How to apply for marriage certificate (Hindu/Special Marriage Act)

• Either spouse 21+ (men) / 18+ (women)
• Not within prohibited degrees of relationship
• Of sound mind, capable of consent
• Domicile / ordinarily resident in district where applying
• Hindu Marriage Act: both Hindu/Sikh/Jain/Buddhist · SMA: any religion or inter-faith

1. Choose your route — HMA: post-marriage registration of solemnised Hindu marriage. SMA: court marriage with 30-day notice — works for inter-faith / inter-caste / civil ceremony.
2. Apply at SDM / Sub-Registrar — In-person or online via state e-District (Delhi: edistrict.delhigovt.nic.in · MH: igrmaharashtra.gov.in · Online states: ~25/28).
3. Submit Form A (HMA) or Form B (SMA) — Filled jointly + signed by both spouses + 3 witnesses with Aadhaar.
4. SMA: 30-day public notice — Notice posted at SMR office for 30 days for objections. After period, marriage solemnised.
5. Submit supporting docs — Birth proof, Aadhaar, address proof, marriage card / wedding photos (HMA), affidavits.
6. Verification by SMR/SDM — Confirms identity + age + voluntary consent. May call witnesses.
7. Marriage certificate issued — Same day for HMA registration; on solemnisation date for SMA. Two original signed copies.

• Online portal: State e-District / Sub-Registrar
• Offline: Sub-Registrar of Marriages (SMR) office in your district. SDM in some states. Avoid agents — straightforward process.
• Fee: HMA registration: Rs 100–200 · SMA: Rs 150 (notice) + Rs 100 (cert) · Court marriage venue Rs 500 if at registrar; free if at home
• Timeline: HMA: 1–15 days (state varies) · SMA: 60 days (30 notice + 30 wait + 1-day solemnisation)

See our complete checklist: Documents required for marriage certificate — covers mandatory + optional + size/format specs.

• Wrong notice address — HMA needs marriage venue OR either spouse's residence. SMA needs both spouses' residence.
• Inter-faith marriage objection — SMR has discretion to dismiss frivolous objections; police protection available.
• Witness Aadhaar mismatch — must be Aadhaar-verified Indian citizens; foreign witnesses not accepted.
• Marriage 5+ years ago — never registered — affidavit + wedding photos + invitation card + witness testimony. SDM can register under HMA retroactively.

Most “delays” or “rejections” clear within 7-15 days of an RTI being filed. Use this 5-question template:

1. Status of my application no. _____ dated _____ as on date.
2. The name + designation of the dealing officer assigned to my file.
3. The reasons for delay beyond the statutory timeline.
4. Copy of any noting / movement of my file in the past 30 days.
5. The likely date of issuance of my certificate / approval.

Auto-fill the PIO details + your case: Open the RTI Drafter →

Or browse state-wise scheme procedures: All state portals + RTI templates

Yes — SC 2006 direction. Most states have made it law. Without certificate: no spouse Aadhaar update, no joint property, no spouse passport.

Yes — but objections must be on legal grounds (age, prohibited relationship, existing marriage). Caste/religion are NOT legal grounds.

SC declined Special Marriage Act extension to same-sex couples (Supriyo vs UoI, 2023). Civil partnership not recognised. Some states may have local provisions.

Yes — under Foreign Marriage Act 1969 at Indian embassy + register in India for spouse Aadhaar/visa.

File RTI to SMR + SDM. Use our RTI Playbook for marriage cert delays.

• How to check status — 25 high-traffic services
• Documents required — 30 checklists
• All state RTI portals
• Full RTI Playbook — 100+ scenarios

• Official portal: https://edistrict.gov.in
• Citizen feedback collected via AwaazRTI (composite, identifying details removed).
• Statutory references: see relevant Act sections.

Last reviewed: 25 April 2026.