Marriage Certificate Apply Online 2026: State-wise Process & Documents

विवाह प्रमाण पत्र 2026: ऑनलाइन आवेदन की पूरी गाइड

Quick facts: Legal proof of marriage — mandatory for spouse visa, bank joint accounts, insurance nominee, inheritance disputes · register under Hindu Marriage Act (HMA) OR Special Marriage Act (SMA) · fee ₹100-1,000 by state · 30 days to several months depending on route.

A Marriage Certificate (विवाह प्रमाण पत्र / Vivah Praman Patra) is the legal document proving your marriage. Since the Supreme Court’s 2006 directive, registration is compulsory for all marriages in India, regardless of religion. In 2026, it’s required for:

Spouse visa applications (USA, UK, Canada, Australia, etc.)
Bank joint accounts
Insurance policies with spouse as nominee
Passport applications showing spouse name
Property / inheritance disputes
Pension / gratuity nomination
Name change on documents (for women)

Two Laws — Which Applies to You

1. Hindu Marriage Act (HMA) 1955

Applies to: Hindus, Buddhists, Jains, Sikhs
Requires: ceremony already performed (any traditional/religious ceremony)
Faster process (usually 30-45 days)
Marriage must meet HMA conditions (both Hindu, min age, not within prohibited relationships)

2. Special Marriage Act (SMA) 1954

Applies to: inter-faith marriages, NRI marriages, civil marriages
Both parties can be of any religion (or atheist)
Requires: 30-day notice period published at registrar’s office
Court-marriage style solemnization

3. Other Personal Laws

Christian Marriage Act — for Christians
Parsi Marriage and Divorce Act — for Parsis
Muslim Personal Law (Shariat) — Muslim marriages, registration varies by state

पात्रता — Who Can Register

Basic conditions (both Acts)

Groom age 21+, Bride age 18+
Both unmarried OR widowed OR divorced (not already married to someone else)
Not within prohibited relationships (blood relations defined in respective Acts)
Mentally capable of consent
For SMA: residence in state for at least 30 days before application

आवश्यक दस्तावेज़ — Documents Required

Common to both (HMA + SMA)

Aadhaar card of both bride and groom
Age proof — birth certificate OR Class 10 certificate OR PAN OR passport OR Aadhaar
Address proof of both
Passport-size photographs (both, individual + couple)
Marriage invitation card / wedding photo (proof ceremony occurred — for HMA)
Affidavit of marital status (declaring unmarried, widowed, divorced)
Divorce decree (if previously divorced)
Death certificate of previous spouse (if widowed)
Fee receipt

Additional for HMA

Priest certificate (if religious ceremony performed)
2-3 witnesses with their Aadhaar

Additional for SMA

30-day notice period completed
3 witnesses
Bank account details of both (for records)

Special cases

Inter-faith marriages: both parties’ religion/ID documents
NRI marriages: passport + visa status documents
Court marriages: judge’s presence required

आवेदन प्रक्रिया — Application Process

State-level online portals

Each state has its own system. Most common:

State	Portal
Delhi	edistrict.delhigovt.nic.in
Maharashtra	aaplesarkar.mahaonline.gov.in
UP	edistrict.up.gov.in
Karnataka	sevasindhu.karnataka.gov.in
Tamil Nadu	tnesevai.tn.gov.in
Rajasthan	emitra.rajasthan.gov.in
Gujarat	digitalgujarat.gov.in
Kerala	edistrict.kerala.gov.in
Telangana	ts.meeseva.telangana.gov.in

General flow

Register on your state’s eDistrict portal (Aadhaar-based)
Select marriage certificate service → choose HMA / SMA / other
Fill application: – Both parties’ details + photos – Parents’ names – Marriage date + venue – Witnesses’ details
Upload documents
Pay fee (₹100-1,000 by state)
Submit → receive reference number

Hindu Marriage Act (HMA) route

After online submission, both parties appear before Marriage Registrar on appointment date
3 witnesses must accompany
Registrar verifies documents
Certificate issued in 30-45 days

Special Marriage Act (SMA) route

30-day notice displayed at registrar’s office (anyone can object during this time)
No objections → solemnization date fixed
Formal solemnization at registrar’s office (both parties, 3 witnesses, registrar)
Certificate issued same day or next day

Court Marriage — Fast Track

Court marriage (under SMA) is conducted at a Sub-Registrar / Marriage Registrar office:

Submit notice of intent at Sub-Registrar’s office
Wait 30 days (mandatory notice period)
No objections → set solemnization date
Appear on chosen date with both parties + 3 witnesses
Exchange consent in Registrar’s presence
Certificate issued same day

Total cost ~₹1,000-2,000 including all fees.

Fee Structure

Application fee: ₹100-500 by state
Registration fee: ₹100-1,000 by state
Court marriage: ₹500-2,000 total
Additional copy: ₹100-200 each
Online portal fee: ₹20-50

Processing Time

HMA (post-ceremony): 30-45 days after application
SMA (court marriage): 30+ days (due to notice period), then instant
Christian / Parsi: 15-30 days
Post-certificate delivery: electronic in 7-15 days; physical 15-30 days

स्थिति कैसे चेक करें — Status Check

हेल्पलाइन — Helpline

Service	Number
State-specific helpline	see state portal
Ministry of Home Affairs (marriage-related)	011-23092849
State eDistrict helpdesk	varies

FAQ — Common Questions

We’re already married (5 years ago) — can we still register? Yes. You can register post-facto any time. Submit wedding photo, invitation, witnesses, and documents. Registration even years after the ceremony is legal and common.

Do we need a religious ceremony? HMA requires a religious/traditional ceremony already performed. SMA is a civil marriage — no religious ceremony needed; registrar solemnizes.

Inter-faith couple — do we use HMA or SMA? SMA is the standard for inter-faith marriages, as HMA requires both parties to be Hindu. SMA is religion-neutral.

How many witnesses do we need? – HMA: 2-3 witnesses (with Aadhaar + photos) – SMA: 3 witnesses mandatory

I’m an NRI — can I marry in India with Indian citizen? Yes. Use SMA route. NRI party’s passport + visa status must be in order. Processing is the same; no extra complications.

Does marriage need to be in the state where we live? Yes, usually. Marriage is registered in the state where at least one party resides. Exceptions for special circumstances.

Can I get my marriage registered if I’m already separated or divorced? If you’re divorced and remarrying, bring the divorce decree. Registration of a new marriage requires legal termination of the previous one first.

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Last verified: 20 April 2026. Official source: State-specific eDistrict portals.