Solemnization/Registration of Marriage under Foreign Marriage Act, 1969

Conditions:

1. The Embassy of India, Paris, solemnizes/registers marriages under the Foreign Marriage Act, 1969 under the following two sections:

1. Section 14 of the Act – Registration of solemnization of marriage before the Marriage Officer of the Embassy.

2. Section 17 of the Act – Registration of marriage that is already solemnized in France in accordance with the law of France. 

General Conditions:

2. Either the bride or the bridegroom, or both, must be an Indian national and a legal resident within the consular jurisdiction of the Embassy of India, Paris.  He/she should have resided in France for a period of not less than thirty days immediately preceding the date on which the notice of intended marriage is given to the Marriage Officer at the Embassy of India, Paris, and he/she should have either residence permit (of France) or be on a long-term visa in France.

3. If either the bride or the bridegroom is not an Indian national, a no-objection certificate from the concerned authority, or an affidavit declaring his/her marital status (bachelorhood) and willingness to marry an Indian national, duly attested/apostilled by the concerned authority, needs to be submitted.

4. In the case of a divorcee, a decree of divorce issued by the competent authority (court of law) in India and attested by the CPV Division, Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India, in case the divorce has taken place in India, is required. 

Foreign divorce judgements will not be valid. In case of mutually agreed or contested divorce cases also, an application must be submitted by the parties at the competent Indian civil court and a declaratory order authenticating and confirming that the foreign divorce decree is in accordance with Indian law must be obtained by the concerned parties.

5. Marriages registered/solemnized under this Act may or may not be recognised in a Foreign country.  

How to apply:

6. This service is available only in person at the Embassy. The bride and bridegroom, along with the three witnesses, out of which at least one is to be Indian national, with valid visa/residence status, are required to be physically present and sign before the Marriage Officer during the submission of declaration as well as solemnization/registration of the marriage (two times on two different dates). 

For registration of solemnization of marriage at the Embassy under Section 14 of the Act

7. The detailed procedure for 1 (a) is as below:

1. Marriage of an Indian national with an Indian national.

Step 1

The notice of intended marriage as per Annex I along with fee is to be submitted to the Embassy after taking appointment. The notice of marriage will be put up on the Embassy notice board for a month. The signed Form at Annex II is also to be submitted along with the notice of intended marriage. On this day, the bride and bridegroom will have to sign the declaration (Annex IV) and affidavit [for Indian party(ies), Annex V] in front of the Marriage Officer and in the presence of three witnesses out of which at least one is to be an Indian national. All are to be present physically in front of the Marriage Officer for signing at the Embassy. Appointments can be taken by writing to visa.paris@mea.gov.in with copy to cons.paris@mea.gov.in.  

Step 2

Advertisement/Notice in the prescribed format (Annex III) is to be published in a widely circulated newspaper in the home country in English, at the place of permanent residence as indicated in the passports of the bride and the bridegroom, and in the country in which the parties are ordinarily resident. In case both the bride and the bridegroom are from the same state in India, notice is to be published only in one newspaper of that particular state in English. After the publication of the notice, the applicants are required to submit the concerned newspapers in original.  Where the language of advertisement is a foreign language, a Hindi/English translation (by sworn translators) of the advertisement is to be submitted to the Embassy.

Step 3

Thereafter, the Embassy will give a date for solemnization of marriage, on which day all five (bride, bridegroom and three witnesses) will appear in person before the Marriage Officer for registration of the marriage. The date will be at least 30 days after the submission date of notice of the intended marriage, or publication of newspaper advertisements, whichever is later. The notice of the intended marriage remains valid for six months; if the marriage is not registered within this period, the entire process is to be started afresh.

2. Documents required:

1. Miscellaneous service application form (Annex VI)

2. Marriage Registration Fee Euro 46 plus Euro 2/- for ICWF plus Euro 42/- for two affidavits (if both parties are Indian; total Euro 90/-), to be paid in cash at Embassy during the time of Notice intended marriage.

3. Original passport and Passport copy, visa / residence permit copy and proof of address (utility bill / driving licence) of prospective bride and groom and three witnesses.  Photocopies are to be self-attested.

4. 4 identical passport size recent photographs of Bride & Groom. 
   Duly filled in form for ‘Notice of Intended Marriage’ as mentioned above
   Duly filled in form for ‘Declaration by Prospective Bride and Groom’(2 copies) and Affidavit as mentioned above

5. Original full newspapers.  

6. Scanned copies of all documents must be sent to Embassy by email at least four working days before the date of registration / solemnization of marriage to visa.paris@mea.gov.in with copy to cons.paris@mea.gov.in and mincons.paris@mea.gov.in and originals are to be brought on the day of solemnization of marriage. ##

3. Marriage of Indian national with foreign national 

In case either the bridegroom or the bride is of any nationality other than Indian, bachelorhood certificate and no-objection to marry an Indian national, or singleness affidavit with the intention of marrying an Indian national, in original and duly attested/apostilled by the concerned Ministry of Foreign Affairs/Embassy/Consulate of that country, is required to be submitted, along with translation in English. This document should not be older than 90 days of the date of notice of intended marriage. This is to be submitted at least fifteen days before the date of registration of solemnization of marriage.  The foreign party also needs to publish advertisement in his home country as well as the place of his ordinary residence, if it is different. 

For registration of marriages under Section 17 of Foreign Marriage Act, 1969 

8. The detailed procedure for 1 (b) is as below:

1. Send an email request for registration of marriage [already solemnized in France] along with all the scanned documents at visa.paris@mea.gov.in with copy to cons.paris@mea.gov.in and mincons.paris@mea.gov.in. Accordingly, an appointment date will be conveyed to the applicants.

2. Documents required:

1. Completed Miscellaneous Services Application Form (Annex VI).

2. Marriage Registration Request Form (Annex VII) filled and signed by bride, bridegroom and three witnesses, out of which at least one is to be an Indian national, in front of the Marriage Officer.

3. Original passport of all the five individuals (bride, bridegroom and three witnesses), along with one photocopy of the passports (first and last pages).

4. Copy of proof of address (recent utility bill, driving license) of all five individuals.

5. Original and copy of valid visa residence permit of all five individuals.

6. Original apostilled marriage certificate along with a photocopy.

7. Two identical, passport size, recent photographs each of the bride and bridegroom.

8. Fee: Euro 46 plus Euro 2 for ICWF. Fee is to be paid in cash at the Embassy.

9. Three witnesses, out of which at least one is to be an Indian national, must be physically present along with the both parties at the time marriage registration. Please email at visa.paris@mea.gov.in with copy to cons.paris@mea.gov.in and mincons.paris@mea.gov.in. to make an appointment. ##

   ##   The list of documents is not exhaustive and the marriage officer may ask for any additional document/proof, in addition to above, at his discretion.