Muslim Marriage (Nikah) Registration in Delhi

The nikah is a contract as well as a ceremony, and the nikahnama records it. Many Muslim families in Delhi assume the nikahnama is all they need. For many purposes inside the community it is, but passport offices, banks, embassies and courts increasingly ask for a government marriage certificate. In Delhi, that comes from registering the nikah with the SDM under the 2014 Order. This guide explains how.

The legal basis

The Delhi (Compulsory Registration of Marriage) Order, 2014 requires registration of all marriages solemnised in Delhi, whatever the religion of the parties. When the question arose whether it applied to Muslims and Christians, the Delhi High Court, in Rehan Elahi v Government of NCT of Delhi, confirmed that it does.

Registration under the Order does not change or replace the nikah. It records it. Order 8 states that registration does not by itself make a marriage valid or invalid.

Who can register under the 2014 Order

• Couples whose nikah was solemnised in Delhi.
• Couples of any age of marriage, provided both met the legal requirements on the date of the nikah.
• Couples registering late, with the applicable fee or penalty.

If your nikah took place outside Delhi, see married outside Delhi, register in Delhi.

Documents

For each spouse	Joint	Witnesses (two)
Identity proof	Nikahnama	Identity proof
Date-of-birth proof	Photos of the nikah	Delhi address proof
Address proof	e-District acknowledgement and fee receipt	Photographs if asked
Notarised affidavit on e-stamp paper
Photographs

If either spouse was previously married, bring proof of how that marriage ended, such as a divorce decree, a talaq-related document recognised in law, or a death certificate. See documents for divorced applicants.

The nikahnama

Make sure the nikahnama:

• names both spouses as in their identity documents;
• shows the date and place of the nikah;
• is signed by the qazi and witnesses;
• is legible, with a translation if it is in Urdu or Arabic.

If spellings differ from your documents, add a one-name affidavit.

Step by step

1. Gather documents and check names and dates.
2. Prepare affidavits for both spouses on e-stamp paper and notarise them.
3. Apply on e-District under the 2014 Order, choosing the district where the nikah took place or where either spouse lives.
4. Pay the fee: ₹200, plus any late fee.
5. Attend the appointment with both spouses and two witnesses.
6. Download the certificate.

Fees and timelines

Item	Amount
Registration fee	₹200
Days 61–120	+₹500
After 120 days	Penalty up to ₹1,000, which may be remitted
Tatkal	+₹10,000

Inter-faith couples

Under Muslim personal law, the validity of a nikah between a Muslim and a non-Muslim depends on the parties’ religions and is complex; some such marriages are treated as irregular or invalid. Registering such a nikah does not cure a validity problem. For inter-faith couples, the Special Marriage Act provides a clear civil route with no conversion needed. See inter-religion marriage in Delhi.

Old nikahs

Many couples who married years ago never registered. You can register at any time, with a late fee or penalty (which may be remitted for reasonable cause) and stronger proof: the original nikahnama, old photos, children’s birth certificates and joint documents. See registering an old marriage.

Why register at all if you have a nikahnama?

The nikahnama is an important religious and contractual document. A government certificate adds things the nikahnama cannot:

• Universal acceptance by passport offices, banks, insurers and employers, which often ask specifically for a certificate issued by a government registrar.
• Easier use abroad, because a government certificate can be apostilled or attested through the standard chain.
• Protection for women and children, because a registered marriage is easier to prove in maintenance, inheritance and custody matters. See why registration matters for women.
• Compliance with the 2014 Order, which makes registration compulsory for marriages solemnised in Delhi.

Mehr and other terms

The nikahnama often records the mehr (dower) and other terms agreed between the spouses. Registration under the 2014 Order does not change these terms. Keep the original nikahnama safe alongside the government certificate; you may need it to prove the agreed terms later.

Choosing the district

You can apply to the SDM of the district where the nikah was solemnised or where either spouse lives. Areas with large Muslim communities, such as parts of Old Delhi, North East Delhi and South East Delhi, see many nikah registrations, and officers there are familiar with nikahnamas. See marriage registration in Old Delhi and North East Delhi.

Witnesses

The two witnesses at the registration appointment need identity proof and, as commonly required in Delhi, Delhi address proof. They can be the same people who witnessed the nikah, which is often the most convenient choice, because they can confirm the ceremony took place.

Common mistakes

1. Relying on the nikahnama alone for passports or visas.
2. Spelling differences between the nikahnama and identity documents.
3. No translation of an Urdu nikahnama.
4. Applying under the Hindu Marriage Act instead of the 2014 Order.
5. Inter-faith couples relying on a nikah instead of the Special Marriage Act.

Worked example: registration after nikah

Arshad and Mehreen marry by nikah in Jamia Nagar. They apply on e-District under the 2014 Order two weeks later, upload the nikahnama and photos, and attend the appointment with Mehreen’s brother and a neighbour as witnesses.

Worked example: old nikah for a passport

Nasir and Rukhsana married in 1995 and need a certificate for Rukhsana’s passport. They register under the 2014 Order with the nikahnama, old photos and their children’s birth certificates, and request remission of the late penalty.

Checklist for nikah registration

• Original nikahnama, with a translation if in Urdu or Arabic
• Identity, age and address proof for both spouses, names matching the nikahnama
• One-name affidavit if spellings differ
• Notarised affidavits on e-stamp paper
• Photographs of both spouses and of the nikah
• Two witnesses with identity and Delhi address proof
• e-District acknowledgement and fee receipt

Key terms explained

• Nikah: the Muslim marriage contract and ceremony.
• Nikahnama: the written record of the nikah.
• Qazi: the person who solemnises the nikah.
• 2014 Order: the Delhi order requiring registration of all marriages solemnised in Delhi.

One-line takeaway

Register your Delhi nikah with the SDM under the 2014 Order, using the nikahnama as proof; inter-faith couples should use the Special Marriage Act.

Register your nikah with WedProof

WedProof prepares your file, translates the nikahnama if needed and books your appointment. Use the form on this page for a free check.