5 South African Documents required to Get Married abroad in 2025

Many South African citizens choose to get married abroad every year, seeking to make their special day unique and unforgettable. If you are one of these people and are concerned about the legalities and paperwork you may need as a South African, you are not alone. The legalities of destination weddings can vary depending on the country and location of marriage, so it is important to do your research and ask the right questions.

The good news is that you can get hitched in any country in the world as a South African. But if you want to tie the knot abroad, you’ll need to sort out a few documents first. Depending on where you want to host your wedding, whether it’s a seaside celebration in Greece, a romantic event in Italy or an intimate gathering in the Netherlands, you’ll need to get certain documents sorted to get married abroad in 2025. The documents you need really do vary depending on the destination, although there are some standard requirements that are common to all countries. In this article, we will cover 5 South African documents required to get married abroad in 2025, as well as some tips on planning destination weddings.

General Legal Requirements in Different Countries

• Age – In most countries, the minimum age for marriage is 18 years. However, there are exceptions; for example, in some countries, it’s allowed to marry at 16 with parental consent.
• Legal Capacity – Both partners must be legally capable and able to give informed consent to the marriage.
• No Impediments – Neither partner should be married to someone else. In some countries, the absence of close kinship between the couple is also checked.
• Waiting Period – Some countries have a mandatory waiting period between filing the application and the wedding ceremony. For instance, in Denmark, this may take 7-10 days.
• Presence of Witnesses – Most countries require the presence of one or two witnesses at the ceremony.

Checklist  of 5 South African Documents to Get Married abroad in 2025

The documents you will need to submit will depend on your situation and the municipality in which you wish to marry. However, the most basic documents required for South African citizens are as follows:

1. Passport or identity card
   In order to get married abroad, it is usually necessary to provide an official ID document. This could be a travel passport, personal ID card, national passport or identity card. Driving licences do not count as ID, despite the presence of a photograph.
2. Unabridged Birth certificate
   Foreign authorities require the “long version” of your birth certificate. This extended version serves as proof of citizenship and includes further details, such as your parents’ names.
3. Certificate of no impediment to marriage
   A certificate of no impediment is one of the most important documents for South African citizens wishing to get married abroad in 2025. Issued by the Department of Home Affairs, it serves as proof of eligibility for marriage and the absence of any legal impediments.
4. Divorce decrees and marriage certificates of previous marriages.

If you are not getting married for the first time, you must give proof that:

1. you have been married before, and
2. that marriage was officially cancelled.

You must give this proof in the form of the relevant marriage and divorce certificates. If you have been married and divorced more than once, you must give documents from each of these marriages.

5. Death certificate
   If you are widowed, you will need to provide your former spouse’s death certificate

Residency Requirements

Some countries have a minimum period of residency before you can legally get married there. This can range from 4 days to 2 years, but don’t panic, there are of course ways around this if you still want to have a destination wedding in any case, there is usually a waiting period. So bear this in mind before you make your travel plans.

Authentication / Legalisation and Apostilles

All your documents must be legalised by an Apostille or Embassy Authentication. An Apostille Certificate in South Africa can be described as a certificate that officially certifies a public document so that it can be used legally in other countries. The foreign country receiving the apostilled documents should be a signatory to the Hague Convention of 5 October 1961. These countries have decided to abolish what was previously known as the requirement of legislation for foreign public documents and replace it with the Hague Apostille Convention. This means that only one formality is required. The Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO) and the South African High Court are the departments that issue apostilles.  If you are going to a wedding in a country that is not a signatory to the Hague Apostille Convention, you will need to super-legalise the documents. This means that the documents will be verified not only by the Department of International Relations and Cooperation (DIRCO), but also by the embassy of the destination country..

Translations

If your documents are not in the local language of the country where you are getting married, you may be required to have them translated. The translation must be done by a certified translator in order to be accepted by the foreign authorities. In some cases it may be necessary to send the documents abroad in advance and bring the originals to the ceremony in person.

 Destination Wedding Planning Tips

Once you’ve chosen your dream destination for the big day, it’s time to start planning. To help you navigate international marriage laws, contact the local embassy of the country you want to get married in for guidance on the necessary paperwork and civil requirements. Here are some essential tips to ensure a smooth and memorable wedding abroad:

• Research Marriage Requirements: Begin by researching the legal requirements for getting married in your chosen destination. Contact the embassy, high commission, or consulate of the country where you plan to marry to understand the necessary documents and procedures.
• Plan in Advance: Give yourself plenty of time to plan your destination wedding. Start the process at least 6-12 months before your desired wedding date to allow time to gather documents, make travel arrangements and coordinate with vendors. Researching the civil laws of your chosen wedding destination is essential to ensure your union is recognised and service providers can assist with the necessary applications.
• Be Culturally Conscious: Familiarise yourself with the customs and traditions of the country where you plan to get married so that you do not inadvertently offend anyone. Respect local customs and consult with local wedding organisers or vendors when dealing with cultural differences.
• Spend Money Judiciously: Set your wedding budget early in the planning process, taking into account travel costs, venue hire, supplier fees and other expenses associated with the event. Also take into account currency exchange rates and possible fluctuations to avoid any financial surprises. Make sure your spouse has all the necessary documents before the ceremony, as some countries have strict legal requirements for foreigners.

Global Apostille legalisation services

Apostille Service SA is experienced in obtaining apostilles on South African documents for overseas weddings. Trust us to legalise documents at the Pretoria High Court or DIRCO. You can send your document to us by courier and we will ensure speedy delivery and accurate legalisation of your documents. You are guaranteed to receive your Apostilles for our important documents safely via trusted couriers. Our services include the Apostille of various documents such as birth certificates, letters of no impediment, marriage certificates, divorce decrees, etc. Global Apostille also provides professional translations with an officially certified sworn translator available.

Email us for a no-obligation quote – info@apostillelegalisation.co.za