Botswana - Obtain a Marriage Certificate

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Procedure

The first step to obtaining a marriage certificate in Botswana is registering the intention to marry with the Office of Marriage Registrar at the Department of Civil and National Registration offices, stating whether solemnization will be after publication of Banns or Special Marriage License. Department of Civil and National Registration Regional offices

Apply In-Person
PUBLICATION OF BANNS.

1. In the case of publication of the banns, the couple should file a notice of Marriage with the Office of Marriage Registrar at the Department of Civil and National Registration offices, three months before your prospective common law marriage and waiting for a period twenty-one (21) days.
2. Upon the expiry of the 21-day notification period, the couple can proceed to the next step I.e. solemnize the marriage either at the District Administration office or at a licensed place of worship.
   

AT THE DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION OFFICE

1. The applicants (couple) will be required BWP40.00 and after which the couple will be given a marriage date booking according to the official diary.
2. Upon picking the date, the marriage ceremony can take place in the Registrar of Marriages office or office of the District Commissioner.
3. During the ceremony, the couple repeats the vows before the registrar, they are asked to confirm their intention to get married.
4. After the vows have been exchanged, three hard copies of the Marriage Certificate are given to the couple and their witnesses to sign.
5. The registrar signs all the copies of the marriage certificate as well and issues two of them to the couple. One of the certificates is retained by the Department of Civil and National Registration offices.
   

LICENSED PLACE OF WORSHIP

1. The applicants (couple) will be required BWP 40.00 after the 21day notice to obtain a Registrar certificate.
2. The registrar certificate is then taken to the religious official who shall preside over the marriage ceremony. The couple should marry within three months.
3. During the ceremony they are asked to confirm their intention to get married.
4. After the vows have been exchanged, three hard copies of the Marriage Certificate are given to the couple and their witnesses to sign.
5. The religious official also signs all the copies of the marriage certificate and issues one copy to the couple. One of the certificates is retained by the official and the other is sent to Office of the Registrar of Marriages together with a copy of the registrar certificate.

Please Note: Where the ceremony shall take place other than licenced place of worship or Registrar’s Office e.g. A Garden, hotel etc., a Special License is also needed to License the venue for a wedding even if notice is properly given.

SPECIAL MARRIAGE LICENSE 

1. If for some reason the applicants (couple) cannot or do not wish to publish banns, their need to apply for a Special Marriage License at the office of the District Commissioner , at any of the Department of Civil and National Registration offices.
2. Upon the receipt of the request the district commissioner, will access the application and if he/she is satisfied that there is no legal obstacle to the marriage, he/she may grant the special marriage license after paying the legal fee of P190.00 and inform the registrar to register the marriage.
3. The couple may then proceed to the next step i.e., solemnize the marriage without publishing banns, either at the District Administration office or at a licensed place of worship as explained above under publication of banns.

Please Note: This will only be granted on proof that the marriage must be performed urgently.

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Required Documents

• Applicable identification document (National Identity Card (Omang) for citizens or passport for foreign nationals).
• Letter of consent from parents if you are under 18 years of age.
• Letter of confirmation from Kgosi that one is not married or a letter of confirmation from their country of origin that they are not married for foreign nationals.
• Statement from declarant and a certified copy of their identity document.
  

Office Locations & Contacts

Department of Civil and National Registration
Head OfficeAddress: Block 8, Government Enclave, Khama Crescent
Private Bag 00240
Gaborone, Botswana
Telephone (+267) 361 1400
Fax. (+267) 395 9998
Toll-Free Number 0800 600 777
Department of Civil and National Registration Regional offices

Ministry of Nationality, Immigration, and Gender Affairs
Address: Block 8, Government Enclave, Khama Crescent
Private Bag 002
Gaborone
Botswana
Telephone: (+267)3611115 / 3611234 / 3611132
Fax: (+267) 3907426
Call Centre Number –0800 600 777
Ministry Contact Details
For abroad applications, please contact your nearest Botswana Embassy or High Commission. Botswana Mission Abroad Contact Details

Eligibility

• Parties should have attained the legal age of marriage, which is eighteen (18) years and above.
• The parties should have no impendent to marriage
• Note: Anybody below the age of 18 must be accompanied by a parent/guardian. A guardian/parent must authorize in writing the subject to contract to such marriage.
  

Fees

• After Banns/ Normal P40.00.
• Special Marriage License P150.00 + P 40.00 = P190.00.
  

Validity

A married certificate is valid forever until one of the spouse’s death or in the event of an absolute divorce.

Documents to Use

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Sample Documents

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Processing Time

• Married Notification period twenty-one (21) days.
• Marriage certificate is issued immediately after marriage.
  

Related Videos

Videos explaining the procedure or to fill the applications.
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Instructions

Please provide other instructions related to the certificate/documents.
E.g. The state office holds birth records since January 1908.

Required Information

• Full Names of both parties.
• Dates of birth.
• Valid identity proof/number.
• Nationality details.
• Residential Address.
• Proof of no impendent of marriage.
• Type of marriage.
• Details of the witnesses.
• Date/place where the intended marriage ceremony will be held.
• Parents details.
• Sworn oath by the couple/witnesses.
  

Need for the Document

A marriage certificate is a document issued by the Marriage Registrar to certify and verify that a marriage certificate is registered under Civil, Christian, Hindu or Customary Marriage, confirming that the marriage record exists.

Information which might help

According to the Marriage Act No. 18 of 2001, Chapter 29:01, any marriage that takes place within Botswana must be registered except marriages contracted under any customary law of Botswana or Muslim, Hindu, or any other Religious right.

Why do you have to register a marriage?

• For national statistical purposes, to cater to the development.
• Evidence of the existence of marriage have been legally solemnized.
  

Other uses of the Document/Certificate

Other uses of a Marriage Certificate:

• The certificate gives you the eligibility to inherit your spouse’s property and also jointly own properties without fear of being denied the right to share the matrimonial property when your spouse dies.
• The certificate enables your spouse in joining your health benefits.
• The certified is needed when applying for foreign visa as one of the couple is working in a foreign country.
• The certificate is needed when applying for passport and/or some other such document, which contains the name of one’s spouse.
• It will be very handy if you have to prove that you are legally married couple in front any authority.
• The certificate is needed for Spouses to file joint taxes and receive tax breaks.
• If you plan on buying a house and need to apply for a mortgage loan, money lenders will ask for a marriage certificate. This is so lenders can check your credit history jointly and separately
• Marriage certificate can also help you migrate with your family to any country without many restrictions.
• If wife changes her second name and adopts the husband’s. All her old documents are in her maiden name. The marriage certificate will bind them to her as it will show both her maiden name and the new adopted name.
  

External Links

Gov.BW Marriage Registration

Others

More information which might help people.