How to marry in Africa

Required documents for all countries:

• Full birth certificates showing both parents' names
• Passports
• If divorced, show your original final divorce papers
• If widowed, show the death certificate of your former spouse
• If you have changed your name then show legal proof of the change
• (Bride and groom must not be related by blood, marriage or adoption)

Some countries also require these documents:

Certificate of No Impediment to Marriage

This can be obtained from your local department of foreign affairs or your embassy in the country in which you are getting married.

Apostille Stamp

Some countries require foreign legal documents to be stamped with an apostille which then makes them legal documents in that country.

Certificate of Single Status/Sworn Affidavit that you are free to marry

These are similar to a Certificate of No Impediment, but instead you have to swear you are single in front of a legal representative.

North Africa

Egypt

You will need: certificates of no impediment legalised by the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, legal proof of any name change, certified translations of all required documents above, you can't remarry within 3 months of a previous divorce, if pregnant, or within 4 months and 10 days of being widowed.

Residency requirement: none, but 2 or 3 days to arrange the paperwork. Full Egypt marriage law here.

Morocco

You will need: certified translations of all required documents above into Arabic, photocopies of your passports' photo page and entry stamp into Morocco, affidavit of nationality and eligibility to marry, police record from your country of residence, men must produce a notarised statement of religious denomination, medical certificate from a doctor in Morocco, 2 recent passport photos, resident card if living in Morocco. Residency requirement: a few weeks to sort out the paperwork. Full Morocco marriage law here.

Southern & Eastern Africa

Kenya

You will need: all required documents above. Residency requirement: none. Full Kenya marriage law here.

Namibia

You will need: all required documents above. Residency requirement: none. Full Namibia marriage law here.

Tanzania

You will need: certificates of no impediment, if divorced your former marriage certificate and you cannot remarry with 6 months of a divorce, if widowed your former marriage certificate, all required documents above. Residency requirement: none. Full Tanzania marriage law here.

Zanzibar

You will need: certificates of no impediment, if divorced or widowed your former marriage certificate, 2 photocopies of your passports, 2 passport photos each, all required documents above. If you are having a religious ceremony you will need a letter from your church stating you have fulfilled the requirements for marriage. Residency requirement: 2 days. Full Zanzibar marriage law here.

Indian Ocean

Madagascar

You will need: it is not possible to get married in Madagascar unless you live there, so having a blessing is the easiest way to celebrate your wedding.

Mauritius

You will need: photocopies of first 3 pages of passports, 2 passport photos each, non-resident certificate, if divorced your former marriage certificate, all required documents above, if the bride has been divorced less than 10 months she must have a Mauritian doctor's certificate stating she is not pregnant. Residency requirement: 3 days. Full Mauritius marriage law here.

Seychelles

You will need: photocopies of first 2 pages of passports, certificate of no impediment, all required documents above. Residency requirement: 2 days. Full Seychelles marriage law here.