ශ්රී ලංකා ප්රජාතාන්ත්රික සමාජවාදී ජනරජයේ මහ කොමසාරිස් කාර්යාලය, කැන්බරා, ඕස්ට්රේලියාව
இலங்கை ஜனநாயக சோஷலிசக் குடியரசின் உயர்ஸ்தானிகராலயம், கன்பரா, ஆஸ்திரேலியா
The High Commission of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, Canberra, Australia
Registration of Marriage in Sri Lanka or at the Mission
Steps to be Taken if You Decide to Marry in Sri Lanka
Congratulations on Your Decision to Get Married in Sri Lanka!
We are delighted that you have chosen Sri Lanka as the destination for your marriage. To ensure a smooth and legally recognized marriage in Sri Lanka, please carefully review the following requirements and prepare the necessary documents.
Legal Requirements for the Registration of Marriages of Foreign Nationals in Sri Lanka
You are required to present the following documents to the Additional District Registrar in the area where your marriage will take place:
1. Valid Passports
Both parties must present valid passports.
2. Original Birth Certificates
Both parties must provide their original birth certificates.
3. Certified and Authenticated Documents
The following documents must be certified and authenticated by the Australian Passport Office and the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFAT) or the respective Foreign Mission in your residence country:
Unmarried Certificate (for singles)
This must be an affidavit or statutory declaration signed by a solicitor confirming your identity and marital status (unmarried/free to marry).
Affidavit for Unmarried Certificate
Separate affidavits may be required for periods lived in different countries, authenticated by the Australian Passport Office, DFAT, or the respective Foreign Mission in your residence country.
For Australians, the Unmarried certificate can be obtained through Certificate of No Impediment.
Divorce Certificate/Court Order (for divorcees)
Death Certificate of Late Spouse and previous marriage certificate and Free to Marry Certificate (for widows/widowers)
Name Change Certificate (if you have changed your name, including divorcees who have reverted to their maiden names)
4. Security Clearance Certificate
Obtain the original copy from the security authorities.
Security Clearance Certificate
This certificate should be sent to the Civil Registration Unit of the Registrar General’s Department of Sri Lanka, indicating that you have not been convicted of any offense in the past six months. The Registrar General’s Department will issue a license to register the marriage based on this report.
5. Self-Declaration of Health
Submit a health declaration form confirming your health status.
6. Tourist Visa
Ensure you obtain a tourist visa to visit Sri Lanka for your marriage.
Important Post-Marriage Steps
Marriage Certificate Authentication
You must have your marriage certificate certified by the Consular Affairs Section of the Foreign Ministry in Colombo.
Translation and Certification
If your marriage certificate is issued in Sinhalese or Tamil, obtain an official English translation from the Registrar General’s Office (www.rgdept.lk). This translation must also be certified by the Foreign Ministry and this Mission.
Only after these steps will your marriage certificate be valid for submission to authorities outside Sri Lanka.
Marriage Registration at the High Commission / Consulate General
A Marriage can be registered by the High Commission and Consulate General offices, if:
- One of the parties to the marriage is a Sri Lankan Citizen and has given Notice of Marriage to the Mission;
- The marriage may be registered in the High Commission after a lapse of twelve (12) working days from the date of receipt of the Notice of Marriage and within three (03) months from such date.
7. Where to Apply?
Forward your application to the following respective offices, closest to your place of residence:
| No. | Respective Area | Office & Contact Details |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Papua New Guinea, Fiji, Vanuatu, Solomon Islands and Samoa; Western Australia (WA), Northern Territory (NT), Australian Capital Territory (ACT), New South Wales (NSW), Queensland (QLD) | Sri Lanka High Commission 61, Hampton Circuit, Yarralumla 2600, ACT, Australia Tele: 02-6198-3756 Fax: 02-6198-3760 E-mail: slhc.canberra@mfa.gov.lk |
| 2 | Victoria (VIC), South Australia (SA), Tasmania (TAS) | Sri Lanka Consulate General in Melbourne. 432, Level 9, St Kilda Road, Melbourne VIC 3004, AustraliaTelephone: +61 3 9290 4200 Fax: +61 3 9867 4873 Email: mail@slcgmel.org Web: https://www.cg-melbourne.gov.lk |
8. Steps to be Taken and Checklist
| No. | Description | Important Details |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Application process and documents to be submitted | Application Form |
| 2 | Valid passports of both parties | |
| 3 | Two (02) witnesses with photo identification documents | |
| 4 | Bachelor Certificate by both parties | If he/she is a Sri Lankan, this should be obtained from the Grama Niladari (Village Headman) in the applicant’s city/village, which should be endorsed by the Divisional Secretary and thereafter by the Consular Affairs Division of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Colombo 01.If he/she is a non-Sri Lankan, this should be obtained from the Embassy/High Commission of the country of his/her nationality. |
| 5 | Notice of Marriage | Notice of Marriage Form B 100 |
| 6 | Declaration | Declaration Form for Marriage |
| 7 | Proof of Residence |
8. Payment Schedule
| No. | Service / Fee | Amount (AUD) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Notice of Marriage – General / Kandyan | $45.00 |
| 2 | Registration and issuance of Marriage Certificate – General / Kandyan / Muslim | $69.00 |
| 3 | Registration of Marriage under Special Licence – General / Kandyan | $89.00 |
| 4 | Certified Copies – General / Kandyan / Muslim | $33.00 |
| 5 | Caveat | $45.00 |
| 6 | Application for Marriage Licences under Section 24 (Notice of Marriage) | No fee |
| 7 | Postage – Within Australia | $10.00 |
| 8 | Postage – Outside Australia | $40.00 |
8.1 Payment Methods
If applying in person:
- Cash payments are accepted.
- Credit, ATM and Debit cards are not accepted.
- Personal or Company cheques are not accepted.
- Money Order / Bank Transfer:
- Please contact the High Commission or Consulate before making the payment for instructions.
- Do not directly deposit or send a Money Order to the High Commission or Consulate without prior instructions.
Important: Fees will not be refunded under any circumstance after an official receipt has been issued.
9. Special Notes – Important
- Fees: Fees will not be refunded under any circumstance after issuance of an official receipt.
- Translations: Translations will not be accepted as originals.
- Photocopies: All photocopies should be on A4-size paper.
- Attestation of Documents: The High Commission will attest the documents and return the originals to the applicant.
- Urgent Courier/Post: If the applicant needs to send or receive documents by express courier service, Speed Post, etc., on an urgent basis, he/she must organise this independently.
- Responsibility for Postal/Courier Delays: The High Commission is unable to take any responsibility for documents lost or delayed in the post/courier.