If you are intending to get married in Tanzania, a certificate of no impediment from your home country is required
Documents Required
- you were never married before
- you are divorced and attach the relevant divorce certificate or
- you were widowed and produce/attach the relevant document.
This certificate proves that no legal impediment to the intended marriage is known to the responsible authority in your country. Other useful documents to have are Birth certificate, or personal information from registrar of population in your country. If you intend to be married in church a letter from your Pastor/Priest will be helpful.
"NOTICE OF MARRIAGE" AND APPLICATION FOR “SPECIAL MARRIAGES LICENSE”
If you have less than 21 days required to put "a notice of intention to marry", you need to make an application for “Special Marriages Licence” from the Registrar of Marriages An application form for “Special Marriages Licence” will be issued and dully filled and a copy of the certificate of no impediment attached to it. The form must be signed and legalised by a lawyer or an advocate. The form must then go back the Registrar of Marriages where it will be checked, a fee will be paid and the "Special Marriage License" will be issued.
With this license the couple must report to the District Commissioner’s office, Church or Mosque (depending on the place where the marriage will take place and the person who will solemnise the marriage) to set the date of the marriage. Two witnesses selected by the couple (resident or non-resident) will have to accompany the couple on the marriage date. After the ceremony, a Tanzanian Marriage Certificate (in duplicate) will be issued.
ABIDING TO THE RULES OF YOUR COUNTRY:
If an International Certificate of Marriage is required on your return to your country, the Tanzanian marriage certificate must then be brought back to the Registrar of Marriages (Arusha Office) for registration by filling in form No. RGM 111 (Application for registration for a foreign marriage). A fee of approximately TZS 22,000 is paid to obtain a copy of the entry in the Register of Foreign Marriages. An additional TZS 7,000 is required for the International Marriage Certificate to be issued before leaving Tanzania. This International Marriage Certificate must be certified by the Tanzanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs - Legal Department before being presented to your Embassy for legalisation.
The legalised document can then be recorded with your Municipality/Commune/Civil Record Office. Please contact your Embassy in Tanzania for any further information on this.
Marriage in Zanzibar
Information on marriage in Zanzibar can be obtained from:
REGIONAL COMMISSIONER'S OFFICE
Town Council - Vuga, Zanzibar Town
Tel: +255 24 230246/7
HIGH COURT
Town Council
Vuga, Zanzibar Town
Tel: +255 24 230182
Requirements are
- Birth Certificate in English
- Passport
- Two witnesses (can be locally provided if necessary) and
- The marriage vows
Marriage Certificates of Zanzibar must be certified by the Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs ad East African Cooperation in Dar es Salaam and other procedures given above.
GETTING MARRIED ABROAD (NDOA)
When a citizen of The United Republic of Tanzania desires to contract a marriage with a citizen of another country, a certificate of no impediment is needed if the law of that country requires him/her to produce one. This certificate is proof that no legal impediment to the intended marriage is known to the responsible authority in Tanzania (Registrar - General of Marriages).
The High Commission does not issue such certificates but is mandated to endorse and forward forms for application of certificates for no impediment (RGM. 12 ) directly to;
The Registration Insolvency and Trusteeship Agency (RITA).
Kipalapala Street, Upanga
P.O. Box 9183, Dar es Salaam.
Telephone: +255 2153069 (General line),
Fax: +255 2153075,
Please visit: LINK for more information and for downloading the (RGM. 12 )
Application form or Registrar of Marriages Zanzibar,
Office of the Registrar General
ZANZIBAR CIVIL STATUS REGISTRATION AGENCY (ZCSRA)
(WAKALA WA USAJILI WA MATUKIO YA KIJAMII ZANZIBAR)
Vitambulisho Street
Mazizini, Zanzibar
P. O. Box 4220.
Mobile: +255-777-978733
Web: https://www.zcsra.go.tz
When the certificate is issued, the applicant is supposed to bring it to the High Commission for endorsement. (Check with our High Commision / Embassy / Consulate)