How to apply for a Marriage Certificate in Abu Dhabi

Marriage is a legal contract between a man and a woman that allows them to stay together, have a family, and protect the rights of both the couple as well as their children. It is considered important in Abu Dhabi, UAE as it serves as the basis for people to get married and settled down in the country where they work or have a business set up. The marriage certificate for the marriages that have taken place outside the country needs to be attested by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In this article, we will discuss how to apply for a marriage certificate in Abu Dhabi and how Dubai Court Marriage can help you in completing the formalities associated with the marriage certificate application.

How to apply for a marriage certificate in Abu Dhabi?

The marriage certificate is an important legal document that proves the existence of a marital relationship between a man and a woman. For two people to get married in the UAE, they must register their marriage in the Abu Dhabi courts for ensuring all the legal procedures and requirements of getting married in Abu Dhabi. The couple, after registering their marriage in Abu Dhabi court can then obtain the marriage certificate from them to prove their married status. The following documents are required for a couple to register their marriage in Abu Dhabi courts-

1. Original birth certificates of both the bride and groom
2. Original passports of the bride and the groom
3. Proof of residence of UAE
4. Valid Emirates ID
5. Fitness certificate
6. Proof of marital status of both bride and the groom. This proof must be certified by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the applicant and the UAE consulate in case the certificate has been issued outside the UAE
7. A local proof of marital status can also be obtained from the consulate of the applicant’s country and the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The actual document requirements might change over a period of time and from nationality to nationality. The applicant must consult their respective country’s consulate in the UAE for complete details on the requirements in the current situation.

Read More – What impact do new laws have on expat marriages in Abu Dhabi?

How long does it take to obtain a marriage certificate in Abu Dhabi?

For people who have a plan to get married in the UAE, the paperwork can take up to 4 weeks of time. The age of both the bride and the groom shall be over 18 years and they should not be related to each other by any chance. There shall be 2 witnesses present at the time of marriage. The witnesses shall also be over 18 years of age and must present their identity proofs. This is the general rule; however, the legalities may vary from nationality to nationality. 

Cost of obtaining a marriage certificate in the UAE

The cost of getting married depends upon the situation and the nationalities. The fee to obtain a marriage certificate from Shariah court is approximately AED 200. In the case of non-Muslims however, these charges may vary. In order to get a clearer picture of the cost and time frame of applying for a marriage certificate in the UAE, one must contact the marriage lawyers in Abu Dhabi.

Marriage certificate attestation in Abu Dhabi

The marriage certificate hence obtained or the ones which have been issued outside the country need attestation by the concerned authorities for them to be validated and legalized.

For a foreign or local marriage to be recognized as legal by the local authorities, the following conditions must be fulfilled-

1. The marriage must be recognized as valid in the country where it took place.
2. The parties to the marriage must have complied with all rules and regulations of the marriage in the home country.
3. Any previous marriage must be nullified or terminated as per the UAE laws.
4. The applicants must be under full mental capacity, must be of marriageable age, and must give their consent to getting married to each other.

A marriage certificate attestation is a process by which a marriage certificate is certified as genuine. The witnessing process shall be done by authorized officials and government bodies. The documents needed for the attestation process are as follows-

1. Original certificate
2. Passport copy
3. Visa copy
4. 2 photographs
5. Authorization letter

In cases where the certificate is in English, the same has to be converted to Arabic by government authorized translators in the UAE. Both English and Arabic versions of the certificate are then supposed to be presented before the attestation officer along with all the documents and 2 witnesses above 18 years of age to do the final attestation. The fee for the attestation process can vary and one must consult professional marriage lawyers to get the work done in minimum time and at least cost. 

The procedure of marriage certificate attestation in the UAE

The procedure of marriage certification in Abu Dhabi  involves the following steps

1. Firstly, the certificate needs to be attested by the home department country department.
2. The next Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the home country needs to attest to the certificate.
3. The third step involves verification or legalization of the certificate by the home country.
4. Lastly, the attestation is to be done by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the UAE.

How Dubai Court marriage can help you in applying for a marriage certificate in Abu Dhabi?

With our vast experience in the field of handling and managing all kinds of embassy attestations, Dubai court marriage can ensure you that all the processing and attestation of your marriage certificate can be expedited easily. Mostly, the attestation process takes between 3-5 days. We put in strong efforts to get it done for you as quickly as possible. Contact us today and one of our professional marriage lawyers can certainly help you in getting all your work done related to an application for a marriage certificate and attestation of the marriage certificates.