In South Africa, an abridged marriage certificate is issued by default by the Department of Home Affairs after a marriage. Some newlyweds receive this certificate right after they get married. Those living, working, and planning to stay in South Africa should be able to use this certificate.
Once you are registered at Home Affairs, you can pick up a copy of your abridged marriage certificate at most DHA offices. The unabridged version can also be ordered through the Home Affairs system, but it requires an application and a lengthy wait. Although both certificates are valuable, there are several differences between them.
You may need an unabridged marriage certificate for legal reasons. In this article, we’ll explain what it is and how we can help you obtain one.
You can prove that you are legally married if you have an unabridged marriage certificate. Despite not requiring wedding licenses, unabridged marriage certificates are official records that indicate the couple has entered into a partnership.
The unabridged marriage certificate is considered to serve two purposes by some authorities: first, it proves the validity of the marriage, and second, it proves it was witnessed by appropriate witnesses. Also known as “full marriage certificates” or “long marriage certificates”, unabridged marriage certificates contain all the information that is required by law.
If you intend to travel internationally or apply for a visa to certain countries, you will need your unabridged marriage certificate before applying for other travel documentation. You may also need the document for citizenship applications, adoptions, etc.
The Department of Home Affairs is the only agency that issues unabridged marriage certificates in South Africa. In general, these certificates are issued to people who reside outside of South Africa or who plan to travel outside the country. An application will not likely be denied if you do not live in South Africa.
Emigration or passport applications require an unabridged marriage certificate. Unabridged marriage certificates have an apostille stamp and signature, whereas those that are abridged do not.
Unabridged marriage certificates contain more information than abridged ones. Unabridged marriage certificates offer a greater degree of proof of marriage and can also be used legally.
Need an unabridged marriage certificate? We can assist. If you go directly through DHA, it can take up to two years. If you use an agent like ourselves, it will take up to three months. Let DocAssist help you get your legal documents fast and efficiently. Get in touch today!