Marriage Registration in Nepal (2026)

The court marriage registration in Nepal requires an unmarried certificate, a temporary living certificate, witnesses, and the citizenship of the couple. Marriage photos and the citizenship of the couple are required for marriage registration in Nepal at the ward office.

The process of Marriage registration in Nepal is guided by the Muluki Civil Code 2074.

Marriage Registration in Nepal is only possible

• If neither the man nor the woman is legally married (one can get married if they have ended their marriage, for example, by divorce).
• If the man and woman accept each other as husband and wife (i.e., not to marry forcefully), if the man and woman are not related (considered by law as incest, except in some cases, culturally accepted this practice).
• If both are mentally stable.
• If both the man and the woman are 20 years old.

Documents Required for Marriage Registration in Nepal

1.	Marriage Photos
2.	Citizenship of husband and wife
3.	Witnesses of the marriage ceremony
4.	Population Card of Husband (not mandatory)

Process of Marriage Registration in Nepal

1.	Fill up the marriage application form at the concerned ward office.
2.	Submit the documents as per the requirements (check out the list of documents above).
3.	The Ward office will give the marriage certificate if all the requirements are fulfilled.

Court Marriage between Nepali Citizens

If any couple wants a simple and efficient wedding, they choose to get married in the court. Also, if the couple is from different castes and religions and wants to avoid possible conflicts with families and societies, they choose to marry legally in court. So, they realise that court marriage is the best option for them because it allows them to spend their lives freely according to their values, cultures, traditions ​​, and preferences.

Court Marriage is fast, easy, and cheap. The whole process of court marriage is completed in a few days to a few weeks, depending on various reasons such as the availability of the required documents, the verification of documents, the number of applicants and witnesses, and the workload of the related court.

The expense of the court marriage in Nepal also varies depending upon many factors, such as the fees requested by the lawyer and the tax fee in the court, the cost of the notary and the translator, and the cost of the embassy or consulate. We can say that it is comparatively less expensive than other forms of marriage.

Documents Required for Court Marriage between Nepali Citizens

The documents required for the court marriage between Nepali citizens are as follows:-

1.	Citizenship of both males and females.
2.	Citizenship of witnesses (any two).
3.	Passport-size photos of the couple.
4.	Temporary Residence Certificate from the ward office of the temporary address, if one is registering at a temporary address
5.	A Letter from the ward office of the permanent address of both male and female, mentioning that both male and female are unmarried or divorced/single.
6.	The application form is duly completed and signed in the prescribed format and submitted to the court.

Court Marriage between a Nepali and a Foreigner

The documents necessary for the court marriage between a Nepali citizen and a foreign citizen are as follows:-

• Citizenship of Nepali Partner
• Citizenship of witnesses (any two witnesses)
• Passport-size photographs of the couple (4 of each)
• Original passport and visa of the foreign partner
• A letter of temporary residency in Nepal from the ward office if you are registering from your temporary district. (You need to stay at least 15 days before the wedding in Nepal)
• No Objection Letter (NOC)/CNI from the respective embassy located in Nepal (if the embassy of a particular country is not located in Nepal, the letter can be requested from the Consulate General)
• The marriage law in the country in question. This law will be translated into Nepali and certified before a notary.

Process of Court Marriage Registration in Nepal

Step 1: Both candidates duly fill out an application and sign in person.

Step 2: All documents are verified by the judicial authority. After verification, the court registers the request, and an appointment day will be set.

Step 3: On the scheduled date, both applicants must be present in court along with their witnesses.

Step 4: If all the documentation is done correctly and all the conditions established by law are met, the judge will approve the application for marriage registration. The administration will provide a certificate for the same.

Marriage Visa in Nepal

Foreigners who are married to citizens of Nepal can apply for a visa of marriage by acquiring the following documents :

1. Marriage Certificate from the concerned ward office or the district court. If the marriage is registered in a foreign country, then the marriage certificate verification letter from the related Embassy is necessary.
2. Citizenship of the Nepalese citizen and the passport of the foreigner with the most recent Nepalese Visa are required.
3. Filling out the online form for a marriage visa.

Notes: A 6-month marriage visa is granted for the first time with an additional one-year maximum extension. The visa fee includes 15 USD per month.

Also Know: Divorce Process in Nepal

For Answers and Questions

What is the age requirement for marriage in Nepal?

To marry in Nepal, one must have completed the age of 20. Without completing the age of 20, there will be no court marriage registration or ward marriage registration.

Who can apply for the marriage registration process in Nepal?

The limitations under Nepal’s National Civil Code 2074 are as follows:

• If a bride or groom wants to get married, they shouldn’t have been married before.
• Any bride or groom who is unable to provide their consent owing to a mental health issue is unable to marry.
• Marriages between consenting adults who are unable to conceive as a result of a mental handicap are not eligible for registration.
• Being insane makes one ineligible to get married.
• There is no way to legally recognise a marriage that takes place in an illegal relationship.

Where can we get a certificate of marriage?

If you have done a court marriage, you will get the certificate from the court. If you have done the marriage traditionally, you can get it from the ward office of your permanent address.

Is it necessary to get a letter stating that I am unmarried or single for a court marriage in Nepal?

An unmarried certificate is necessary for a court marriage in Nepal. For foreigners, obtaining a no-objection letter requires a trip to the appropriate embassy. For Nepali citizens, it requires a trip to the ward of their permanent address. He or she must provide proof of their single status, such as official documents.

Can we change the marriage date in Nepal?

If there is a reasonable ground, like a huge mistake in the marriage date, the marriage date can be changed as per the law.

Can both foreigners marry in Nepal?

Following the prevailing laws of the respective countries and the procedural law of Nepal, both foreigners can marry in Nepal. Foreigners should stay in Nepal for at least 17 days to complete the marriage process.

Where can we get the No Objection Letter (NOC) for court marriage registration in Nepal?

You can get the NOC letter from your country’s embassy located in Nepal. For example, if you are an Australian citizen, you should visit the Australian Embassy located in Nepal, and so on, for other countries.

Can Nepali and Indian people marry in Nepal?

Yes, a Nepali and an Indian can marry in Nepal, provided they follow the prevailing laws of both Indian and Nepalese marriage laws.

Can Nepali and Foreigners marry in Nepal?

Yes, Nepalis and Foreigners can marry in Nepal as per the law of Nepal and the foreign country. Foreigners need to stay in Nepal for 17 days to complete the process.

Is marriage registration in Nepal easy?

Yes, anyone with valid legal documents can register the marriage in Nepal. It is a quick and easy process.

What is the cost of a court marriage registration in Nepal?

The court marriage fee in the court is Rs 500, and the lawyer’s fee starts from Rs 6,000.

Conclusion

In conclusion, there are two types of marriage in Nepal. One is the marriage registration in Nepal from the ward office, and the other is the court marriage registration from the district court. Marriage registration can be done by Nepali citizens as well as foreign citizens. The marriage form should be filled out along with the required documents and witnesses. The civil registration officer or the judge will verify the form and documents. After that, the marriage certificate is provided.