Getting married in Africa can be relatively straight forward, depending on the country you choose. Kenya and South Africa are some of the more popular African countries in which to exchange your vows, while North African countries involve more paperwork but if you are patient it is possible to get married there.
Below you can find the main documents required by each country, but make sure you also check with your embassy for a full list of all documentation as this varies depending on your country of residence.
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 their country
Certificate of Single Status/Sworn affidavit that you are free to marry
These are similar to Certificate of No Impediment but instead you have to swear you are single in front of a legal representative
North Africa
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 religous 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
Egypt
You will need: certificate of no impediment legalised by the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affiars, 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 & 10 days of being widowed. Residency requirement: none, but 2 or 3 days to arrange the paperwork.
Southern & Eastern Africa
Kenya
You will need: all required documents above. Residency requirement: none.
Tanzania
You will need: certificate of no impediment, if divorced your former marriage certificate and you cannot remarry within 6 months of a divorce, if widowed your former marriage certificate, all required documents above. Residency requirement: none.
Zanzibar
You will need: certificate 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 religous ceremony you will need a letter from your church stating you have fulfilled the requirements for marriage. Residency requirement: 2 days
South Africa
You will need: all required documents above. Residency requirement: none.
