Letter of No Impediment to Marry
Are you South African citizen living abroad and wanting to enter into marriage?
Then you will require a Letter or Certificate of no Impediment to Marriage.
The letter of no impediment, sometimes referred to as a certificate of no impediment to Marriage is required where a South African citizen living abroad intends to register their marriage abroad. Overseas home affairs offices often require foreign citizens to present a certificate of No Impediment to Marriage prior to the issuing of a marriage license.
The South African letter of no impediment is simply confirmation of a couples marital status prior to entering into Matrimony as registered by the Department of Home Affairs
Who can apply for a Letter of No Impediment to Marry and where?
Letters of no impediment can be applied for at any South African Home Affairs office or any South African consulate abroad. Any South African wishing to enter into marriage and living abroad is entitled to apply for a certificate of no Impediment to Marriage.
It’s important to note that different countries refer to this document differently
Common terms include:
- A letter or certificate of no impediment to marriage
- A declaration of non impediment to marriage
- Statutory declaration of single status
- A certificate of no impediment
- A letter of non-impediment
- A certificate of freedom to marry
- A certificate of Nulla Osta
- Certifiate de Countume
- A statement in lieu of a certificate of non-impediment to marriage abroad
- An affidavit of intended marriage
What is a Letter of No Impediment to Marry?
A Letter of No Impediment To Marry is a printed document issued by the South African Department of Home Affairs depicting the following information:
- The date
- A person’s full fore names and surname
- A person’s identification number
- A person’s date and place of birth
- Confirmation of a person’s South African nationality
- The person’s gender
- A statement by the applicant declaring their marital status and their intention to marry
- The applicant’s signature
- A witness’ signature
Note that a specific procedure must be followed before a South African Home Affairs office or consulate will issue a letter of no impediment and there are number of stipulations that will need to be adhered to prior to a South African Home Affairs office issuing a Letter Of No Impediment.