Marriage Registration Requirements in Nigeria: A Comprehensive Guide

Dec 01, 2025 0

Embarking on the journey of marriage in Nigeria involves more than just exchanging vows. It is important to understand the legal requirements to ensure a valid and recognized union, as marriage is not only a cultural and social institution but also a legally binding contract.

In Nigeria, there are three types of marriages that are legally recognized. Intestinally and legally too, the three types of marriage command the same degree of legal recognition in Nigeria.

Types of Marriages in Nigeria

There are three types of marriages that are legally recognized in Nigeria:

Marriage under the Act: This is a type of marriage that is purely regulated by some statutory provisions of the Marriage Act.
Islamic Marriage: This type of marriage is celebrated purely on Islamic doctrines and injunctions.
Native and Customary Marriage: The requirement for the celebration of native and customary marriage varies from one tribe to another tribe in Nigeria.

There is nothing like court marriage in Nigeria. Marriage under the act is not a court marriage. It is important to state here that court does not have the power to celebrate marriage in Nigeria.

Marriage Under the Act

This is a type of marriage that is purely regulated by some statutory provisions of the marriage act in view of the regulations of this type of marriage by the provisions of the marriage act. It is possible to celebrate marriage under the act without giving Notice of Marriage in Nigeria. This is only possible to the extent that such marriage has been granted approval for a special marriage by the Hon. Minister of Interior Affairs to be celebrated.

A special marriage is not a type of marriage on its own. It is still marriage under the act that has expressly received the approval of the Hon. Minister of Interior Affairs to be celebrated. Note that the mosque does not enjoy the permission to celebrate marriage under the act in Nigeria.

For legally binding special marriages conducted in Nigeria between one Nigerian citizen and a foreigner or between two foreigners resident in Nigeria, an application must be made to the Marriage Registry.

The Ministry of Interior authorizes each Federal Marriage Registry to carry out different services including:

The registry of ordinary and special marriages
Issuance and re-issuance of secured marriage certificates

How to Plan Your Civil Wedding in Nigeria (Step-by-Step Guide 2025) | Everything You Need to Know!

General Requirements for Marriage Registration

Following is a guideline on how to register a marriage in the Federal Republic of Nigeria under Nigerian law.

Before tying the knot, it’s crucial to navigate through the legal requirements to ensure a valid union.

Read also: What is Open Marriage?

Key Requirements

Both people are not related, that is, have a prohibited degree of relationship with intended spouse.
One person is a Nigerian or both people are Non-Nigerians living in Nigeria.

Documents Required for Visa Application (If Applicable)

Married people applying for visas need to tender their marriage certificate.

Valid international passport: This is the first paper that should be gotten when applying for a visa.
Marriage certificate: This is the legal document showing the married person has been joined by law to his or her partner.
Documents proving the applicant is free to enter a civil partnership: In a situation whereby they are no longer married to the partners as in the case of death, a document showing they are free to marry or enter a civil partnership again has to be attached to their documents. This is to help them reduce the chances of them being stressed or harassed at the embassies during the visa interview.
Statement of account: The embassy of the country you are applying to wants to be sure you can fend for yourself and have enough to cover the cost of your trip. It is important you get the statement of account from your bank to prove you can take care of yourself while in the foreign land.
Documents showing where you would live: A married person applying for visa needs to provide a document showing where he or she would live or stay during the course of the visit. In most cases, the inviting partner has to send a letter of invitation in order to help the applicant if he or she is visiting. It is important for applicants to put their plans of getting and paying for a hotel on hold till their visas have been approved.

Additional Documents

Birth certificates or official documents showing the ages of the couple.
Results of HIV and genotype tests.
A divorcee must produce a divorce certificate.
A widow or a widower is required to present the death certificate of the late spouse.
A person under 18 years of age, who wishes to register a marriage, is required to present a letter of consent from his or her parents.

The Registration Process

You can apply in person or online.

After the above documents are submitted at the registry office or uploaded online, payment is made for the application and the 7 days notice period starts counting. The couple is required to provide one witness each from both of them on the wedding day (Please note that witnesses are not gender specific).

Marriage is registered at a local public registry, which requires a Letter of Marriage Intention and payment of a fee of Naira 2,000. The registry will display the Letter of Marriage Intention for 21 days on a public notice board. Provided that no objection to the intended marriage is made during the 21 day period, a couple may then register their marriage. A marriage registrar may witness the exchange of oaths by the couple.

Visit the registry location and take the oath on the provided date. Please note that short sleeves, shorts and jeans are not allowed.

Read also: Traditional Moroccan Weddings

Cost: Price ranges from N15,000 to N25,000. The cost differs for Ordinary and Special Marriage.

Waiting Period: Minimum of 21 days for Ordinary Marriage and 7 days for Special Marriage after application is submitted. You should factor this waiting period when planning dates or travel.

Important Points to Note

It is absolutely necessary to register the marriage celebration at the marriage registry or licensed place of worship again for the authentication of your marriage.
Anybody can come up with a certificate claiming to be married, hence the need for proper registration.
You are entitled to only one Marriage Certificate which has been issued to you.
Your marriage data is intact.
The money you paid at the Registry or licensed place of worship is for the celebration/registration of your marriage of which you were issued a marriage certificate.

Citizenship and Business Department

The Ministry of Interior Citizenship and Business Department is responsible for upholding the Marriage Act, CAP M6, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria (2004) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Marriage Certificate Information

The number on the top of your Marriage Certificate is on the right-hand side where you have Section 24. It used to be black in colour but now red in colour.
To retrieve your marriage data, use your marriage certificate number first, then your name.