Registering For My Big Nigerian Wedding: A Step-By-Step Guide

How to Register for My Big Nigerian Wedding

Nigerian weddings are colourful, creative, and extravagant affairs, with guest lists of up to 2,000 people. The process of registering for a wedding in Nigeria involves a series of steps and requirements that must be fulfilled. Firstly, it is important to distinguish between two types of marriages recognised under Nigerian law: Ordinary Marriage, between two Nigerians, and Special Marriage, between a Nigerian and non-Nigerian or two non-Nigerians in Nigeria. Registration must be completed at a local public registry, requiring a Letter of Marriage Intention and a fee. A couple under 18 must present a letter of consent from their parents. After 21 days, provided there are no objections, the marriage can be registered. Required documents include birth certificates, HIV and genotype test results, divorce or death certificates, and more.

Registering a marriage in Nigeria: the legal process

Marriage in Nigeria is a legal union between two people that is recognised by the state. The process of registering a marriage in Nigeria is relatively straightforward and can be completed by following a few key steps. Here is a detailed guide to the legal process of registering a marriage in Nigeria.

Step 1: Determine the type of marriage

In Nigeria, there are two types of marriages recognised by law: Ordinary Marriage and Special Marriage. Ordinary Marriage refers to a union between two Nigerian citizens, while Special Marriage refers to a marriage between a Nigerian and a non-Nigerian, or between two non-Nigerians in Nigeria. It is important to note that the registration process may vary slightly depending on the type of marriage being registered.

Step 2: Prepare the required documents

Several documents must be presented to register a marriage in Nigeria. These include:

• Birth certificates or official documents showing the ages of the couple
• Results of HIV and genotype tests
• Divorce certificate (if applicable)
• Death certificate of previous spouse (if applicable)
• Evidence of annulment from a Federal High Court (if applicable)
• Sworn Affidavit of Bachelorhood/Spinsterhood from a Federal High Court or certificate
• Affidavit of Marriage
• International passport data page and arrival passport stamp (if living abroad)
• Residence permit (if living abroad)

Step 3: Submit the online application

The marriage application can be completed through the eCITIBIZ portal. Both parties must provide the required documents, and there may be associated fees. Once the application is submitted, the couple will be required to take an oath.

Step 4: Letter of Marriage Intention

After the online application is complete, a Letter of Marriage Intention must be submitted to the local public registry, along with a fee of Naira 2,000. The registry will then display the letter on a public notice board for 21 days. If there are no objections during this period, the couple may proceed with the registration.

Step 5: Oath-taking and registration

On the selected date, the couple must return to the registry with one witness each and items such as wedding rings or a Bible/Quran. They will then take their oaths, exchange vows witnessed by a marriage registrar, and finalise the registration process.

It is important to note that the registration process may vary slightly depending on the state and local regulations. Additionally, there may be specific requirements for minors under 18 years of age who wish to register a marriage, including parental consent.

The two types of marriage in Nigeria

There are two types of marriage that are recognised under Nigerian law: ordinary marriage and special marriage. Ordinary marriage refers to a marriage between two Nigerians, while special marriage refers to a marriage between a Nigerian and a non-Nigerian, or between two non-Nigerians in Nigeria.

In addition to these two types of statutory marriages, there are also traditional or customary marriages. Traditional marriages are usually arranged between two families, rather than two individuals, and may involve the paying of a bride price, giving of gifts, and other customs.

Registering a Marriage in Nigeria

To register a marriage in Nigeria, a Letter of Marriage Intention must be displayed on the public notice board of the local public registry for 21 days. If there are no objections, the couple can then register their marriage by providing the necessary documentation and paying a fee. The marriage can be solemnised at a registered place of worship or the office of the Registrar. If solemnised at a place of worship, it must be done under the supervision of registered clergy. The final step is signing the marriage certificate, which must be witnessed by two people and the officiant.

The documents required for marriage registration

Registering a marriage in Nigeria requires a trip to the local public registry or an online application. There are two types of marriages recognised under Nigerian law: ordinary marriages, between two Nigerians, and special marriages, between a Nigerian and non-Nigerian or two non-Nigerians in Nigeria. The following documents are required for marriage registration:

Ordinary Marriage

• Certificate Birth/Age Declaration
• Passport photographs
• Applicable Proof of Single status (Bachelorhood/Spinsterhood Certificate or Sworn Affidavit from a Law/Federal High Court)
• Affidavit/valid proof of Marriage (if already married)
• Proof/Decree absolute of Divorce (if divorced)
• Former Spouse’s Certificate of Death (if widowed)
• Proof of Annulment from court (if previous marriage was annulled)
• Sworn Affidavit for possession of Child/Children (if single with child/children)

Special Marriage

• Certificate Birth/Age Declaration
• Passport photographs
• Applicable Proof of Single status (Bachelorhood/Spinsterhood Certificate or Sworn Affidavit from a Law Court)
• Affidavit/valid proof of Marriage (if already married)
• Proof/Decree absolute of Divorce (if divorced)
• Former Spouse’s Certificate of Death (if widowed)
• Proof of Annulment from court (if previous marriage was annulled)
• Sworn Affidavit for possession of Child/Children (if single with child/children)
• Identification/Indigene Letter from State of Origin (Nigerians only)
• International Passport Data Page (people living abroad)
• Arrival Passport Stamp Page (people living abroad)
• Residence Permit (people living abroad)

In addition to the above, both types of marriages require the following:

• A Letter of Marriage Intention
• Payment of a fee of Naira 2,000
• Birth certificates or official documents showing the ages of the couple
• Results of HIV and genotype tests
• A witness each from both parties on the wedding day (not gender-specific)
• Two rings (male and female) or a Bible/Quran

The role of the Federal Marriage Registries

The Federal Marriage Registries are authorised by the Ministry of the Interior to conduct marriages and issue marriage certificates. There are 12 Federal Marriage Registries in Nigeria, located in 11 states: Ikoyi, Lagos State; Abuja, Federal Capital Territory; Benin, Edo State; Owerri, Imo State; Port Harcourt, Rivers State; Kano, Kano State; Jos, Plateau State; Enugu, Enugu; Kaduna, Kaduna; Ibadan, Oyo State; Ikeja, Lagos State; and Makurdi, Benue State.

The Federal Marriage Registries are responsible for the registration of Ordinary and Special marriages. Ordinary marriages are those between two Nigerians, and Special marriages are between a Nigerian and non-Nigerian, or two non-Nigerians in Nigeria. The registration process requires a Letter of Marriage Intention, which is displayed on a public noticeboard for 21 days, and a fee of Naira 2,000. If there are no objections, the couple may then register their marriage, providing birth certificates or other official documents showing their ages, as well as the results of HIV and genotype tests. Divorcees must also produce a divorce certificate, and widows or widowers must present their spouse's death certificate.

The Federal Marriage Registries also offer a range of other services, including the re-issuance of marriage certificates for couples who did not marry in line with the Marriage Act (2004), change of venue applications, and the provision of certified true copies of marriage certificates.

The cost of marriage registration

Marriage registration in Nigeria can be done at a local public registry or at one of the two Federal Marriage Registries in Abuja and Lagos. The process involves several steps and associated costs, which are outlined below.

Local Public Registry

To register a marriage at a local public registry, a Letter of Marriage Intention must be submitted, along with a fee of Naira 2,000. If either party is under 18 years of age, a letter of consent from their parents is required. The letter will be displayed on a public notice board for 21 days, during which any objections to the marriage can be made.

After the 21-day period, the couple must provide birth certificates or official documents showing their ages, as well as the results of HIV and genotype tests. If either party is a divorcee, a divorce certificate must be presented, while a widow or widower must provide the death certificate of their late spouse.

Federal Marriage Registry

The Federal Marriage Registries in Abuja and Lagos offer various services, including the registration of ordinary and special marriages, the issuance and re-issuance of secured federal marriage certificates, booking of marriage dates, change of venue, and application for certified true copies of documents. The cost of a marriage certificate varies depending on the type of marriage. As of July 1, 2020, the fee for a Statutory Ordinary Marriage certificate is N15,000, while the fee for a Statutory Special Licence is N25,000. These fees represent a reduction from the previously charged amounts of N21,000 and N35,000, respectively.

Additionally, there are fees associated with the inspection of places of worship and organisations requesting expatriate quotas. These fees depend on the location and range from N45,000 to N150,000.

Overall Costs

While the exact costs may vary depending on the location and specific circumstances, the overall cost of marriage registration in Nigeria can be expected to be in the range of a few thousand naira to tens of thousands of naira. This includes the cost of the marriage certificate, inspection fees, and any additional charges for special requests or expedited services.

Frequently asked questions