Getting Married in Sri Lanka  

We would like to congratulate you on your decision to get married in Sri Lanka. To marry in Sri Lanka, please ensure that you have the documents listed below.

The legal requirements for registering marriages of foreign nationals in Sri Lanka are straightforward. You are required to produce the following documents to the Additional District Registrar of the area where your marriage will take place.

Required Documents

• Valid passports of the couple wishing to get married.

• The following documents should be certified by the Foreign & Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO)(for British nationals) or the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) in Ireland (for Irish Nationals) and legalised by the Sri Lanka High Commission, London.

• For other nationals living in the UK, the document should be certified by their respective Diplomatic Mission in the UK. A.  Original Birth certificates of the couple wishing to get married.

     B.  Unmarried/ Free to marry certificate- Unmarried certificate 

             i.     Singles - Unmarried/ Free to Marry Certificate

             ii.     If Divorced - Divorce Certificate and Unmarried/ Free to Marry Certificate.

             iii.     If widowed - The Death Certificate of the late spouse, the previous marriage certificate and the Unmarried/Free to Marry Certificate.

            Important -Unmarried Certificate / Free to Marry Certificate

              ·        An affidavit /statutory declaration signed by a solicitor to confirm who you are and your present status (unmarried/ free to marry). 

              ·        Separate affidavits for the period of time lived in different countries, which are certified/legalised by the UK Foreign Office/respective

                        Foreign Office & Sri Lankan Mission accredited to  the relevant country.

     C.  If you have changed your name, a Deed Poll (including divorcees who have reverted to their maiden names)

     D.  The original copy of the Security Clearance Certificate obtained from the security authorities (link – www.acro.police.uk). The application

           should confirm that the foreign party/parties have not been convicted of any offence (obtained within 06 months)

     E.   A self- Health declaration (Health Declaration Form) for the confirmation of the health conditions from the relevant foreign Party.

     F.   In addition, a tourist visa should be obtained to visit Sri Lanka to get married.

            Please use the following link for further details on how to apply (https://www.hc-london.gov.lk/en/tourist-visa-n-tourist-visa)

Procedure for obtaining the license issued by the Registrar General

          ·        The application should be forwarded to the Civil Registration Division of the Registrar General’s Department in Sri Lanka through the local

                   party in Sri Lanka or through an authorised agent of the local party. (For more details -https://www.rgd.gov.lk/)

          ·        Upon submission of the required documents to the Registrar General’s Department in Sri Lanka, a clearance report will be issued within 14

                   working days.

          ·        The license issued by the Registrar General is valid for up to 03 months from the date of issue.

          ·        The issued licence will be sent to the local party in Sri Lanka or to the authorised agent of the local party, who should submit it to the

                   Additional District Registrar under whose division the marriage is intended to be registered.

          ·        A copy of the licence will also be forwarded to the relevant Divisional Secretariat for reference.

Important

 ·        Applicants are required to have their Marriage Certificate authenticated by the Consular Affairs Division of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs,

          16 th Floor “Suhurupaya”  Sri Subhuthipura Rd, Battaramulla, (https://mfa.gov.lk/en/consular-affairs-division-2/), and subsequently

          counter-authenticated by this Mission within one year of the date of issue.

 ·        If the Marriage Certificate is issued in Sinhala or Tamil, applicants may obtain an official English translation from the Registrar General’s

          Department of Sri Lanka (www.rgd.gov.lk). he translated certificate must also be authenticated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Battaramulla

         and counter-authenticated by this Mission.

·        Only after completing the above authentication process will the Marriage Certificate be valid for submission to authorities outside Sri Lanka.

Contact Information

Legalisation/Certification Fees and Payment Details

*Other applicable charges will apply.

• Method of Payment – Cash, Debit/Credit card, Postal Order (Postal Order should be drawn in favour of the Sri Lanka High Commission)

• Fees paid will not be refunded under any circumstances.

Instructions for sending documents by post

(Only if the applicant is unable to visit the High Commission in person, in unavoidable circumstances)

·        Applicants who wish to submit their documents by post must send the original documents with the correct fee in a Postal Order, drawn in favour of

         the Sri  Lankan High Commission

·        Applicants must provide a self-addressed prepaid Special Delivery envelope for the return of original documents and the payment receipt.

·        If this is not provided, the original documents will be retained at the High Commission until collected in person or until a prepaid return envelope

         is provided.

·        The High Commission is not responsible for documents lost or damaged that are sent by post.