The Kenyan Government requires that in order for one to be legally married they need a marriage certificate. In the past one had to make a trip to the Attorney General’s office to get the marriage certificate but nowadays things have become easier with the services being offered on eCitizen.
Before applying for a marriage certificate, you need to meet the following requirements:
- Must be above 18 years old and of sound mind
- Both parties must be residing in Kenya during the marriage process
- Kenyans with dual citizenship must produce a certificate of Registration of dual citizenship
- Documents in another language other than English must be translated and verified by the Respective Embassies or Authorized Translating Office
Documents required include:
Christian and Hindu marriages
- Copy of couple’s national ID card or passport
- Copy of couple’s birth certificate
- Coloured passport photo of both partners
- Copy of death certificate for widows or widowers
- Copy of a divorce decree for divorced applicants
- A sworn affidavit confirming the marital status (divorced or widowed) is over 2 years old
- Air ticket and visa or work permit for those working in the country for a foreign national
- Copy of license for the minister officiating the ceremony
- Wedding invitation card
- Serial number of the marriage book (obtained from the Minister of Faith)
- Ksh 600 for application fees, Ksh 800 for notice fees if the ceremony occurred in a licensed place of worship and Ksh 7,200 if the ceremony occurred outside a place of worship.
- For a special license, Ksh 7,200 if wedding is to be conducted at a licensed place of worship or a fee of Ksh 14,200 if wedding is to conducted outside of a licensed place of worship
Civil marriages
- Copy of couple’s national ID card or passport
- Copy of couple’s birth certificate
- Coloured passport photo of both partners
- Copy of death certificate for widows or widowers
- Copy of a divorce decree for divorced applicants
- A sworn affidavit confirming the marital status (divorced or widowed) is over 2 years old
- Air ticket and visa or work permit for those working in the country for a foreign national
- Copy of national ID cards of 2 witnesses present at the ceremony
- Ksh 600 for notice fees and Ksh 3,300 for clearance fees
Customary marriages
- Copy of couple’s national ID card or passport
- Copy of couple’s birth certificate
- Coloured passport photo of both partners
- Copy of national ID cards of 2 witnesses present at the ceremony
- Air ticket and visa or work permit for those working in the country for a foreign national
- Letter from the chief confirming the marriage
- Ksh 3,900 for clearance fees