U.S. Citizen Services

KENYAN MARRIAGE PROCEDURES

Ordinary License

The usual marriage procedure involves filing a “Notice of Marriage” form with the Registrar General’s Office and waiting twenty-one days.  The fee for filing this notice is Kshs.200.  After the twenty-one days, the parties will do the final documentation and the fee paid at this point is Kshs.1,550.  One party will book the Marriage date which is either on a Tuesday, Wednesday or Friday. If there is no objection to the marriage raised during that time, permission is granted.  On the Marriage date both parties will go to the Registrar’s Office with two witnesses and they will be granted the Marriage Certificate.

Parties must be eighteen years old and above.  Evidence of termination of any prior marriages must be presented.  A passport is also required for persons who are not citizens of Kenya.

Special License

The parties can apply for a Special License, which waives the twenty-one day waiting period.  The parties must state the reasons why they want an exemption from the waiting period and present an affidavit stating their marriage status.  Marriages can be performed by a civil registrar or by clergy.

At the Civil Registrar’s Office there is a fee of Kshs.6,250.  The breakdown is as follows:
 Special License      -  Kshs.5,000
 Ceremony              - Kshs.1,000
 Marriage Certificate - Kshs.  200
 Swearing               - Kshs.   50

Third Party: If the marriage is celebrated by a third party somewhere other than the Registrar General’s Office, the Marriage Officer will charge a fee of Kshs.10,250.

The cost of the Marriage Certificate is Kshs.200 and any certified copies are Kshs.200 each.

Hours of operation:

To see Registrar of Marriage:    Monday through Friday:   9am and 1pm 
                                                                             2pm and 5pm

To make any payment at the Cashiers: Monday through Friday:  9am and 12.30pm , 2pm and 3.30pm
 
How to contact the Registrar:

The Registrar General’s Office is Room 209, Sheria House, Harambee Avenue
Postal address is P. O. Box 30031, Harambee Avenue, Nairobi. 
Telephone number is 2227461. 

Forms can be completed upon arrival in Kenya.

Visa Information for Newlyweds

If your new spouse is not a US Citizen, he/she will need a visa to enter and live in the United States. For information on visas to the United States for your new spouse, please visit the State Department visa information web site.

Updated September 24, 2007