Practical information about Pakistani documents

Information about marriage certificates

Pakistani Nikanama, Law 1961 Muslim Family Laws
Christian Nikanama
Nikanama from Azad Kashmir, Muslim Family Law 1989)

1. PAKISTANI NIKANAMA (marriage certificate) Law 1961 Muslim Family Laws

The Pakistani document of Nikanama/marriage certificate is due to be exact and correct, complete, duly registered and duly legalized. Hereunder explanation about those requirements to be find (A). Please kindly make sure that your documents are fulfilled with all the requirements. This is your responsibility.

Incorrect or incomplete documents need to be amended. This means that they need to be legally completed or corrected. Please kindly find hereunder the procedure to be followed in order to amend Pakistani documents (B).

A. Document to be submitted

I. EXACT AND CORRECT:

Information about names of persons, dates, places have to be exact and correct.

1. Spelling of names

Case 1: Spouse living in Belgium, his/her name should absolutely be exactly the same in the Pakistani documents (Nikanama, birth certificate) as in the Belgian ID Documents.
Case 2: Spouse living in Pakistan, his/her name should exactly correspond to the name mentioned in his/her birth certificate.

If there is a difference in the spelling of the name, the document may need to be amended.

2. Birthdates

Same observation as for the names. The dates must be the same in all the documents which are submitted.

If there is a difference between the dates, the document may need to be amended.

3. All other information must also be correct.

II. COMPLETE:

1. Every marriage certificate must be signed at the time of the marriage celebration by both spouses, by all the witnesses and by the authority celebrating the marriage. If one of those signatures is missing, the document must be amended.

2. All the 25 columns need to be duly completed by words (names, dates, places, explanations) or by “yes” or “no”. No column may be completed with a “line” or left blank. Should it be the case, the document needs to be amended.

3. Specifically:

names of witnesses must be mentioned,
name of the authority celebrating the marriage must be mentioned,
date of the marriage must be mentioned
date of registration of marriage must be mentioned,
columns 15 to 22 must be clearly completed with an appropriated answer or with “yes” or “no”.
the document must be signed by all parties (spouses, witnesses, authorities).

III. REGISTRATION

The religious marriage must be registered with the appropriate civil authorities (Union Council or Arbitration Council for Islamabad Capital). The Union Council is located in every municipality. Proof of registration shall be attested by a date, a number of registration, a stamp and the signature of the civil officer.

IV. LEGALIZATION / AUTHENTIFICATION

Every nikanama needs to be legalized by the Pakistani Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The date of that legalization won’t be older than 6 months. If the date is older, a new legalization by Pakistani Ministry of Foreign affairs is requested.

B. Incorrect or incomplete Documents to be amended

1. Forward a request for amendment to the local Family Court with mention of the amendments to be implemented. This request may be introduced with the help of a lawyer for applicants not knowing exactly how to proceed.

2. Upon reception of a properly introduced request, the local Family Court issues aorder/judgment to the Union Council allowing them to amend the document.

3. Upon reception of the order/judgment of the local Family Court, the Union Council amends the 4 different copies of the Nikanama and their register.

4. The Union Council provides an attestation confirming that the amendments have actually been proceeded and recorded in their register.

5. Please kindly legalize:

the order/judgment issued by the local Family Court
the attestation issued by the Union Council confirming that the amendments have been proceeded and recorded.
don’t forget that your Nikanama needs also to be legalized by Pakistani Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The whole procedure may take between a few weeks upon several months.

2. CHRISTIAN NIKANAMA (marriage certificate)

A. Document to be submitted

I. EXACT AND CORRECT

Information about names of persons, dates, places have to be exact and correct.

1. Spelling of names

Case 1: Spouse living in Belgium, his/her name should absolutely be exactly the same in the Pakistani documents (Nikanama, birth certificate) as in the Belgian ID Documents.
Case 2: Spouse living in Pakistan, his/her name should exactly correspond to the name mentioned in his/her birth certificate.

If there is a difference in the spelling of the name, the document may need to be amended.

2. Birthdates

Same observation as for the names. The dates must be the same in all the documents which are submitted.

If there is a difference between the dates, the document may need to be amended.

3. All other information must also be correct.

II. COMPLETE

2. All the columns need to be duly completed by words (names, dates, places, explanations). No column may be completed with a “line” or left blank. Should it be the case, the document needs to be amended.

3. Specifically

names of witnesses must be mentioned,
name of the authority celebrating the marriage must be mentioned,
date of the marriage must be mentioned
date of registration of marriage must be mentioned,
the document must be signed by all parties (spouses, witnesses, authorities).

III. REGISTRATION

The religious marriage must be registered with the appropriate civil authorities (Union Council or Arbitration Council or the Birth, Death and Marriage Registration Offices). Proof of registration shall be attested by a date, a number of registration, a stamp and the signature of the civil officer.

IV. LEGALIZATION / AUTHENTIFICATION

B. Incorrect or incomplete Documents to be amended

2. Upon reception of a properly introduced request, the local Family Court issues aorder/judgment to the civil authority allowing them to amend the document.

3. Upon reception of the order/judgment of the local Family Court, the Union Council or the Birth, Death and Marriage Registration Office amends the 4 different copies of the Nikanama and their register.

4. The civil authority provides an attestation confirming that the amendments have actually been proceeded and recorded in their register.

5. Please kindly legalize:

the order/judgment issued by the local Family Court
the attestation issued by the Union Council confirming that the amendments have been proceeded and recorded.
don’t forget that your Nikanama needs also to be legalized by Pakistani Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The whole procedure may take between a few weeks upon several months.

3. NIKANAMA (marriage certificate) from AZAD KASHMIR - Muslim Family Law 1989

A. Document to be submitted

I. EXACT AND CORRECT

Information about names of persons, dates, places have to be exact and correct.

1. Spelling of names

Case 1: Spouse living in Belgium, his/her name should absolutely be exactly the same in the Pakistani documents (Nikanama, birth certificate) as in the Belgian ID Documents.
Case 2: Spouse living in Pakistan, his/her name should exactly correspond to the name mentioned in his/her birth certificate.

If there is a difference in the spelling of the name, the document may need to be amended.

2. Birthdates

Same observation as for the names. The dates must be the same in all the documents which are submitted.

If there is a difference between the dates, the document may need to be amended.

3. All other information must also be correct.

II. COMPLETE:

1. Every marriage certificate must be signed at the time of the marriage celebration by both spouses, by all the witnesses and by the authority celebrating the marriage. If one of those signatures is missing, the document must be amended.

2. All the 13 columns need to be duly completed by words (names, dates, places, explanations). No column may be completed with a “line” or left blank. Should it be the case, the document needs to be amended.

3. Specifically:

names of witnesses must be mentioned,
name of the authority celebrating the marriage must be mentioned,
date of the marriage must be mentioned
date of registration of marriage must be mentioned,
the document must be signed by all parties (spouses, witnesses, authorities).

III. REGISTRATION

The religious marriage must be registered with the appropriate civil authorities (Union Council). The Union Council is located in every main municipality. Proof of registration shall be attested by a date, a number of registration, a stamp and the signature of the civil officer. The Union Council should register the marriage upon order of the family court.

IV. LEGALIZATION / AUTHENTIFICATION

B. Incorrect or incomplete Documents to be amended

2. Upon reception of a properly introduced request, the local Family Court issues aorder/judgment to the Union Council allowing them to amend the document.

3. Upon reception of the order/judgment of the local Family Court, the Union Council amends the 4 different copies of the Nikanama and their register.

4. The Union Council provides an attestation confirming that the amendments have actually been proceeded and recorded in their register.

5. Please kindly legalize:

the order/judgment issued by the local Family Court
the attestation issued by the Union Council confirming that the amendments have been proceeded and recorded.
don’t forget that your Nikanama needs also to be legalized by Pakistani Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The whole procedure may take between a few weeks upon several months.