937 if the ceremonies were actually performed, and the couple should then register at the SDM office in the usual way.
Courts have, in a number of cases, refused to rely on certificates issued by marriage bureaus or societies that solemnised marriages without checking age, consent or the presence of family, particularly where the couple had run away. If your marriage took place in such a setting, register it promptly, with proper proof of age and the presence of witnesses who can confirm the ceremony. When Advocate B.K. Singh looks at a contested marriage in a maintenance or annulment case, the first question is whether a ceremony can be proved by witnesses and photographs, because a bare certificate from a society often carries less weight than people expect.
NRI and foreign national partners
The 2014 Order applies where at least one partner is an Indian citizen. If the other is a foreign national, the Marriage Officer will ask for a passport with a valid visa, and a certificate from the embassy or consulate on marital status and nationality, sometimes called a no-impediment certificate. Under the Special Marriage Act, the 30-day residence condition must be met by one partner, which in practice means the Indian partner in most cases, since a visitor on a short visa may struggle to show residence.
If the certificate will be used abroad, for a spouse visa or registration in another country, it usually needs an apostille from the Ministry of External Affairs after attestation by the Delhi Government. Indians marrying outside India can marry under the Foreign Marriage Act 1969 before an Indian diplomatic officer. For what happens if an NRI marriage later breaks down, see our post on NRI divorce and recognition of foreign decrees.
A made-up example: the certificate needed for a visa
Here is a made-up example. Karan and Simran married by Anand Karaj at a gurdwara in Rajouri Garden in February 2026. They did not register. In September, Karan received a job offer abroad, and the visa application for Simran asked for a marriage certificate issued by a government authority.
They applied on the e-District portal under the Hindu Marriage Act, more than 120 days after the wedding. Because the 60-day period and the further 60-day condonation window had both passed, the Marriage Officer registered the marriage on payment of the penalty under the 2014 Order. The gurdwara's certificate, the invitation card and photographs proved the ceremony. One problem surfaced: Simran's Class 10 certificate spelt her surname differently from her passport, so she had to file an affidavit explaining the two spellings, and the certificate was issued in her passport name.
They then had the certificate attested and apostilled for use abroad. The whole process took a few weeks, most of it spent on the apostille. Had they registered within 60 days, with documents that matched, it would have taken one visit.
What mistakes hold up marriage registration?
Mismatched names and dates cause most delays. A surname spelt one way on Aadhaar and another on a school certificate, or a date of birth that differs between documents, will stop the application until it is explained on affidavit. Check every document before you start and make the application match your passport if you have one.
Witnesses are the second problem. The 2014 Order requires witnesses who can prove permanent residence in Delhi, and couples often bring a cousin from Noida or Gurugram who cannot. Bring witnesses with Delhi address proof, and under the Special Marriage Act bring three, not two. A third common mistake is applying while a divorce from an earlier marriage is still within the appeal period, or relying on a foreign divorce that needs to be checked for recognition in India.
Finally, people use old affidavit formats, sign in different styles, or send only one partner to the appointment. Both partners must appear in person. A point Advocate B.K. Singh often makes to couples is that ten minutes spent laying out the documents side by side at home saves a second trip to the SDM office.
Before your appointment at the SDM office
- Names, dates of birth and addresses match across all documents, or an explanatory affidavit is ready.
- Both affidavits are in the current format, on e-stamp paper and notarised.
- Originals and self-attested copies are in one folder for each partner.
- Two witnesses (three for the Special Marriage Act) have identity proof and proof of permanent residence in Delhi.
- The priest's or gurdwara's certificate, invitation card and photographs are with you.
- If either partner was married before, the final divorce decree or death certificate is ready.
- For a foreign national, the passport, visa and embassy certificate are ready.
- The appointment slip and fee receipt are printed.
- Both partners have taken the day off; the appointment can take several hours.
Correcting, copying and using the marriage certificate
Errors in a certificate are corrected by an application to the Marriage Officer who issued it, with proof of the correct details. Small spelling corrections are usually straightforward; changes to dates or to the identity of a party need stronger proof. Certified copies can be obtained from the same office or downloaded where the certificate was issued digitally.
The certificate is used to change a surname in a passport and other records, to add a spouse as nominee in bank accounts, insurance policies and provident fund, to claim spouse benefits from an employer, and to apply for a spouse visa. Keep the original safe and use attested copies wherever possible.
Why registration matters if the marriage later breaks down
In matrimonial disputes, the existence of the marriage is sometimes the first thing denied. A husband facing a maintenance claim may say there was never a valid marriage; a wife seeking to annul a marriage may need to show exactly when and how it was solemnised. A registration certificate, with the affidavits and witnesses behind it, settles that question at the outset and lets the case move to the real issues.
It does not settle everything. A registered marriage can still be void, for example where one partner already had a living spouse, and our post on void and voidable marriages explains how courts deal with that. Registration also matters for remedies such as maintenance under section 144 BNSS and restitution of conjugal rights, where the marriage has to be proved before anything else is decided.
Registration in Ghaziabad and Noida, and getting help
If you live in Ghaziabad or Noida and married in Uttar Pradesh, registration is done under Uttar Pradesh's own marriage registration rules, through the state's online registration system and the local sub-registrar office, not through the Delhi portal. The documents are broadly similar, but the forms, fees and appointment process differ, so check the current UP procedure rather than following Delhi's.
Most couples can register without a lawyer. Advice is worth having where a partner has been married before, where one is a foreign national, where an interfaith couple faces objections or threats, or where the registration is needed for a pending case. If you want your papers checked before you apply, or need help with a Special Marriage Act notice, the team of Advocate B.K. Singh, with Advocate Sadhna Singh handling most family documentation, can look at them and tell you what is missing.
Frequently asked questions
Is marriage registration compulsory in Delhi?
Yes. The Delhi Compulsory Registration of Marriage Order 2014 requires every marriage solemnised in Delhi to be registered within 60 days of the final ceremony, whatever the religion of the couple. Late registration is allowed with a late fee or penalty.
How many witnesses are needed for marriage registration in Delhi?
Two witnesses for registration under the Hindu Marriage Act and the 2014 Order, and three for a marriage under the Special Marriage Act. The witnesses must carry identity proof and proof of permanent residence in Delhi and must appear in person.
How long does a court marriage take in Delhi?
A Special Marriage Act marriage takes at least 30 days from the date of notice, because the notice must be displayed for 30 days for objections. If no objection is filed, the marriage can be solemnised after that, and it must happen within three months of the notice.
Can we register our marriage online in Delhi?
The application, document upload, fee and appointment are done online through the Delhi Government's e-District portal. Both partners and the witnesses still have to appear in person at the Marriage Officer's office on the appointment date with original documents.
Do parents have to be told about a Special Marriage Act marriage?
No. The Act requires the notice to be displayed at the Marriage Officer's office, and sent to another district's office if a partner lives there permanently. It does not require notice to parents, and parental disapproval is not a legal ground for objection.
Can an interfaith couple marry in Delhi without converting?
Yes. The Special Marriage Act allows two people of any religion to marry without either converting. Each keeps his or her religion. The couple gives 30 days' notice, and the marriage is solemnised before the Marriage Officer with three witnesses.
Is an Arya Samaj marriage certificate valid for a passport?
It is evidence that a ceremony took place, but passport offices and embassies usually ask for the certificate issued by the Marriage Officer. Register the Arya Samaj marriage at the SDM office under the Hindu Marriage Act to get that certificate.
What if we did not register within 60 days?
You can still register. The Marriage Officer can condone a delay of up to another 60 days on a late fee, and after that a penalty applies under the 2014 Order. Expect to give fuller proof of the ceremony if the wedding was long ago.
Can a foreigner register a marriage in Delhi?
Yes, if the other partner is an Indian citizen. The foreign national needs a passport with a valid visa and a certificate from the embassy on marital status and nationality. Under the Special Marriage Act, one partner must have lived in the district for 30 days before the notice.
Does registration make a marriage legally valid?
No. Validity depends on the conditions of the marriage law, such as age, consent and no living spouse. Registration proves the marriage but does not cure a defect, so a bigamous marriage stays void even if registered, and an unregistered valid Hindu marriage stays valid.
Can a divorced person register a second marriage in Delhi?
Yes, once the divorce decree is final, meaning the appeal period has passed or any appeal is decided. The Marriage Officer will ask for the decree. Remarrying while an appeal is possible or pending can create serious problems later.
How do I get a Delhi marriage certificate apostilled for use abroad?
The certificate is first attested by the designated Delhi Government authority and then apostilled by the Ministry of External Affairs for use in countries that accept apostilles. Start early, because this step often takes longer than the registration itself.
Written and reviewed at B.K. Singh & Associates
Advocate B.K. Singh
Founder of B.K. Singh & Associates. MCA, LL.B., LL.M., with more than twenty years of practice before the Supreme Court, the Delhi High Court, district courts and tribunals across Delhi NCR. This article explains the general law as of 24 October 2026; it is not legal advice on your facts.