Getting Married in South Africa - South Africa

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Getting Married
in South Africa
Divorce Decree
Personal Amendment
Downloadable Forms
Schedule of Fees
Where to file your application
Timeframes for services

HOLIDAYS OBSERVED

Please check the list of holidays Missions will observe this year.

Write your email address on the upper right hand corner of your application form to receive updates on the status of your application.

SOUTH AFRICAN MISSIONS
IN THE UNITED STATES:

The South African Consulate General
in Chicago, Illinois
200 South Michigan Avenue, 6th Floor
Chicago, IL 60604
Tel. (312) 939-7929
Fax: (312) 939-2588
Email
Website

The South African Consulate General
in Los Angeles, CA
6300 Wilshire Boulevard, Suite 600
Los Angeles, CA 90048
Tel. (323) 651-0902
Fax: (323) 651-5969
Email
Website:

The South African Consulate General
in New York City
333 East 38th Street,
9th Floor
New York NY 10016
Tel: (212) 213-4880
Fax: (212) 856-1575Email
Website

The South African Embassy in Washington, DC
3051 Massachusetts Ave, NW
Washington, DC 20008
Tel: (202) 232-4400
Fax: (202) 244-9417
Email
Website

All persons getting married in South Africa are subject to the legislation of the Marriage Act, 1961 (Act 25 of 1961) which does not differentiate between South African citizens and aliens with regard to the solemnization of a marriage in the Republic of South Africa.

Intending bridal couples should in all cases consult the marriage officer in South Africa who is to perform the ceremony to ensure compliance with the prescribed formalities.

Under the South African Law a marriage is prohibited under the following conditions:

Persons who are already married. An existing marriage can only be terminated through death or by a competent court of law.
Minors. A minor may not enter into marriage unless the marriage officer is in possession of a written consent from both parents or the guardian.
Persons without contractual capacity. This refers to majors who are suffering from mental disorders. A person who is insane, may, however, contract a valid marriage if it can be proven that the person is lucid and in full possession of his faculties when concluding the contract.

Prohibited degrees of relationships as indicated below:

the forebear or a descendant of the husband/wife.

The following are the noted general requirements for getting married in South Africa. Once again it is suggested that intending bridal couples should consult the marriage officer in South Africa who is to perform the ceremony to ensure compliance with the prescribed formalities.

Checklist of Documents to be Submitted:

Two (2) valid identification; one must be a photo ID.
a notarized declaration by the party concerned to the effect that the person is not aware of any lawful impediment to the proposed marriage.

There is no residency requirement for foreign nationals.