An Afghan national and an Indian citizen can marry in India under the Special Marriage Act, after 30 days' residence in the district, or under their personal law with registration. A marriage performed in Afghanistan is generally recognised if valid there, and where no usable certificate exists we help prove it with affidavits and witnesses, or register it in India where the law allows.
- Document route
- Case by case: Indian mission in Kabul where available, or Indian documents and third-country routes
- Time difference
- IST is 1 hour ahead of Afghanistan all year
- Hindu marriages
- Section 8, Hindu Marriage Act 1955
- Civil marriage
- Special Marriage Act 1954
Marriage Registration from Afghanistan: how it works
For a new marriage, we prepare the notice under the Special Marriage Act, the affidavits of single status and the foreign party's documents, deal with objections and arrange the solemnisation. For a religious marriage, we arrange registration with the registrar under the applicable state rules.
For an earlier marriage in Afghanistan, we assess what evidence exists and whether a declaratory route or a fresh registration is best. We also advise on visas, long-term visas and citizenship for the spouse.
What clients in Afghanistan should know
- The foreign party will need a passport and proof of single status.
- Keep name spellings consistent across all documents.
- Registration helps later in property and succession matters.
Step by step from Afghanistan
Video consultation
A call at a time that suits Afghanistan, after we have read your documents.
Documents signed in Afghanistan
Case by case: Indian mission in Kabul where available, or Indian documents and third-country routes
Work in India
Our team files, appears and follows up in India, and shares scans of everything filed.
Result and handover
Certified copies and originals are couriered to you in Afghanistan where needed.
The full guide
This page covers what changes when you are in Afghanistan. For the law, the documents and the step-by-step procedure, read our main page on Marriage Registration, or see all services for clients in Afghanistan and the Cross-Border Family Law practice area.
Questions from clients in Afghanistan
Can an Afghan national marry an Indian citizen in India?
Yes, under the Special Marriage Act or personal law, after the notice period.
We married in Kabul but have no certificate. What can we do?
We can prove the marriage with evidence or, in some cases, register it in India.
Will marriage give my spouse Indian citizenship?
Not automatically. Citizenship by registration has its own conditions.