• UK
  • 21:58 24 Nov 2009

How to register a marriage

You should first contact the register office where you want to get married, and ask them which documents they will require from you/your partner.

Generally, they all ask for the Certificate of no Impediment (to show that you are free to marry), and sometimes the Certificate of Citizenship (for which we can certify copy of your passport). You can apply for both at our office in Sarajevo.

You have to show 21 clear days of residence in Bosnia and Herzegovina before applying (this can be shown from your passport/registration with the local police).

Documents you will need for a application for Certificate of no Impediment are: passport, Birth Certificate and you will be asked to complete and sign a Notice of Marriage and swear an affidavit.
If you and/or your partner have been married before, decree absolute of either/both parties, will be required.

The Notice of Marriage, which you give, has to be displayed at the Embassy for 21 clear days. After which we can issue you with the Certificate of no Impediment (if no impediment has been shown).

At the moment the fee for giving the Notice of Marriage is 145BAM (£63), for issuing the Certificate of no Impediment 145BAM (£63)and for the certifying a copy of passport 83BAM (£36). Please check the fees before coming.
After we issue you with the Certificate of no Impediment, you might have to take it to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina in Sarajevo for our signature to be certified.
You can also obtain the Certificate of no Impediment in the UK from your local register office.

We know that the registrars ask for an original Birth Certificate not older than 6 months (you will have to apply for a new one at the General Register Office in London or your regional office, depending on where you were born). It has to have the Apostille stamp on it (obtainable at the Legalisation Office, Norfolk House, 437 Silbury Boulevard, Milton Keynes, MK9 2AH, Telephone +441908295111, Fax +441908295122, e-mail: Legalisationoffice@fco.gov.uk ).

Some registrars may accept copy of your Birth Certificate which has been verified by us and then by Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina with an Apostile stamp for purpose of marriage.(also please check with local registrars office is this acceptable)

N.B.
It is essential that you check with the register office and see what documents they will require because otherwise you may be paying for something you will not need.




Back to top