Getting married in South Africa

We have been made aware that the South African authorities will be making changes to their marriage law. While this legislation has not yet been implemented anyone planning to get married in South Africa should speak to the South African authorities about what documentation they will require.

The amendment will require that anyone who wishes to marry a South African citizen in South Africa will need to provide a certificate from their country of origin stating that a search has been done of marriage records and the individual concerned is not already married.  

Unfortunately, the British High Commission and the FCO in London will not be able to provide this certificate. There is no facility to register any overseas marriage in the UK, and there is no central repository in the UK to record the marriages of British nationals. Therefore we cannot comply with the South African requirement to issue a certificate stating that a search of marriage records has been undertaken that the individual is not married.

This amendment to legislation only affects foreign nationals (including British nationals) planning to marrying a South African citizen in South Africa.  

If you are a British national marrying another British National, or a British national marrying a 3rd country national (who is not South African) in South Africa, then you will need to seek advice from the registrar in South Africa as to what documents you will need to provide. Please be aware that you will not be able to obtain a certificate of no impediment (CNI) from a British Consulate. If you are asked to provide this, you will need to explain that you cannot obtain this as South Africa is a member of the Commonwealth and the UK does not issue CNIs for marriages in Commonwealth countries. You should ask what documents you can present in place of a CNI.