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Registration of Marriages (General)
It can get married under Registration of Marriages (General) Ordinance, that the parties who are belonging to any other race or religion, the both parties are not Muslims.
Marriage Notice should be filled in two copies and handed over to the Marriage Registrar of the division by certifying it.(Birth certificate or other document to confirm the name and date of birth)
Authorized persons to certify the Notices
- Marriage Registrar of the division
- A Justice of Peace
- A Notary Public
- A Minister
The requirements to be fulfilled for handing over a marriage notice
- Requirement of the residency of the parties in the relevant division
- Parties residing in the division for past 10 days prior to submit the marriage notice.
- Parties are not resided in the same division and resided in separate divisions, for past 10 days prior to submit the marriage notice.
- If one party out of two parties has not been resided in Sri Lanka for past 10 days prior to submit the marriage notice, the other party shall be resided in Sri Lanka in 10 days.
If at least one party out of two parties had not been resided in Sri Lanka for past 10 days prior to submit the marriage notice, one party shall be resided in Sri Lanka in 04 days.
Both parties shall be completed age of 18 years to last birthday.
They are not prohibited degrees of relationship to marry
At that time a valid marriage is not existed
- For registration of marriages(general), 14 days shall be elapsed from submitting the marriage notice to the relevant Registrar.
- If it is necessary to register a marriage before 14 days, a request can be made from the registrar for making registration on special license.
- When marriage notices handed over to the marriage registrars of two divisions, marriage can be registered after exchanging notices and issuing of certificates of registrars.
- If it is required to register the marriage in a place outside the marriage registrar’s office, a special permission should be taken and an application of which prescribed fees paid, should be forwarded for that purpose.
** After completing of the above matters, registration of the marriage is done by the registrar before two witnesses and the third copy of the marriage certificate is handed over to the bride.
Fees to be paid to the Registrar in registration of marriages
|
No. |
Matter |
To whom to be paid |
By whom the payment is made |
Amount (Rs.) |
The manner of payment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1 |
Included a marriage notice in the Registrar’s office or any other place |
Registrar |
Applicant |
120.00 |
Should be paid in cash |
|
2 |
Included a marriage notice in the office of Additional District Registrar or District Registrar or any other place |
Additional District Registrar or District Registrar |
Applicant |
120.00 |
Should be paid in cash to the government |
|
3 |
Issuing of Registrar’s certificate on a marriage notice |
Registrar |
Marriage parties |
120.00 |
Should be paid in cash |
|
4 |
Issuing of Additional District Registrar’s or District Registrar’s certificate on a marriage notice |
Additional District Registrar or District Registrar |
Marriage parties |
120.00 |
Should be paid in cash to the government |
|
5 |
Functioning the marriage in Registrar’s office |
Registrar |
Marriage parties |
900.00 |
Should be paid in cash |
|
6 |
Functioning the marriage in Additional District Registrar’s office or District Registrar’s office |
Additional District Registrar or District Registrar |
Marriage parties |
900.00 |
Should be paid in cash to the government |
|
7 |
Functioning the marriage in a place outside from the Registrar’s office under Sections 38(1) or 38(2) |
Registrar |
Marriage parties |
900.00 |
Should be paid in cash |
|
8 |
Functioning the marriage in a place outside from the Additional District Registrar’s or District Registrar’s office under Sections 38(1) or 38(2) |
Additional District Registrar or District Registrar |
Marriage parties |
900.00 |
Should be paid in cash to the government |
|
9 |
Obtaining a special license under Section 27(3) |
To the government |
Marriage parties |
120.00 |
Should be paid in cash |
|
10 |
Registration of a marriage functioned in a registered religious place |
District Registrar |
Marriage parties |
900.00 |
Should be paid in cash to the government |
|
11 |
Issuing of home license for the registration of marriages in a place outside the Registrar’s office under Section 38 1,2 |
To the government |
Marriage parties |
60.00 |
Should be paid in cash |
Marriages by a Christian Minister
Provision has been made to the marriages of Christians in their Churches.
Marriage notice should be prepared and certified in two copies and submitted to the marriage registrar of the division (birth certificate or other document to proof name and date of birth)
Authorized persons to certify the notice
- Marriage Registrar of the division
- A Justice of Peace
- A Notary Public
- A Minister
Requirements to be fulfilled for submitting a marriage notice,
- Parties should complete the requirement of residence in the relevant division. That is,
- Parties shall be resided in the division for past 10 days prior to submit the marriage notice.
- Parties are not resided in the same division and resided in separate divisions, for past 10 days prior to submit the marriage notice.
- If one party out of two parties has not been resided in Sri Lanka for past 10 days prior to submit the marriage notice, the other party shall be resided in Sri Lanka in 10 days.
- If at least one party out of two parties had not been resided in Sri Lanka for past 10 days prior to submit the marriage notice, one party shall be resided in Sri Lanka in 04 days.
- Both parties shall be completed age of 18 years to last birthday.
- They are not prohibited degrees of relationship to marry
- At that time a valid marriage is not existed
- If they are divorced persons, a copy of absolute decree shall be submitted.
- If married under Marriage law(general) of Sri Lanka and after that got divorce by a court decision in a foreign country, it is necessary to obtain a decree on divorce by filing a case before a Court with definite jurisdiction in Sri Lanka.
Registration fees is Rs.900.00
“Certificate of the Registrar” (Form B103 Registration) shall be obtained from the Registrar or Additional District Registrar.
Church marriage can be done by submitting the same certificate of the Registrar to the Minister who is in the church, which is expected to be register the marriage.
After that, your legal marriage certificate can be obtained by submitting the synod certificate (B112) issued by the minister, to the Additional District Registrar of the Divisional Secretariat which the church is situated.
Process for Registration of Marriage between a Sri Lankan and a Foreigner
Documents under the below mentioned matters shall be forwarded to the Registrar
Marriage Notice (Prepared and certified in two copies)
Visa required for entering a foreigner to Sri Lanka, valid passport and its photocopy
Original copy of the document issued by authorized institution of his/her own country for proofing civil status and legal documents of divorced/ widowed persons for proofing that matter.
Health declaration for proofing the health condition of the foreigner
Birth certificate(if it is necessary to proof name and age) and a photocopy
Permission issued by the Registrar General
Procedure for obtaining Permission issued by the Registrar General
The following documents should be submitted to the Civil Registration Division of the Department by the relevant parties (only by the persons to be married or their closed relations) before or after the foreigner come to this country.
- Application
- Photocopy of the National Identity Card of the Sri Lankan
- Photocopy of the passport of the foreigner
- Police report of the foreigner ( obtained within 6 months) so as to proof not an offender of an offence
- .Certificate of the civil status of the foreigner (obtained within 6 months) if a person married before, divorce certificate and certificate on civil status)
All the documents mentioned above should be submitted in 4 copies
Certificate on civil status should be forwarded by the government institution of the relevant country and affidavits can be submitted only if the certificate on civil status are not issued by the government institutions of the relevant country .Affidavits should be certified by the government institutions of the relevant country.
In that case ,if the foreigner married in a foreign country and divorced in a foreign country , the foreign decree on divorce or if married in Sri Lanka and divorced in a foreign country, the foreign divorce decree and decree on divorce in Sri Lanka should be submitted.
Registration of marriage should be done by the Additional District Registrar of the Divisional Secretariat or the Marriage Registrar of the relevant division and if the marriage will be done by the Marriage Registrar, the name of the relevant Registrar and relevant Divisional Secretariat should be mentioned in the application.
The date, place and relevant district should be stated in the application.
It takes 14 working days for obtaining of clearance report from the date which the documents handed over to the head office.
The permission issued by the Registrar General is valid from the date issued up to 03 months.
No any fee charged for issuing this permission.
The above documents should be submitted to the relevant Additional district Registrar/Divisional Marriage Registrar when handing over the marriage notice.
The circular No.18/2021 and dated 18/10/2021 regarding the above matter has been implemented from the date 01/01/2022 and the revised circular therein is implemented from 01/08/2022.
Registration of Marriages under Kandyan Law
Only Sinhala nationalities who are resided at an area under Kandyan law can be married under Kandyan law.
The areas affected Kandyan marriage law
- Central province
- North central province
- Uva Province
- Sabaragumu Province
- East and West Chuniyachedkulam Korale of Vavunia District of North Peovince and Kilakkumale Korale –South
- Binthenna Pattu, Weegampattu and Panama Pattu in Batticaloa District of Eastern Province and Kadukkulama Pattu in Trincomalee District .
- Kurunegala District of North Western Province and Demala Hath Pattu of Puttalam District.
Only the Marriage Registrars appointed for the above mentioned areas have authority to register marriages under Kandyan Law.
Requirements to be fulfilled for the registration a marriage under this law.
- It is required to reside both parties in the relevant area.
- Parties shall be resided in the division for past 10 days prior to submit the marriage notice.
- Parties are not resided in the same division and resided in separate divisions, for past 10 days prior to submit the marriage notice.
- If one party out of two parties has not been resided in Sri Lanka for past 10 days prior to submit the marriage notice, the other party shall be resided in Sri Lanka in 10 days.
- If at least one party out of two parties had not been resided in Sri Lanka for past 10 days prior to submit the marriage notice, one party shall be resided in Sri Lanka in 04 days.
- Both parties shall be completed age of 18 years to last birthday.
- They are not prohibited degrees of relationship to marry(According to the Kndyan Marriage Law No.44 of 1952)
- At that time a valid marriage is not existed
If the above requirements are completed, submit the marriage notice which has been duly filled and certified to the divisional marriage registrar in two copies.
The Registrar of the same division has the authority to certify the marriage notice (Birth certificate or other document to proof the name and age)
Marriage can be registered after 14 days elapsed from submitting marriage notice
If the marriage to be registered before 14 days of submitting the marriage notice, a special license should be obtained by paying relevant fees.
- When marriage notices handed over to the marriage registrars of two divisions, marriage can be registered after exchanging notices and issuing of certificates of registrars.
- If it is required to register the marriage in a place outside the marriage registrar’s office, a special permission should be obtained and an application of which prescribed fees paid, should be forwarded for that purpose.
**After completing of the above matters, registration of the marriage is done by the registrar before two witnesses and the third copy of the marriage certificate is handed over to the bride.
Fees to be paid to the Registrar in registration of Kandyan marriages
|
No. |
Matter |
To whom to be paid |
By whom the payment is made |
Amount (Rs.) |
The manner of payment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1 |
Included a marriage notice in the Registrar’s office or any other place |
Registrar |
Applicant |
120.00 |
Should be paid in cash |
|
2 |
Included a marriage notice in the office of Additional District Registrar or District Registrar or any other place |
Additional District Registrar or District Registrar |
Applicant |
120.00 |
Should be paid in cash to the government |
|
3 |
Issuing of Registrar’s certificate on a marriage notice |
Registrar |
Marriage parties |
120.00 |
Should be paid in cash |
|
4 |
Issuing of Additional District Registrar’s or District Registrar’s certificate on a marriage notice |
Additional District Registrar or District Registrar |
Marriage parties |
120.00 |
Should be paid in cash to the government |
|
5 |
Solemnizing the marriage in Registrar’s office |
Registrar |
Marriage parties |
900.00 |
Should be paid in cash |
|
6 |
Solemnizing the marriage in Additional District Registrar’s office or District Registrar’s office |
Additional District Registrar or District Registrar |
Marriage parties |
900.00 |
Should be paid in cash to the government |
|
7 |
Solemnizing the marriage in a place outside from the Registrar’s office |
Registrar |
Marriage parties |
900.00 |
Should be paid in cash |
|
8 |
Solemnizing the marriage in a place outside from the Additional District Registrar’s or District Registrar’s office |
Additional District Registrar or District Registrar |
Marriage parties |
900.00 |
Should be paid in cash to the government |
|
9 |
The request made for obtaining a special license in relation to a marriage notice under Section 19. |
Registrar |
Applicant |
120.00 |
Should be paid in cash |
|
10 |
The request made for obtaining a special license in relation to a marriage notice under Section 19. |
Additional District Registrar or District Registrar |
Applicant |
120.00 |
Should be paid in cash to the government |
|
11 |
Issuing of home license for the registration of marriages in a place outside the Registrar’s office under Section 24 |
To the government |
Marriage parties |
60.00 |
Should be paid in cash |
Registration of a Muslim Marriage
Under Muslim Marriage Divorce Act, a female and a male who are the followers of the Islam in Sri Lanka can be get married.
Muslim Marriage Registrars have been appointed by the Department for the registration of these marriages .
Nikah customs are practiced before registration of that marriages
After Nikah custom,the priest who has done the Nikah custom , the vali of the bride , the bride groom and two other male witnesses should meet the Muslim Registrar and register the marriage.
However, the marriage could not be registered at that time, the District Registrar of the relevant Divisional Secretariat (Divisional Secretary) has an authority to order the Muslim Registrar for re-registration of the same marriage as a past Muslim marriage.
Foreign Marriage Registration (If the marriage is registered in Sri Lankan Embassies of or Sri Lankan High Commissioner’s Office)
Ambassador/ High Commissioner or a consular officer has an ability to register a marriage in a foreign country under Consular Activity Act.
In that case, at least one party shall be a Sri Lankan.
The relevant marriage can be registered in Sinhala, English or Tamil language.
A marriage can be registered under general marriage law or Kandyan marriage divorce law or Muslim marriage law. (A Muslim registrar should be available for registration of a marriage under Muslim marriage law)
