Documents required for marriage certificate (HMA + Special Marriage Act) — 2026

• Application form — State-specific; download from state portal
• Birth certificates of both spouses — Age proof — must be 21 (groom) and 18 (bride)
• Aadhaar of both spouses — Identity
• Address proof of both spouses — Aadhaar / Voter ID / Electricity bill / Rent agreement
• Recent photographs — 4 each, passport-size, white background
• Marriage invitation card — For HMA — proves marriage took place
• Photos of marriage ceremony — For HMA — supporting evidence
• Affidavit of marital status — On Rs. 10 stamp paper, notarised — declaring single/widowed/divorced
• Witnesses (3 in HMA, 3+ in SMA) — Each with Aadhaar + photo
• Affidavit of nationality — For inter-religion / inter-national marriages

• Divorce decree — For divorced applicants
• Death certificate of previous spouse — For widow/widower remarriage
• Conversion certificate — For SMA inter-faith — declaration if either party converted
• NOC from current legal wife — For Muslim polygamous registration in certain states
• Passport / OCI — For foreign citizen spouse

• Hindu Marriage Act: religious ceremony already performed; registration is recording.
• Special Marriage Act: 30-day public notice + 30-day waiting period before registration (objections invited).
• Witnesses must be 18+ with valid ID; SMA needs 3 witnesses on registration day.
• Validity — lifetime certificate; can be re-issued (duplicate) at registrar.
• Inter-faith marriage — typically must use SMA (1954); some states allow HMA if both spouses convert.
• Time limit for HMA registration — most states require within 30-60 days of marriage; late registration possible with affidavit + late fee.

Marriage Registrar OR SDM Office in the area where marriage took place / where either spouse resides for past 30 days. Online via state portals (some states).

→ Official source: https://services.india.gov.in/service/detail/registration-of-marriage

If marriage registration is delayed by registrar without reason, file RTI under §6 to SDM/Registrar for application status + objections (if any) + projected issuance.

→ Use our 🪄 AI RTI Drafter to generate a free §6(1) application asking for the rejection reason in 60 seconds.

• Q: HMA vs SMA — which to use? — HMA: Hindus/Buddhists/Jains/Sikhs (pre-existing religious marriage). SMA: inter-faith / civil marriage (no religious ceremony needed).
• Q: How long after marriage to register? — Most states 30-60 days under HMA. SMA: 30-day notice + 30-day wait + registration date.
• Q: Foreign spouse — extra documents? — Passport + Visa + OCI/PIO + nationality affidavit. SMA preferred for inter-national.
• Q: Lost marriage certificate — duplicate? — Apply at original registrar with Aadhaar + Rs. 50-100 fee.
• Q: Same-sex marriage — registrable in India? — No — Supreme Court (2023) declined to legalize. Religious/symbolic ceremonies possible but no legal registration.

1. Gather mandatory documents above before applying — saves a re-visit
2. Apply via official portal (link above) — no agent needed
3. Track status: see our status-check guides
4. If rejected for “documents inadequate”: request specific deficiency under §4(1)(d) RTI Act
5. For state-specific guidance: see state portals directory

• 🪄 AI RTI Drafter — type problem, get §6 application
• 🎤 AwaazRTI — voice-to-RTI in 11 Indian languages
• 🔮 Outcome Predictor — score draft win-likelihood
• ⚖️ First Appeal Generator — §19(1) draft on Day 31
• 📅 Timeline Calculator — track 30-day window

• State-by-state: Marriage Certificate across all 36 states
• If rejected, file RTI: Full RTI guide
• Citizen RTI playbook: All 100+ scenarios
• All documents checklists: All 30 checklists

• Statutory references: as cited in Specifications above
• Official portal: linked in “Where to apply” above
• RTI Act 2005 §§4, 6, 7, 19

Last reviewed: 25 April 2026.