Getting married in Dubai for Indian nationals requires certain procedures and fulfilling specific requirements. These procedures and conditions vary depending on the nationality of the partner you plan to marry, whether they are Indian or foreign, and where the Marriage will be solemnized. If you are an Indian national looking to get married in Dubai, you must approach the Consulate General of India in Dubai to register your Marriage. This guide will provide a step-by-step breakdown of the process of getting married in Dubai for Indian nationals, including the required documents, fees, and timelines.
(A) Marriage solemnization at the Consulate
The Consulate performs the solemnization/registration of marriages between two persons, where at least one is an Indian citizen with a residence visa of the UAE, following the Foreign Marriage Act of 1969. However, marriages, where the bride, groom, or both are Muslims are not solemnized at the Consulate. To solemnize/register a marriage at the Consulate, the following documents must be submitted for processing the request:
Document requirements for marriages:
(1) Marriage of an Indian national with another Indian national.
- (i) Marriage registration fee of AED 198.
- (ii) Original passport and passport copies, visa copies, and Emirates ID copies of the prospective bride and groom.
- (iii) Singleness Certificate / Divorce decree / Death certificate
- (iv) Four passport-size photographs of the bride and groom.
- (v) Original and self-attested passport copies, visa copies, and Emirates ID copies of three witnesses.
- (vi) Four duly filled-in copies of the form for ‘Notice of Intended Marriage.’
- (vii) Two duly filled-in copies of the form for Declaration by Prospective Bride and Groom.
(2) Marriage of an Indian national with a foreign national
In addition to the above requirements, the following documents are required for the Marriage of an Indian national with a foreign national:
- (i) A non-impediment certificate certifying the singleness of the foreign national from their respective Embassy/Consulate. It should be duly attested by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Government of UAE. If the Embassy/Consulate does not issue such a certificate, the respective Embassy/Consulate must submit a Sworn Affidavit.
- (ii) A certificate from the Consulate of the foreign national stating that their country’s respective law does not prohibit their nationals from marrying foreign nationals.
(B) For Marriage solemnized outside the Consulate at Church/Gurudwara/Temple/Local Court
(1) Marriage of an Indian national with another Indian national.
The following Document requirements for Marriage solemnized outside the Consulate at Church/Gurudwara/Temple/Local Court:
- (i) Marriage registration fee of AED 198
- (ii) Original passport and passport copies, visa copies, and Emirates ID copies of the prospective bride and groom.
- (iii) Singleness Certificate / Divorce decree / Death certificate
- (iv) Original and self-attested passport copies, visa copies, and Emirates ID copies of three witnesses.
- (v) Two passport-size photographs of the bride and groom.
- (vi) Marriage certificate from the Church/Gurudwara/Temple/Local Court.
- (vii) Duly filled in a form for ‘Registration of Foreign Marriage at the Consulate General of India in Dubai. Separate forms are to be filed by the bride and groom.
(2) Marriage between an Indian national and a foreign national
For a marriage between an Indian national and a foreign national, in addition to the above requirements, the following documents are also required:
- (i) A non-impediment certificate from the foreign national’s respective Embassy/Consulate, certifying their singleness. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Government of UAE, should attest to the certificate. If the Embassy/Consulate does not issue such a certificate, the respective Embassy/Consulate must submit a Sworn Affidavit.
- (ii) A certificate from the Consulate of the foreign national stating that their country’s respective law does not prohibit their nationals from marrying foreign nationals.
Note: The documents issued in UAE are considered valid for three months from the date of issue, and those issued outside UAE are valid for six months if no validity is specified.
Procedure for Marriage of Indian Nationals in Dubai
- The couple along with three (3) witnesses must appear before the Marriage Officer for signatures with their original passports and their photocopy, both at the time of submission of forms and solemnization of the Marriage. Photocopies of passports are required only at the time of submission of the form.
- After submitting the forms, the couple must give a newspaper notice for publication in a local English newspaper (UAE) and an English newspaper in India (at the place of permanent residence as indicated in the passport). The advertisement should contain the full text provided by the Consulate.
- After the publication of the notice, the original newspaper needs to be submitted. A date, at least 30 days after the date of the last publication of the notice, is assigned for the solemnization of Marriage.
- A day prior to the date of solemnization of the Marriage, the couple and witnesses must present their original passports to the Marriage Officer.
- On the scheduled date, the prospective couple and the three witnesses must come to the Consulate for the solemnization/registration of the Marriage. They should carry their original passports.
Marriage solemnization/registration requests for divorcee:
Marriage solemnization/registration requests for divorcees are evaluated on a case-by-case basis.
- If the divorce decree was issued in India, it must be attested by the Home Department of the State where it was issued and by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) in New Delhi.
- For a decree issued in the UAE, a legally translated English version attested by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) must be submitted for consideration by the Consulate.
- If the decree was issued in a third country, an English translation attested by their Foreign Office and/or Indian Mission there or MOFA (in the case of a foreign national) must be submitted for consideration by the Consulate.
- The processing time for this procedure may take at least 45 days from the date of the advertisement’s publication.
Streamline Your Marriage Process with the Help of a Marriage Lawyer at Dubai Court Marriage
Getting married in Dubai for Indian nationals can be a smooth and hassle-free process with the help of experienced marriage lawyers at Dubai Court Marriage. By following the necessary steps and providing the required documents, couples can solemnize their Marriage at the Consulate General of India in Dubai or in a religious institution of their choice. It is important to note that the process may take some time, and it is best to plan and consult with a marriage lawyer to ensure a successful outcome. With the proper guidance and support, Indian couples can have a memorable and legally recognized marriage in Dubai.