How easy is it to get married in South Africa

The quickest method to tie the knot in South Africa involves locating a Marriage Officer, scheduling an appointment, and entrusting them with the remaining arrangements.

These dedicated officials can either visit your chosen location or host the ceremony at their own venue.

For those on a budget, the most cost-effective option is to opt for Home Affairs, where they offer the service free of charge.

However, this comes with a caveat: you relinquish control over the wedding date and time as they determine these factors.

Marriage Officers, on the other hand, provide flexibility to accommodate your needs. We will do our best to meet your schedule and location requests. Assuming you have all of the required papers, we can usually assist you with as little as a day or two notice.

Here’s a list of documents needed

If both individuals are South Africans:

• Copies of IDs
• ID (passport) photos for both
• Confirmation of ANC (if applicable)
• Divorce decree (if applicable)

If one person is South African and the other is not: In this scenario, the process is slightly delayed due to an additional requirement for Home Affairs to conduct an interview with the couple. We can assist in arranging this appointment, but it typically takes 1-3 weeks. Required documents include:

• Copies of Passport (picture page and visa page) for the foreign partner
• Copy of ID for the South African partner
• ID (passport) photos for both
• Confirmation of ANC (if applicable)
• Divorce decree (if applicable)
• Letter of non-impediment from the home country, confirming marital status (i.e., not already married) for the foreign partner.

If both individuals are non-South Africans:

• Copies of Passport (picture page and visa page)
• ID (passport) photos for both
• Confirmation of ANC (if applicable)
• Divorce decree (if applicable)
• Letter of non-impediment from the home country, confirming marital status (i.e., not already married)