Franklin Dean
In Nigeria, marriage is registered at a local public registry, which requires a Letter of Marriage Intention and payment of a fee of Naira 2,000. The registry will display the Letter of Marriage Intention for 21 days on a public noticeboard, and provided there is no objection, the couple may then register their marriage. In addition to the letter, there are other requirements for the registration of marriages, including the submission of birth certificates, HIV and genotype test results, and other documentation.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Location | Federal Marriage Registry, Lagos, Benin City, Jalingo, Uyo, Abuja, Owerri, Asaba |
| Registration type | Ordinary and Special marriages |
| Documents required | Letter of Marriage Intention, Indigene Letter/Letter of Identification, Sworn Affidavit of Spinsterhood, Affidavit of Marriage, Evidence of Divorce, Death certificate of Previous Husband, Evidence of Annulment, Sworn Affidavit of Single with Child/Children, Data Page of International Passport, Arrival Passport Stamp Page, Residence Permit, Birth certificates, HIV and genotype test results, colour copies of passport |
| Cost | Naira 2,000, USD 100 (official), up to USD 300 (foreigners) |
| Other requirements | One witness from each party, two rings or a Bible/Quran |
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What You'll Learn
Required documents for registration
To register a marriage in Nigeria, a couple must meet the legal requirements for marriage in the country. Both parties must be of marriageable age (18 years for most states) and neither party should be currently married under customary law or another form of marriage. If either party is under 21 years old, they must present a letter of consent from their parents or guardians.
The documents required for registration include:
- A Letter of Marriage Intention, displayed on a public noticeboard for 21 days before the marriage can be registered.
- Birth certificates or official documents showing the ages of the couple, along with the results of HIV and genotype tests.
- Two passport photographs each.
- A valid form of identification, such as a passport or driver's license.
- Evidence of citizenship or residence, such as a passport stamp or residence permit (if living abroad).
- A sworn affidavit of bachelorhood/spinsterhood from a Federal High Court or a bachelorhood/spinsterhood certificate (if applicable).
- An affidavit of marriage (if already married).
- Evidence of divorce or annulment from a Federal High Court or court (if previously married).
- A death certificate of a previous spouse (if widowed).
- A sworn affidavit of single status with child/children (if applicable).
- Two rings or a Bible/Quran.
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Registration costs and fees
The registration cost for a wedding in Nigeria depends on the type of marriage. An Ordinary marriage costs 21,000 naira, while a Special marriage costs 35,000 naira. A change of venue costs an additional 30,000 naira. The timeline for an ordinary marriage is 21 days, while that of a special marriage is 7 days.
There are also additional costs to consider. For example, a Letter of Marriage Intention must be submitted to the local public registry, which requires a payment of 2,000 naira. Additionally, birth certificates or official documents showing the ages of the couple, as well as the results of HIV and genotype tests, are required. There may also be costs associated with obtaining these documents.
It is important to note that the costs may vary depending on the specific state and location of the marriage registry. For example, one user reported being charged 53,000 naira for an ordinary marriage in Jos Plateau State, which is higher than the standard cost of an ordinary marriage.
Furthermore, there may be additional fees for other services, such as the issuance of marriage certificates, which cost 15,000 naira each, or the booking of a marriage date. These fees are subject to change and may vary depending on the specific marriage registry.
It is always advisable to contact the relevant marriage registry directly to inquire about the specific costs and fees associated with registering a marriage in Nigeria.
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Location and timing
In Nigeria, marriage is registered at a local public registry, which requires a Letter of Marriage Intention and payment of a fee of Naira 2,000. There are Federal Marriage Registries in several states, including Lagos, Abuja, Benin City, Owerri, Jalingo, Asaba, and Uyo. These registries offer various services such as the registration of ordinary and special marriages, the issuance and reissue of marriage certificates, booking a marriage date, and change of venue.
It is important to note that there may be specific days of the week when marriage ceremonies are performed at the registry, such as Thursdays and Saturdays in Lagos. Additionally, there might be a compulsory "counselling" session that all couples marrying that week must attend. Therefore, it is advisable to check with the relevant registry office to confirm the available dates and times for the wedding ceremony.
Regarding timing, there are a few things to consider. Firstly, it is recommended to submit all the necessary documents with photos at least one month in advance. This includes documents such as birth certificates, passports, visa pages, and evidence of divorce or annulment if applicable. Secondly, on the day of the marriage, Nigerian couples are typically given priority, so there may be a waiting period of a couple of hours before the ceremony begins.
Additionally, the cost of registering a marriage may vary for foreigners. While the official payment is USD 100, foreigners may end up paying up to USD 300, as mentioned by a user on TripAdvisor. It is always advisable to be prepared to pay more than expected to account for any unexpected fees or charges.
Lastly, it is worth noting that there are specific requirements for individuals under the age of 18 who wish to register a marriage. In such cases, a letter of consent from the parents or legal guardians is required.
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Marriage requirements
To register a marriage in Nigeria, you must go to a local public registry. This requires a Letter of Marriage Intention and payment of a fee of Naira 2,000. If either party is under 18 years of age, they must present a letter of consent from their parents or guardian. The registry will display the Letter of Marriage Intention for 21 days on a public notice board. If there are no objections during this period, the marriage can be registered.
In addition, birth certificates or official documents showing the ages of the couple are required, along with the results of HIV and genotype tests. You must also provide two witnesses, one from each side, and two rings or a Bible/Quran.
If applicable, you must also provide the following:
- Indigene Letter/Letter of Identification from the State of Origin (for Nigerians only)
- Sworn Affidavit of Spinsterhood from a Federal High Court/Spinsterhood Certificate (if a spinster)
- Affidavit of Marriage (if already married)
- Evidence of Divorce - Decree 90 and Decree Absolute (if divorced)
- Death certificate of a previous spouse (if widowed)
- Evidence of Annulment from a Federal High Court (if a previous marriage was annulled)
- Sworn Affidavit of Single with Child/Children (if single with a child or children)
- Data Page of International Passport (if living abroad)
- Arrival Passport Stamp Page (if living abroad)
- Residence Permit (if living abroad)
For foreigners, a Certificate of No Impediment to Marriage (CNI) is usually not required. However, you may need to provide colour copies of your passport (including the inside, VISA, and passport photos), as well as a certificate of bachelorhood.
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Marriage certificates
To obtain a marriage certificate in Nigeria, couples must register their marriage at a local public registry. This requires a Letter of Marriage Intention, which is displayed on a public noticeboard for 21 days, and the payment of a Naira 2,000 fee. If there are no objections to the marriage, the couple can then register.
Both parties must provide birth certificates or official documents showing their ages, as well as the results of HIV and genotype tests. If either party is under 18, they must present a letter of consent from their parents.
There are two types of marriages recognised under Nigerian law: ordinary marriages, between two Nigerians, and special marriages. The Federal Marriage Registries in Lagos, Abuja, Benin City, Owerri, Jalingo, Asaba, and Uyo offer various services for couples, including the registration of ordinary and special marriages, the issuance and re-issue of federal marriage certificates, and the booking of the wedding date.
To obtain a marriage certificate, couples must present the following documents:
- Indigene Letter/Letter of Identification from the State of Origin (Nigerians only)
- Sworn Affidavit of Bachelorhood/Bachelorhood Certificate (if bachelor)
- Sworn Affidavit of Spinsterhood/Spinsterhood Certificate (if spinster)
- Affidavit of Marriage (if already married)
- Evidence of Divorce - Decree 90 and Decree Absolute (if divorced)
- Death certificate of previous spouse (if widowed)
- Evidence of Annulment from a Federal High Court (if the previous marriage was annulled)
- Sworn Affidavit of Single with Child/Children (if single with child/children)
- Data Page of International Passport (if living abroad)
- Arrival Passport Stamp Page (if living abroad)
- Residence Permit (if living abroad)
On the wedding day, each party must provide one witness and present two rings or a Bible/Quran.
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Frequently asked questions
Registry weddings in Nigeria are performed at a local public registry. The couple must submit all possible documents with photos at least a month in advance, and on the day of the wedding, they will need to provide two rings or a Bible/Quran and one witness each.
The specific documents required may vary, but in general, you will need to provide a Letter of Marriage Intention, birth certificates or official documents showing the ages of the couple, and the results of HIV and genotype tests. If either party is under 18, a letter of consent from their parents is also required.
The official payment for a registry wedding in Nigeria is USD 100, but foreigners often end up paying up to USD 300. There may also be additional costs for things like counselling sessions and marriage certificates.
There does not appear to be a specific dress code for registry weddings in Nigeria. Brides have been known to wear traditional African dress or white dresses.
Federal Marriage Registries can be found in Benin City, Edo State; Ikoyi, Lagos State; Jalingo, Taraba State; Asaba, Delta State; Uyo, Akwa Ibom State; and Owerri, Imo State.
