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01 Home Affairs Documents

Unabridged MarriageCertificate

The full marriage certificate you need for use abroad, obtained for you. We apply to Home Affairs on your behalf, follow the application through, and collect the certificate, so you avoid the queues and the long wait.

Handled for couples across Cape Town, Rivonia, and Pretoria.

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A married couple preparing their unabridged marriage certificate documents for use abroad
Obtained On Your Behalf
02 What It Is

The full marriage certificate

When you marry in South Africa, you receive an abridged (short) marriage certificate. It is accepted inside the country, but for anything abroad you need the unabridged version. The unabridged marriage certificate is the full record. It lists both spouses' full details, and it is the version foreign embassies, consulates and institutions ask for.

You are likely to need it for a spouse or partner visa, immigration or permanent residence abroad, registering your marriage or a child's birth in another country, a foreign passport application, or cross-border legal matters.

Common reasons couples need it

  • Spouse and partner visa applications
  • Immigration and permanent residence abroad
  • Registering a marriage or a child's birth overseas
  • Foreign passport and citizenship applications
  • Cross-border legal and financial matters

Important since December 2016: marriage officers can no longer apply for the unabridged certificate on your behalf. Couples now have to apply in person at Home Affairs, which is exactly the step we handle for you.

03 Why Use Us

We handle the part that takes the time

Applying for an unabridged marriage certificate is not difficult, it is slow and easy to get wrong. The wait can run well beyond the official estimate, and a small error on the form sends you back to the start. We manage the whole process so you do not have to.

We apply on your behalf

We complete and submit the Home Affairs application (form BI-130) correctly the first time, so it is not rejected for a missing detail.

We follow it through

The official estimate is 6 to 8 weeks, but it often takes longer, especially for older marriages. We follow up so your application does not sit forgotten in a queue.

You skip the queues

No taking a day off to stand in line at Home Affairs. We handle the submission and collection, and keep you updated along the way.

Ready for use abroad

Most foreign authorities also need the certificate legalised. We can arrange the apostille or attestation once it is issued, so it is accepted the first time.

Need your unabridged marriage certificate for use abroad?

Speak to a Consultant
04 How We Work

Our Process

  1. Consultation & Details

    We confirm what you need the certificate for and gather the marriage and identity details required.

  2. Application Prepared

    We complete the Home Affairs application accurately and check everything before it goes in.

  3. Submission & Follow-Up

    We submit to Home Affairs and follow the application through, keeping you updated on progress.

  4. Collection & Legalisation

    We collect the issued certificate and, if you need it, arrange the apostille or attestation for use abroad.

Prepared correctly. Submitted properly. Followed through.

05 Get Started

Let us obtain your marriage certificate

Tell us what you need it for and we will handle the rest, from the Home Affairs application to collection, and the legalisation if you are using it abroad. Offices in Cape Town, Rivonia and Pretoria.

Speak to a Consultant

OVW Management Group is not a government agency and does not issue certificates. We provide application, submission and collection support. Home Affairs fees and timelines are set by the Department of Home Affairs. Please confirm the current fee with us or with Home Affairs.