Marriage Registration in Karnataka, Kaveri Steps and Documents

Marriage registration in Karnataka is done by the Sub-Registrar of the Department of Stamps and Registration, through Kaveri Online Services. A Hindu marriage is registered after the wedding under the Hindu Marriage Act and the Karnataka rules of 1966. You need three witnesses over 18, and an online application needs Aadhaar but no office visit.

In Kannada this is maduve nondani. One system covers the whole state.

Which Law Applies in Karnataka

The Inspector General of Registration lists the laws its offices work under on its marriage acts and rules page.

A 2024 amendment to the Hindu marriage rules, notified on 6 February 2024, allows the memorandum to be filed and kept electronically.

Karnataka also has the Karnataka Marriages (Registration and Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 1976. The IGR's list does not include it, and we could not confirm on an official page how its registration chapter is used today. So we are not calling registration compulsory in Karnataka.

Register anyway, because the certificate is the proof that the passport office, a visa officer or a bank will ask to see when you change a name or add a spouse.

Who Can Register in Karnataka

The Kaveri 2.0 FAQ sets these conditions.

1. The bride must be at least 18 and the groom at least 21.
2. At least one of these must be in Karnataka: the bride's home, the groom's home or the place of marriage.
3. Three witnesses, each above 18 years.
4. For a special marriage notice, the couple must have lived more than 30 days at the address given.

How to Register a Marriage Online in Karnataka

Kaveri lets you register a Hindu marriage fully online. No office visit.

1. Go to kaveri.karnataka.gov.in and register with your mobile number or email. A password is sent to you.
2. Choose Hindu marriage registration and fill the memorandum.
3. Enter the Aadhaar details of the bride and the groom. Aadhaar is mandatory for the online route.
4. Upload a joint photo of the couple in PNG format, up to 2 MB, and the documents listed below.
5. Submit. The Sub-Registrar checks the application.
6. After approval, pay the fee online. UPI works.
7. Download the certificate.

The Kaveri FAQ says an online Hindu marriage registration does not need a visit to the Sub-Registrar office. The service is listed under Sakala with a timeline of one working day.

Offline is different. Aadhaar is not compulsory, but the couple must go to the office with all three witnesses for verification.

If you need the certificate soon for a passport or a spouse visa, the online route is quicker because it skips the office visit altogether.

Kaveri's helpline is 080-68265316, and the Kaveri helpdesk is 8970200100.

Documents for Marriage Registration in Karnataka

The Kaveri FAQ asks for one document of each kind.

A divorced or widowed applicant must also give the divorce decree or the death certificate of the former spouse.

The wedding card is compulsory here. If the wedding was at a choultry in Mandya, keep the hall receipt with the card. Ask the hall for it before you leave.

The IGR also publishes a model memorandum (Form I) with a joint photo and space for three witnesses. The IGR notes that this model is a draft, not a format fixed by law.

Fees for Marriage Registration in Karnataka

The IGR's Hindu marriage fees page lists the smaller fees.

That page does not list the registration fee itself. Kaveri shows the amount at the payment step after the Sub-Registrar approves the application. We have not printed a figure we could not confirm.

Special Marriage Act Route in Karnataka

A special marriage notice is given before the marriage, and the couple must appear in person before the Sub-Registrar for it. The couple must have lived more than 30 days at their address. After the 30-day notice period, the marriage is solemnised before three witnesses.

The IGR's special marriage fees page lists these.

To register a marriage already held in another form under this Act, both partners must be 21. On Kaveri this can be done online with Aadhaar e-KYC through DigiLocker for the couple and all three witnesses. Our court marriage process page explains the route in full.

After Registration

Check both names and the date of marriage on the certificate. Do it the same day. For a copy later, a certified copy costs ₹10.

If the bride plans to change her surname, the marriage certificate is the base document. See our page on name change after marriage for the order to follow.

For other states, read the marriage registration guide for India.