Marriage registration in Uttar Pradesh is done under the Uttar Pradesh Marriage Registration Rules, 2017, through the IGRS UP portal of the Stamp and Registration Department. You fill the form online in Hindi and English, upload the papers of the couple and two witnesses, pay the fee, and then visit the registration office within 30 days with all originals.
In Hindi this is called vivah panjikaran. A family in Lucknow and a family in a tehsil town of Gorakhpur use the same portal.
Which Law Applies in UP
The IGRS UP information page lists three documents for marriage registration: the Uttar Pradesh Marriage Registration Rules, 2017, the Hindu Marriage Registration Rules, 1973 and the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955.
The 2017 rules apply to marriages of every religion. Rule 6 covers a marriage held in Uttar Pradesh, or one where either spouse is a permanent resident of the state. The Allahabad High Court has read rule 6 this way in several cases.
A marriage between two people of different religions who want a civil marriage goes under the Special Marriage Act, 1954. That route is explained further down.
Is Marriage Registration Compulsory in UP
The 2017 rules ask for every such marriage to be registered. The Allahabad High Court has also said, in more than one judgment, that a marriage does not become invalid only because it was not registered. Section 8(5) of the Hindu Marriage Act says the same for Hindu marriages.
So registration is the proof, not the marriage itself. You will still need the certificate for a passport with the spouse's name. Visa offices and banks ask for it too.
Old marriages can be registered too. A couple married in 2009 can apply today with the same form.
How to Register a Marriage Online in Uttar Pradesh
The steps below are from the portal's own instructions on the IGRS UP marriage registration page.
- Sign up on the portal. Choose your district, make a user ID and a password of 8 to 12 characters, and verify your mobile number with an OTP.
- Fill the application in both Hindi and English. The address you type must match the address on your residence proof, word for word as far as possible.
- Upload a photo of the couple as a JPG under 40 KB.
- Upload proof of identity, age and residence for both spouses as small PDFs, about 70 KB each.
- Upload the same three proofs for each of the two witnesses.
- Upload the affidavits of the bride and the groom. Each must be notarised before you scan it. The portal also gives a format for the affidavit of the priest who did the wedding.
- Preview the form, save it, and write down the application number and password.
- Pay the fee online and keep the receipt.
- Visit the office you selected within 30 days of applying, with every original document.
Read step 9 twice. Thirty days pass quickly in the wedding season.
The portal also warns that a certificate can be cancelled later if any attached certificate or affidavit is found to be false. Do not let an agent make up an address proof for you.
Documents for Marriage Registration in UP
| Document | For whom |
|---|---|
| Identity proof | The couple and both witnesses |
| Age proof | The couple and both witnesses |
| Residence proof | The couple and both witnesses |
| Joint photo of the couple | The couple |
| Notarised affidavit | One from the bride, one from the groom |
| Priest's affidavit (format on the portal) | The priest or person who did the wedding |
The portal's help section lists which papers it accepts as proof. Read it before you go to the notary, because the affidavit and the uploads should carry the same name spelling and address.
The bride must have been at least 18 and the groom at least 21 on the wedding day. These are the ages under section 5 of the Hindu Marriage Act and the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act, 2006.
We also suggest carrying the wedding card and two or three wedding photos to the office. They are not on the upload list, but they help if the officer asks about the ceremony.
Fee for Marriage Registration in UP
The fee is small. The 2017 rules list a fee of ₹10, and their worked examples add ₹50 for each year of delay (₹50 for one year, ₹100 for two, ₹150 for three).
The rules PDF on the portal is in an old Hindi font that does not display well, so go by the amount the portal shows you before payment. Notary charges for the affidavits are separate and vary by town.
How Long It Takes and How to Check the Certificate
The portal does not print a fixed number of days. The certificate is issued after the office visit, once the officer has checked the originals.
You can check any UP marriage certificate on the official certificate verification page. Enter the certificate number or the application number, along with the date of marriage.
If you find a spelling mistake, go back to the same office with proof of the right spelling and ask how to correct it. Do this early, before you use the certificate for Aadhaar or the passport.
Special Marriage Act Route in UP
Under the Special Marriage Act, 1954, you give a notice of intended marriage to the Marriage Officer of the district where at least one of you has lived for the last 30 days. The notice is put up for 30 days. If nobody objects, the marriage is done before the Marriage Officer and three witnesses, and the certificate is entered in the Marriage Certificate Book.
We could not find an official UP page that names the Marriage Officer for each district. Ask at the district collectorate. Our page on the court marriage process covers this route stage by stage.
After Registration
Check both names and the date of marriage on the certificate the day you get it. Save a scanned PDF on your phone and in your email.
If the bride plans to change her surname, the marriage certificate is the base document. Our name change after marriage guide gives the order, starting with Aadhaar.
For other states and the general process, see our marriage registration guide for India.
Common questions
How to Register Marriage Online in Uttar Pradesh?
Sign up on the IGRS UP portal and fill the form in Hindi and English. Upload the proofs of the couple and two witnesses with notarised affidavits, and pay the fee. Then visit the selected office within 30 days with originals.
What Is the Marriage Registration Fee in UP?
The 2017 rules list ₹10, with ₹50 added for each year of delay. The portal shows the exact amount before you pay.
How Many Witnesses Are Needed for Marriage Registration in UP?
Two. Each witness needs proof of identity, age and residence. Their details go into the online form.
Is Marriage Registration Compulsory in Uttar Pradesh?
The 2017 rules ask for registration of marriages held in UP or involving a permanent UP resident. The Allahabad High Court has held that an unregistered marriage is still valid.
How Do I Verify a UP Marriage Certificate?
Use the certificate verification page on igrsup.gov.in with the certificate or application number and the date of marriage.
Can We Register a Marriage That Happened Years Ago?
Yes. Older marriages can be registered under the 2017 rules, with the late fee for the years of delay.
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