Register of Marriages
Once the marriage has been solemnised, both of the parties being married, the two witnesses and the Marriage Officer must sign the Marriage Register. Then the Marriage Officer issues the Parties with a Marriage Certificate (BI-27) free of charge.

Registration and Certificates
The Marriage Officer, after the marriage has taken place, then submits the Marriage Register to the nearest Office of Home Affairs so that they can record the marriage particulars in the National Population Register (NPR). Should you require further copies of the Marriage Certificate, you would need to complete an application form - BI-130 - and make a payment of the prescribed fee of R10-00: you may also apply for a full (unabridged) certificate by completing the application form BI-130 and making payment of the prescribed fee of R50-00.

If you are applying for marriage certificates within South Africa, your applications should be lodged at your nearest Home Affairs Office, or, if applying from abroad, applications can be sent to the nearest South African Mission or Consulate – these of course will take longer depending on the different diplomatic bag dispatch periods.