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Form BI-1700 | Customary Marriage Acknowledgement of Receipt

Last Updated: August 27, 2026|Reviewed By: Home Affairs Editorial Team|Fact-checked against official DHA and Other Official Sources|Not affiliated with the DHA

Form BI-1700 — What It Is and What to Do After You Receive It

What Is Form BI-1700?

Form BI-1700 is the acknowledgement of receipt issued by the Department of Home Affairs when you submit a customary marriage registration application.

You receive it on the day you submit Form BI-1699 at the DHA office or through a designated traditional leader. It confirms that DHA has received your application and that it is being processed.

It is not your marriage certificate. Keep it safely until your actual marriage certificate is issued.

What BI-1700 Is Not

This is the most common source of confusion around this form:

Form BI-1700Marriage Certificate
Issued byDHA on the day of submissionDHA after processing
What it confirmsApplication receivedMarriage registered in the NPR
Valid as proof of marriageNoYes
Required for bank, pension, estateNoYes

The marriage certificate — abridged or unabridged — is the document you need for banks, pension funds, the Master of the High Court, insurance, and all other purposes. BI-1700 is an interim receipt only.

What Comes Next After BI-1700

Once you have received your BI-1700:

  1. DHA processes your application and captures your marriage in the National Population Register
  2. An abridged marriage certificate is issued — this is the standard SA marriage certificate for most purposes
  3. If you need an unabridged marriage certificate — for overseas use, immigration, visa applications, or apostille — apply separately at any DHA office. Processing takes 6 to 8 weeks.

See the unabridged marriage certificate guide for how to apply.

Keep Your BI-1700 Safely

Until your marriage certificate is issued, the BI-1700 is your only proof that you submitted the registration. Keep it:

  • As evidence if DHA loses your application
  • To follow up on processing status
  • As a reference document if you need to query the DHA office

If you lose your BI-1700 before the marriage certificate is issued, contact the DHA office where you submitted your application and request confirmation of your submission.

If Your Marriage Certificate Has Not Arrived

If you submitted your customary marriage registration and received BI-1700 but have not received your marriage certificate:

  1. Contact the DHA office where you submitted — have your BI-1700 reference details ready
  2. Call the DHA Contact Centre on 0800 60 11 90
  3. Email hacc@dha.gov.za with your ID number and BI-1700 details

DHA does not publish a specific processing timeline for customary marriage registrations. If several weeks have passed with no update, follow up directly with the office.

Related Guides and Forms

DHA Contact Details

DHA Contact Centre0800 60 11 90
DHA Emailhacc@dha.gov.za
Appointment bookingservices.dha.gov.za

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