How to Register a Marriage in Puducherry: Documents, Fees and e-Thirumanam Steps

This guide is also available in Tamil: தமிழில் படிக்க.

To register a marriage in Puducherry you apply at a Sub-Registrar office of the Registration Department. According to the department’s marriage registration page, there are three types of registration. This guide covers eligibility, documents and the process for each, including the online e-Thirumanam service.

Types of marriage registration

1. Hindu Marriage Registration: for couples who are both Hindu, Buddhist, Jain or Sikh.
2. Special Marriage Registration: for couples where one or both are Christian, Muslim or of another religion, and the marriage has already been solemnised.
3. Intended Marriage Registration: for couples who want to solemnise and register the marriage before the Sub-Registrar.

There is also condonation of delayed registration for Hindu, Buddhist, Jain and Sikh marriages that were solemnised but never registered.

1. Hindu Marriage Registration

Eligibility

• One or both parties are domiciled in Puducherry.
• Neither has a living spouse.
• The groom is at least 21 and the bride at least 18.
• Both are Hindu, Buddhist, Jain or Sikh.
• The marriage was performed by temple, Iyer, Suyamariyathai or Seerthiruththa rites.

Documents

1. Birth proof for both (birth certificate, transfer certificate or mark sheet)
2. Photo ID for both (voter ID, Aadhaar, passport or driving licence)
3. Ration card for both
4. Original Iyer certificate or certificate of solemnisation
5. Original marriage invitation

Process

• Apply through e-Thirumanam and book an appointment, or download the form and submit it in person.
• The bride, groom, one parent from each side and three witnesses must appear before the Sub-Registrar, each with an original photo ID.
• The marriage certificate is issued after everyone signs before the Sub-Registrar.
• For direct submissions, the department says registration can happen about a week after document verification, subject to date availability.

Form: Hindu marriage application (PDF)

2. Special Marriage Registration

This applies when the marriage has already taken place and the couple has lived together as spouses. People of any religion can apply under the Special Marriage Act, 1954.

• One or both parties are domiciled in Puducherry.
• At registration, neither party may have more than one living spouse or be of unsound mind.
• Both must be at least 21, and not within prohibited degrees of relationship.
• Documents are the same as for Hindu marriage, but the original solemnisation certificate must come from an Iyer, priest or Kazi.

Process: after you apply, a 30-day public notice is displayed. Even if you apply on e-Thirumanam, you must still submit the documents in person before the notice goes up. After 30 days, the couple and three witnesses appear before the Sub-Registrar on the chosen date (subject to availability) with original photo ID and sign to receive the certificate.

Form: Special marriage application (PDF)

3. Intended Marriage Registration

For couples who want the marriage solemnised and registered before the Sub-Registrar.

• One or both parties are domiciled in Puducherry; any religion covered by the Special Marriage Act can apply.
• The groom must be at least 21 and the bride at least 18; they must not be within prohibited degrees of relationship, and both must be able to give valid consent.
• Documents: birth proof, photo ID and ration card for both. An Iyer certificate and invitation are not needed, since the marriage takes place at the office.
• A 30-day notice is displayed after you apply. Then, on the chosen date, the couple and three witnesses appear with original photo ID, and the certificate is issued after signing.

Form: Intended marriage application (PDF)

Condonation of delayed registration

• For Hindu, Buddhist, Jain and Sikh marriages solemnised more than 5 years ago and never registered.
• The groom must have been at least 21 and the bride at least 18 at the time of the marriage.
• If the marriage was 5 to 15 years ago, the District Registrar verifies it. If it was more than 15 years ago, the Collector-cum-Secretary (Revenue) verifies it.
• Documents are the same as for Hindu marriage registration.

Applying on e-Thirumanam, step by step

1. On the e-Thirumanam portal, choose the marriage type (HM for Hindu, SM for Special, IM for Intended) and click Apply.
2. Read the instructions, tick “I read the above instructions” and click Proceed.
3. Upload the required documents. Photos and signatures should be JPG, JPEG or PNG; other proofs should be scanned PDFs.
4. Submit the application. For special and intended marriages, a notice is displayed for 30 days.
5. Book an appointment for registration. Fees are paid online.
6. On the appointment day, visit the Sub-Registrar office. The Sub-Registrar verifies the documents, takes photos and signatures, and issues the certificate.
7. You receive SMS updates at each stage.

Documents to upload: photos and signatures of the groom and bride; age proof, resident proof (ration card or voter ID) and ID proof (Aadhaar or passport) for each; ID proof for the witnesses; the solemnisation or Iyer certificate; and the marriage invitation. For an intended marriage, witness signatures replace the certificate and invitation.

The portal has a user manual (PDF).

Downloading the certificate

After registration is complete, you can download the certificate from e-Thirumanam. You need the marriage certificate number, marriage date, and the dates of birth of the groom and bride.

Fees: the department’s pages differ

• The marriage registration page lists a fee of Rs 20 for all three types.
• The services and fees page lists Rs 200 for Hindu marriage registration, Rs 10 for a certified copy of the certificate, and Rs 20 for special marriage registration.

Because of this difference, confirm the exact amount with the Sub-Registrar office or on e-Thirumanam before you apply.

On registration day

• The bride, groom and three witnesses must all attend (plus one parent from each side for Hindu marriages).
• Everyone needs one original photo ID.
• Carry the original documents.
• The department’s citizen charter says a Hindu marriage certificate is available within 5 days of receiving the application.

Contact

• Registration Department, Kamaraj Salai, Sakthi Nagar, Saram, Puducherry
• Phone: 0413-2247194, 0413-2231275
• Email: [email protected]
• e-Thirumanam support: [email protected]

Official links

• Registration Department: marriage registration page
• e-Thirumanam portal
• Services and fees

The details above come from the Registration Department’s own websites. Procedures and fees can change, so confirm the current details on the official site before you apply.

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