How to Get Married in South Africa Legally?

Three types of marriages are recognised under South African law: civil marriages, customary marriages and civil unions.

What percentage of South Africa is married?

As at 2021, according to statistics, in South Africa about 29.1% male are legally married, while 27.2%  of females are legally  married.

Who can conduct marriages in South Africa?

In South Africa, only marriage officers authorised in terms of Act No. 25 of 1961 to perform marriages may do so. Presently civil marriages are solemnised at offices of the Department of Home Affairs and at churches (by authorised marriage officers).

Can I Get Married Legally in South Africa?

Yes, you can get married legally in South Africa, this happened frequently during the lockdown. However, there are limitations to this method of marriage, as all marriages in South Africa needs to be done at in the presence of a marriage officer, so one of the downside is that, you would not get a marriage certificate.

Also, there are certain requirements for a legal and valid marriage in South Africa. Some of these include:

• You must ensure you are both legally allowed to marry, and must understand the legal consequences of marriage
• You have to present all the required documents (including ID documents of both partners, divorce orders from previous marriages or death certificates if applicable) to the officiant
• Your marriage officer must be authorised in terms of Act No. 25 of 1961

What are the requirements to get married in South Africa?

Here are the requirements to get married in South Africa:

• Valid South African identity books for both persons entering into the Civil Union
• A valid passport if one of the partners is a foreign national
• A completed Form DHA-1763 (Declaration for the Purpose of Marriage)
• Form DHA-1766 (Civil Union register), which must be completed by the marriage officer
• A completed Form DHA-1764 (Registration of a Civil Union) in which the couple must indicate whether or not they are entering into a Civil Union marriage or a Civil Union partnership
• A copy of the Divorce Order if one of the partners was previously married but subsequently divorced.