How To Apply Online Marriage Certificate In Punjab
A marriage certificate is a legal piece of document that ensures that the jurisdiction accepts a wedding ceremony solemnised between two adults. In India, each citizen is aware of the provisions associated with a marriage certificate and its importance in further approval of legal actions like applying for a VISA, requesting a name change on the PAN card, etc. So, if you are a resident of Punjab and if you are soon to get married, you should register your marriage without a second thought.A marriage certificate registration can now be done online. This will save time and money for couples who previously hired legal services to complete the necessary steps. The Punjab marriage certificate registration aims to provide government aid to married couples who have their residential addresses within the state territory of Punjab. People of all religions must have their marriages registered. Failing to do so may lead to paying a penalty of ₹2, which the government will sanction from the very first day of their wedding.
Marriage registration has been made compulsory after the formal marriage ceremony, and a couple must seek to register their marriage after the completion of one month of their marriage. This rule is applicable throughout the urban setting of Punjab. The process can be solemnised either through the online portal of the state government website or by availing of the traditional service offered by the office of the Municipal Corporation.
A Brief Note on Punjab Marriage Certificate
Punjab marriage certificate legally binds a married couple who resides in Punjab. Those who previously used to refrain from marriage registration due to the elaborate process involved in the municipal office can now avail of similar services from the comfort of their homes. Therefore now, the citizens of Punjab can apply for marriage registration at a greater rate.Also, the state government has cut down the expenses of married couples, and now there is an online interface that can accurately register marriage details in government databases. The Registrar General of Marriages looks after the whole process. It is a subdivision of the law department under the Punjab High Court. The end goal of online marriage registration is to ensure that the maximum possible newly married couples legally step forward to authenticate their marriage by getting their respective marriage certificates from the government.
In 2022, the government has further decided to stress this matter so that the citizens of Punjab realise how important it is to have their marriage registration done. Otherwise, the government will offer no banking facilities to a couple with a joint account.
Documents Needed for Marriage Registration in Punjab
The following documents must be there with every single adult who intends to register their marriage in Punjab.- Both the bride and groom must have their AADHAR as proof of nationality. This is the primary identity proof of every Indian after the passport;
- Birth certificates are needed as an age-proof document. The bride must be above 18 years of age on the day of marriage, while the minimum age criteria for grooms is 21;
- A gazetted officer must sign a certificate to approve that the bride had changed her surname at marriage;
- If marriage is conducted in a different country, a NOC must be taken from the Indian embassy of that country;
- There must be a photo of the marriage day where both couples are present in marriage attire;
- The couples should produce a marriage invitation card during the marriage registration.
- Passport size photo of both the bride and groom is needed;
- The bride’s past residential address proof must be supported by any address proof, such as an electricity bill.
Eligibility Criteria for Punjabi Marriage Registration
The legal authorities of Punjab have abided by the national regulations to set the state’s eligibility criteria for Marriage registration. The credentials are listed as follows:- The marriage should be aged at least one month old or otherwise; the married couple is not eligible to apply for marriage registration.
- The bride and the groom must be permanent residents of Punjab before their marriage. Otherwise, registration is not possible online or through the traditional method of visiting the registrar’s office.
- The groom must be 21 years old, while the bride’s age by no means shall be lesser than 18 years.
- Remarriage after widow status is solemnised only if the concerned person can produce the death certificate of their previous partner.
- A divorce decree or certificate is compulsory for those opting for remarriage after a divorce.
Punjabi Marriage Registration Fees
All the citizens of Punjab who are looking forward to a marriage must apply for marriage registration to certify their marital status. The government has now arranged for online means of registration which has considerably lowered the charges previously associated with all the elaborate steps needed to be executed for marriage registration at the Registrar’s office.The government has fixed a service charge for registering married couples in the national databases. For newly married couples, the Punjab government charges 100 ₹ if the registration is applied for within one month of marriage. For married couples who seek registration after the completion of one month, the government stipulates fees of ₹ 250 for them.
Any citizen who wants to issue their marriage certificate but has been married for more than one year needs to pay a sum of ₹300. Marriage certificate has emerged as necessary certificate for all Indians, just like AADHAR, PAN, Voter cards, etc.
Conclusion:-
The Punjab government has taken a revolutionary step by mandating the requirement of a marriage certificate for all citizens with “married” relationship status. The online application procedure has made the whole application process simple, time-saving, and user-friendly. The concerned person now does not need to visit the municipality office to collect their certificate.They can simply download the marriage registration certificate from the official website of the Punjab government: