Confirm legal eligibility
Both parties must be at least 20, freely consent, have no existing marriage, and not be within a relationship prohibited by Nepal law.
Nepal marriage law · District Court registration
Court marriage in Nepal: requirements and process
Marriage by registration in Nepal follows sections 77–80 of the National Civil Code. This guide explains who can marry, where to apply, the residence rule, court review and when a lawyer can help.
Step by step
How court marriage works in Nepal
Establish the correct district
For court registration, either or both applicants must have lived in the relevant district for at least 15 days before applying.
Prepare the application
The application records identity, age, address, occupation, parents and grandparents, prior marital status, and at least two witnesses.
Court review and registration
The court investigates eligibility, prepares the consent instrument if approved, obtains signatures, registers the marriage and issues the certificate.
Legal requirements that cannot be skipped
Free and informed consent of both parties
Both parties have completed 20 years
No existing marital relationship
No prohibited relationship under Nepal law
At least two named witnesses
Required residence in the relevant district
Documents vary by the couple
Identity and nationality records, photographs, evidence of address or residence, prior-marriage termination documents and witness details may be needed. A foreign national may also need authenticated proof of marital status and documents from their country or embassy.
Review before filing
Requirements can change with nationality, previous marriage, residence and the office reviewing the application. Send clear copies first so missing or inconsistent information can be identified before attendance.
Family-law servicesNepal marriage registration questions
What is court marriage in Nepal?
Court marriage is marriage by registration under sections 77–80 of Nepal's National Civil Code. The couple applies to the competent District Court, the court examines eligibility, records consent and issues a marriage registration certificate.
How old must both parties be for court marriage in Nepal?
Both parties must have completed 20 years of age. A child marriage cannot be made valid simply by calling it a court marriage or paper marriage.
Is there a 15-day residence requirement?
Yes. Before applying to a District Court, either or both applicants must have lived in that district for at least 15 days. The court may require satisfactory evidence of residence.
Can a Nepali citizen marry a foreign national through court registration?
Potentially yes, provided both are legally eligible and the required identity, marital-status and foreign-law documents are accepted. Authentication, translation and embassy documents vary by nationality, so the file should be checked before submission.
How long does the court take to decide?
Section 78 states that the relevant authority should decide whether the marriage may proceed within seven days of the application. Preparation, missing documents, verification or foreign-national issues can affect the practical timeline.
Get help with marriage paperwork in Nepal
Have your eligibility and documents checked before filing. Call or WhatsApp Gitanjali Law Firm in Pokhara.
Mustang Chowk, Pokhara-7, Kaski, Gandaki Province, Nepal · Sunday–Thursday 10:00–17:00 · Friday 10:00–15:00 · Saturday closed