The short answer is yes. If your divorce status has been correctly captured onto the National Population Registry, your status will be verified upon submission of documents.  In this case, we will accept documentation without the divorce decree.  On rare occasions, Home Affairs will still insist that some documentation is submitted.  In that case, we can draw up an affidavit for you to sign to submit on your behalf.

VERIFICATION OF MARITAL STATUS FOR COUPLE WISHING TO MARRY.

Home Affairs have set up digital and telephonic processes for your convenience to verify your Marital Status. However. there are times when these processes are not available to the public. Under such circumstances, we have been authorized to verify your Marital Status on your behalf.

• Please make every effort to use the services that Home Affairs provides before extending any request to us for verification.
• Should your efforts prove fruitless, do make direct contact with us via our contact page, We would be happy to apply on your behalf.
• We would require copies of your Identity Documents
• Please also note that we will only be authorized to verify your status during our scheduled Home Affairs visits.
• Following our request, the attending Home Affairs official will verify your Marital Status on the Population Registry.
• We will then be happy to provide appropriate feedback to you and advise on the next steps in your new marriage solemnization process.

Home affairs will not register your marriage if your status reflects as “married” on the system.
It is advisable that you take your Divorce Certificate or your late spouse’s Death Certificate to home affairs
to ask that they correct the status detail on the Population Registry.
This sometimes takes 3 or more months to amend.

If this creates a timing crises for you, please make contact with us.  We will make more specific suggestions to assist.

You will receive your official issue Abridged Marriage Certificate (DHA – 27) on your wedding day. This is a hand written document issued by your Marriage Officer/Celebrant.

This is the most formal and complete form of Marriage Certificate – issued by any Home Affairs office.

All couples who intend to register their marriage internationally or prove the detail of their marriage for legal purposes internationally, will require this Unabridged Marriage Certificate.

Vault copies are also obtainable if required.

Apply at any Home Affairs office. (You will require a copy of your Registry Document from your Marriage Officer/Celebrant.)

The expected waiting time is 3-6 months.

You can also use the services of a fast track company who will manage the process for you.  Please make contact if you require more detail.

Normally within 2 weeks of your marriage the process will be completed by the registration of your marriage onto the Population Registry.

Any discrepancy – or documentation difficulty might delay the process.  Your Marriage Officer/Celebrant will probably be in touch with you to rectify the issue.

There is no waiting period.
You may marry on the day you arrive in South Africa.

One of the following options are available to you:
Keep your current surname;
Join your current surname with your new husband’s surname (double-barrel surname)
Assume your husband’s surname

The surname that you would like to assume will be recorded on the marriage register.
Home Affairs will capture the stipulated detail when your marriage is registered.

A week or two after the wedding you may apply to Home Affairs for a new ID book or passport reflecting your new surname.

Your marriage is a legal contract with a financial component to it.