Is my foreign marriage automatically recognised in South Africa?

Generally yes, if valid in the country performed. But register with DHA for it to appear on SA records.

Does my spouse automatically get SA citizenship through marriage?

No. Marriage does not grant automatic citizenship. Your spouse must apply through the immigration process.

How do I change my surname after marriage?

Register the marriage with DHA, then apply for new passport and Smart ID with the married surname.

Is a customary marriage recognised abroad?

Yes, once registered with DHA and a marriage certificate is issued, it can be apostilled for use abroad.

Civil Documents

South African Marriage Certificates & Documentation Abroad 2026

Q: Can I get married at the SA embassy?

Some embassies offer consular marriages. Contact your nearest mission to check availability.

Whether you are getting married abroad, need to register a foreign marriage with the Department of Home Affairs (DHA), or require copies of your South African marriage certificate from overseas, this guide covers the full process for all types of marriages recognised under South African law.

Types of Marriages Recognised in South Africa

South Africa recognises three types of marriages, each governed by different legislation:

Civil Marriage

Governed by the Marriage Act 25 of 1961. This is the most common form of marriage. Performed by a registered marriage officer. Can be in or out of community of property (with or without an antenuptial contract).

Both parties must be 18+
Performed by authorised officer
Two witnesses required
Registered with DHA

Customary Marriage

Governed by the Recognition of Customary Marriages Act 120 of 1998. Must comply with customary law of the relevant community. May involve lobola (bride price) negotiations.

Both parties must consent
Negotiated and celebrated per customary law
Must be registered with DHA within 3 months
Polygynous marriages permitted

Civil Union

Governed by the Civil Union Act 17 of 2006. Available to same-sex and opposite-sex couples. Provides the same legal status and consequences as a civil marriage.

Both parties must be 18+
Performed by designated officer
Same legal rights as civil marriage
Registered with DHA

Abridged vs Unabridged Marriage Certificate

Feature	Unabridged (Full)	Abridged (Short)
Information included	Full details of both spouses, witnesses, marriage officer, date, place, marriage regime (in/out of community of property)	Names of spouses and date of marriage only
Accepted internationally	Yes -- required for most immigration and legal purposes	Generally not accepted abroad
Apostille/legalisation	Can be apostilled by DIRCO	May not be accepted for apostille
DHA form	Apply using DHA-130 form	Standard reprint request

Tip: Always request the unabridged marriage certificate when applying from abroad. It is the only version universally accepted for immigration, visa, and legal purposes overseas.

Getting Married Abroad as a South African

South African citizens can legally marry abroad. For the marriage to be recognised in South Africa, it must:

Be valid under the law of the country where it was performed
Comply with the basic requirements of South African law -- both parties must have legal capacity, consent freely, and the marriage must not be prohibited (e.g., bigamy)
Be registered with the DHA to appear on South African records. Without registration, DHA has no record of the marriage, which can cause complications with passports, name changes, and other administrative matters

Some South African embassies can perform consular marriages. Contact your nearest mission to check if this service is available and what documents are required.

Registering a Foreign Marriage with DHA

If you married abroad and the marriage is not yet recorded with DHA, you should register it. The process:

Step 1Obtain Foreign Marriage Certificate

Get the official marriage certificate from the country where you married. It must be the original or a certified copy from the foreign authority.

Step 2Have It Apostilled or Legalised

If the country is a Hague Convention member, get the foreign marriage certificate apostilled by that country's authority. If not a Hague member, it must be authenticated by the South African embassy in that country.

Step 3Sworn Translation (If Not in English)

If the marriage certificate is not in English or one of SA's official languages, you need a sworn translation by a SATI-accredited translator.

Step 4Submit to DHA via Embassy

Submit the apostilled certificate, sworn translation, copies of both spouses' ID/passports, and the DHA registration form at your nearest SA embassy. The embassy forwards everything to DHA in Pretoria.

Step 5Processing & Confirmation

Processing takes 8-16 weeks. Once registered, the marriage appears on DHA records, and you can then apply for an SA marriage certificate.

How to Get Copies from Abroad

If you need a copy of your South African marriage certificate while living abroad:

Contact your nearest SA embassy and request an application form for a marriage certificate copy
Complete the application form (typically DHA-130) with the details of both spouses and approximate date of marriage
Provide supporting documents: certified copies of both spouses' SA IDs or passports, proof of current address
Pay the applicable fee: R75 (DHA fee) plus mission surcharge (varies by embassy)
Submit at the embassy -- the embassy sends the request to DHA Pretoria via diplomatic bag
Wait 8-12 weeks for processing and return via diplomatic bag
Collect from the embassy when notified

Costs

Service	DHA Fee (ZAR)	Notes
Marriage certificate copy	R75	Plus embassy surcharge
Registration of foreign marriage	R75	Plus apostille/translation costs
Apostille of marriage certificate	R100	Through DIRCO
Consular marriage (at embassy)	R240	If embassy offers this service

Frequently Asked Questions

A foreign marriage that is valid under the law of the country where it was performed is generally recognised in South Africa. However, it will not appear on DHA records until you register it. Registration is important for passport name changes, beneficiary nominations, and other administrative matters.

Some South African embassies offer consular marriage services, but not all. Contact your nearest mission to check availability. You will need unabridged birth certificates for both parties, SA IDs, and two witnesses. The marriage officer at the embassy performs the ceremony.

No. Marriage to a South African citizen does not automatically grant citizenship. Your spouse can apply for a spousal visa, then permanent residency (after 5 years), and eventually citizenship through naturalisation. The process takes several years.

After registering your marriage with DHA, you can apply for a new passport and Smart ID reflecting your married surname. Submit the unabridged marriage certificate along with your ID and passport renewal applications at the embassy. See our name change guide for detailed steps.

A customary marriage registered with DHA is a legally valid South African marriage. Once registered, DHA can issue a marriage certificate which can be apostilled for use abroad. The foreign country must accept it as a valid marriage from South Africa, which most countries do.