How South Africans Can Regsiter A Marriage Done Overseas
If you are a South African citizen who married outside South Africa, South African law automatically recognises the marriage — provided it was legally conducted in the country where it took place. However, DHA’s records will not reflect your new marital status until you formally notify them.
This process is not a new marriage registration. It is an administrative update to your records in the National Population Register (NPR). There is no fee.
What This Process Does and Does Not Do
What it does:
- Updates your marital status in the NPR from “single” to “married”
- Allows you to change your surname to your spouse’s surname (if applicable) at the same time, without a separate name change application
- Enables you to apply for a new ID and passport reflecting your updated details
What it does not do:
- DHA does not issue a South African marriage certificate for a foreign marriage. Your South African-issued marriage certificate relates to South African marriages only. For your foreign marriage, the certificate issued by the country where you married is your primary document.
- DHA does not re-register or “convert” the foreign marriage into a South African one. It simply updates your personal record.
Step-by-Step: Updating Your DHA Records After a Foreign Marriage
Step 1 — Obtain an apostilled copy of your foreign marriage certificate The foreign marriage certificate must be authenticated for use in South Africa. For most countries, this means obtaining an apostille — a formal authentication applied by the issuing country’s competent authority under the Hague Convention.
If the country where you married is not a signatory to the Hague Convention, the certificate must be legalised through the South African embassy or consulate in that country.
If the certificate is not in English, it must be officially translated by a sworn translator.
Step 2 — Prepare your supporting documents
- Apostilled (or legalised) original foreign marriage certificate
- Official English translation if the certificate is not in English
- Your original South African ID (Smart ID or green ID book) and certified copy
- Your spouse’s original ID or passport and certified copy
- If changing your surname: a written indication of the surname you wish to assume
Step 3 — Submit at a DHA branch or South African mission Inside South Africa: Visit any DHA branch in person. Bring all documents listed above. You cannot submit by post or online.
Outside South Africa: Submit at the nearest South African embassy or consulate. Book an appointment in advance — most missions require appointments for civic services.
Step 4 — Request your surname change at the same time (if applicable) Under section 26 of the Births, Marriages and Deaths Registration Act, a spouse can assume the other’s surname as part of this notification process without submitting a separate Form DHA-196. Indicate your preferred surname when you submit your documents.
This applies to both spouses — either can assume the other’s surname, or create a double-barrelled surname.
Step 5 — Apply for updated ID and passport Once DHA updates your NPR record, apply for a new Smart ID at any Live Capture branch, and a new passport using Form DHA-73 if you have changed your surname.
Documents Required
| Document | Notes |
|---|---|
| Foreign marriage certificate — apostilled | Original, apostilled by the issuing country’s authority |
| Official English translation | Required if the certificate is not in English |
| Your South African ID (original + certified copy) | Required |
| Spouse’s ID or passport (original + certified copy) | Required |
| CMO2 form or written letter | Some DHA offices use a CMO2 form; others accept a formal letter — confirm with the branch |
What Is Apostille and Where Do You Get It?
An apostille is a certificate attached to a document by the competent authority of the issuing country, confirming the document is genuine and can be used officially in other countries that are Hague Convention signatories. South Africa is a Hague Convention signatory, so apostilled documents from other signatory countries are accepted.
To get an apostille, contact the relevant authority in the country where your marriage certificate was issued. In most countries this is the national civil registry, foreign affairs ministry, or a designated competency authority. Your country’s South African embassy can advise on the correct process.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to register my foreign marriage with DHA? You are not legally required to. South African law recognises the marriage automatically. However, without updating DHA, your NPR record will continue to show you as “single,” which causes practical problems — your ID, passport, and official records will not reflect your married status, and you will be unable to change your surname through DHA.
Will DHA issue me a South African marriage certificate for my foreign marriage? No. DHA does not issue a South African certificate for a foreign marriage. The certificate issued by the country where you married remains your official marriage certificate. DHA updates your personal records but does not create a new certificate.
We married in a country that does not apostille documents — what do we do? If the country is not a Hague Convention signatory, the certificate must be legalised through the South African embassy or consulate in that country. The South African embassy will apply consular legalisation to confirm the document is genuine for use in South Africa.
My spouse is a foreign national with no South African ID — is that a problem? No. Your spouse submits their valid foreign passport as their identity document. A certified copy of the passport is required.
I changed my surname abroad through the marriage — will DHA accept the surname I now use? DHA will update your records based on the surname indicated in the foreign marriage certificate or your written request at the time of notification. They will not automatically match whatever name you are using informally — the process is the same as any name change through DHA.
We got married abroad 10 years ago and never told DHA — can we still update the records? Yes. There is no time limit for notifying DHA of a foreign marriage. The process is the same regardless of when the marriage took place.
Official DHA Contact Details
| Channel | Details |
|---|---|
| DHA Contact Centre | 0800 60 11 90 (toll-free, Mon–Fri 08:00–16:00) |
| Marital status SMS | M + ID number to 32551 |
| DHA website | dha.gov.za |