Getting Married in Kenya

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Marriages in KenyaTravel Information

Source – Office of The Attorney General and Department of Justice.

The Kenyan Marriage Act, 2014 recognizes 5 systems of marriage, namely: Civil, Christian, Customary, Hindu and Islamic. These marriages only ought to be between man and woman.

A civil marriage ceremony is arranged if you prefer to get married at a special location or if a religious ceremony is not for you. A Civil marriage in Kenya can be conducted at the Registrar of Marriages, Deputy County Commissioners and Assistant County Commissioners offices, or at a venue of your choice. The venue however ought to hold a special wedding license. 

The Civil Marriage can be conducted through Notice or by Special License;


Notice is where both parties are Kenyan Nationals and it involves the placing of a 21 days Marriage Notice before the Marriage takes place.

Special License is necessary where; 

    1. Any of the parties is a Foreign National 
    2. Both parties are Foreign Nationals 
    3. The Marriage is being held outside a licensed place 
    4. Parties are unable to give a 21 days’ notice 
    5. They are Monogamous in Nature 

  1. Valid Identification Cards (I.D)/Passports are required (Copy and Original) 
  2. Colored passport size photos 
  3. Death Certificate if Widowed or Divorce Decree Absolute if Divorced 
  4. In the event the Divorce Decree is more than a year old or a Death Certificate is more than 2 years old, an Affidavit to confirm marital status is needed.
  5. Both parties should appear before the Registrar to fill a Notice Form 
  6. Fee: KSH 3,900 

REQUIREMENTS FOR CIVIL MARRIAGE BY SPECIAL LICENSE

  1. Valid I.D’s or Passports (Copy and original)
  2. Birth Certificates (Copy and original)
  3. Proof of No Impediment to Marriage through;
    1. Affidavits to state marital status: Separate Affidavits if Single or joint Affidavit if Married under Customary Law 
    2. Death Certificate in the case of widowed persons (Copy and Original)
    3. Divorce Decree Absolute in the case of Divorced persons indicating current status (Copy and original)
    4. Affidavit to confirm marital status, in the event the Divorce Decree is more than a year old or a Death Certificate is more than 2 years old. 
    5. A documented reason to show proof that you do not have time to give a 21-day notice 
  4. Colored passport size photos
  5. Both parties should appear before the Registrar when applying
  6. Fee: KSH 9,700 if the wedding is being conducted at the Registrar’s office and KSH 16,700 if the wedding will take place at a special location. 

  1. Requirements for the Kenyan National
    1. Valid I.D’s or Passports (Copy and Original) 
    2. Birth certificate (Copy and Original) 
    3. Proof of No Impediment to marriage through; 
      1. Affidavit to state marital status 
      2. Death Certificate in the case of Widowed persons (Copy and Original)
      3. Divorce Decree Absolute in the case of divorced persons indicating current status (Copy and Original) 
      4. Affidavit to confirm marital status, in the event the Divorce Decree is more than a year old or a Death Certificate is more than 2 years old. 
      5. Colored passport size photos 
      6. A documented reason to show proof that you do not have time to give a 21-day notice.
  2. Requirements for the Foreign National
    1. Valid passport (Copies and Original) 
    2. Birth Certificate (Copy and Original) 
    3. Passport size photo (Colored) 
    4. Proof of No Impediment to marriage through; 
        1. A Certificate of No Impediment to Marriage. 
        2. Death Certificate, In the case of widowed person 
        3. Divorce Decree Absolute, in the case of Divorce person indicating current status (Copy and Original) 
        4. Certificate of No Impediment to Marriage, in the event the Divorce certificate is more than a year old or a Death Certificate that is more than 2 years old  
        5. Return Air Ticket and a valid Visa or a Work Permit for a resident. 
    5. Both parties to appear before the Registrar when applying 
    6. Fee: KSH 9,700 if wedding is being conducted at the Registrar’s office and KSH 16,700 if the wedding takes place at a special location.
  3. Where Both Parties Are Foreign Nationals
    1. Valid passports (Copies and Original) 
    2. Passport size photos (Colored) 
    3. Birth certificates (Copies and Original) 
    4. Prove of No Impediment to Marriage through; 
        1. Certificates of No Impediment to Marriage
        2. Death Certificate in the case of Widowed person (Copy and original) 
        3. Divorce Decree Absolute/Decree Nisi in the case of Divorce person indicating current status (Copy and Original) 
        4. Certificate of No Impediment to Marriage in the event the Divorce decree is more than a year old or a death certificate that is more than 2 years old 
        5. Return Air Ticket and a valid Visa or a Work Permit for a resident.
    5. Both parties to appear before the Registrar when applying 
    6. Fee: KSH 9,700 if wedding is being conducted at the Registrar’s office and KSH 16,700 if the wedding takes places at a special location.
      1.  

Contact the Registrar of Marriages directly for further information. After submission of all documentation, Foreign Nationals need to arrive in Kenya at least four days before the wedding in order to finalize all the paperwork with the Registrar of Marriages. 

If you are already legally married, either in Kenya or another country, and only want to have a blessing ceremony or just to celebrate your union with friends and/or family, you can have your ceremony at a special location with little to no paperwork, and no official certificates given.  

Couples wanting a Christian, Islamic or Hindu ceremony should contact the Registrar of Marriages to get further information on the terms and conditions.

REGISTRAR OF MARRIAGES CONTACTS

REGISTRAR OF MARRIAGES,
SHERIA HOUSE, HARAMBEE AVENUE,
GROUND FLOOR,
P.O. BOX 40112, 00100, NAIROBI, KENYA.

EMAIL ADDRESS:

WEBSITE: www.statelaw.go.ke 

TEL NO. LANDLINE:

      • +254 20 2227461-9
      • +254 20 2251355

MOBILE:

      • +254 700 072929
      • +254 732 529995 
      • +254 711 944555

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