Getting married or registering a civil partnership abroad: Information based on your answers
Marriage in Afghanistan
Contact the Embassy of Afghanistan before making any plans to find out about local marriage laws, including what documents you’ll need.
You should get legal advice and check the travel advice for Afghanistan before making any plans.
What you need to do
You’ll be asked to provide a certificate of no impediment (CNI) to prove you’re allowed to marry.
You can normally get a CNI by giving a notice of marriage at your local register office or registrar in the UK. Find your local office or registrar in England and Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland, Isle of Man, Jersey or Guernsey.
A CNI issued in Scotland is valid for 3 months. A CNI issued in England, Wales or Northern Ireland will not expire. Check with your local register office to find out how long a CNI is valid if you live in the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man. You should also check with the local authorities in Afghanistan to find out how long a CNI is valid under local law.
Legalisation and translation
You might need to exchange your UK-issued CNI for one that’s valid in Afghanistan at the nearest embassy or consulate to where you’re getting married.
You should also check if it needs to be:
- ‘legalised’ (certified as genuine)
- translated - find a translator abroad, or in the UK through the Institute of Linguists
You should also check with the local authorities in Afghanistan to find out if you need to provide legalised and translated copies of any other documents.
The names on all documents you provide must appear exactly as they do on your passports - if not, the authorities may refuse to allow the marriage to go ahead. You may need to provide evidence if the name on your passport is different to your birth certificate (for example marriage certificate or deed poll).
Your answers
- Is your partner of the opposite sex, or the same sex?
- Opposite sex
- Change Is your partner of the opposite sex, or the same sex?