Leaving so soon?
Fill in the form below we'll send you our latest blog posts as soon as they're published, so you can keep up-to-date with the legalisation and travel situation across the globe.
UK-Issued Islamic Marriage Certificates – Where Are They Recognised?
At present, Islamic marriages are not recognised as legally binding by UK law. This is out of step with many other religious ceremonies which are recognised such as Jewish and Quaker marriages. Unless the married couple go on to seek a civil ceremony, their marriage is not considered legal and will miss out on rights enjoyed by other married couples. Does this apply to other countries and can they be legalised for use overseas?
What We’ll Cover
A poll for Channel 4 found that 61% of couples who have a Nikah, or Muslim ceremony, do not seek to have their marriage made legal under UK law in a civil ceremony and this only seems to be increasing trend. This can cause issues when wanting to access legal services or move abroad and have the marriage recognised. As specialists in the legalisation sector, we have seen inconsistencies with which countries will attest these certificates and accept them as official notices of marriage for family visas. Here we look at the most common destinations and their stance on these documents.
Qatar
As of June 2020, Qatar will now accept Islamic Marriage Certificates in most instances, though a translation may be required once you reach Qatar. Get in touch for further assistance.
UAE
If you are planning on moving to the UAE, you will be able to have your Islamic marriage certificate attested for use in the country. The document itself will need to be certified on the original before the Foreign and Commonwealth Office will apply an Apostille, which is the first stage of all attestation processes, but once the Apostille is applied the UAE Embassy will then apply their consular stamp.
Kuwait
The Kuwaiti Embassy will legalise an Islamic Marriage certificate, though if the parties on the certificate are British citizens a copy of both passports must be presented along with the certificate when requesting the consular stamp. No GRO-issued (General Register Office) civil copy of a certificate is required to support the Islamic certificate.
Egypt
If you are wanting to use a UK-issued Islamic marriage certificate in Egypt, then you will be able to have this legalised within the UK at their Embassy in London. The document itself will need to be certified on the original before the Foreign and Commonwealth Office will apply an Apostille, which is the first stage of all attestation processes. Once the Apostille is applied the Egyptian Embassy will then supply their consular stamp.
Saudi Arabia
The Embassy for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia will stamp an Islamic Marriage certificate for attestation purposes. The document itself will need to be certified on the original, followed by an Apostille being applied by the FCO. You can then request a consular stamp from the Embassy, but be aware an individual can not submit a document to the Embassy directly. You must employ an agent to do this on your behalf, which is a service we are able to supply.
Translations of the certificate
The Islamic marriage certificates can be issued in Urdu, Arabic, English and sometimes dual-language. If your certificate is not an English version or dual-language, you will need a translation to support the original document or request a new copy from the venue for legalisation purposes.
If you would like to get your Islamic marriage certificate attested for use along with your other documents, get in touch with one of our specialist advisers for advice. You can use our live chat system, send a text message via WhatsApp, give us a call on 0330 088 1142 or email us at sales@vitalconsular.com. We’ll be more than happy to help.
Melanie Clarke
Articles: 95
Attesting UK documents for the UAE – all you need to know
If you dream of living in the sunshine with beaches on your doorstep, then you might be considering moving to the UAE, a place renowned for it glamorous social scene, year-round sun and large expat community. But before you pack your suitcase it’s important to understand the paperwork involved in moving abroad whether it’s for work or as a dependent.
Getting A UAE Police Clearance Certificate – The Complete Guide
If you previously lived in the United Arab Emirates and have since relocated to a new country, you will likely need to provide a UAE Police Clearance Certificate for your new residence permit or work visa. Obtaining these from overseas can be a pain, but it doesn't have to be complicated, as our Dubai team provides all the information you'll need.
Driving as an expat – can I use my UK license abroad?
If you're moving overseas you may be thinking about how you're going to get around whilst you're there. Some people who live in a city are more than happy to rely on public transport, which you might find is vastly superior to services in your own country! But if you need to drive, can you use your UK license abroad?
Moving To Dubai From UK – 101 Insider Tips You Need To Know
Moving to the Middle East can be nerve-wracking, especially if the culture you will be adopting is very different to the one you're used to. Our office in Dubai is staffed entirely by expats from various locations around the globe, so we're well aware of how difficult it can be to settle it and make it feel like home.
What Can Go Wrong With UAE Attestation?
In this second part in our Legalisation Fixers series, we are looking at a lesser known pitfall we have encountered our customers experiencing when attesting a document for the UAE. As this case entails one of the most common confusions in the attestation process, namely the differences between certification and notarisation, we felt this would be an excellent example to share with you.
UK-Issued Islamic Marriage Certificates – Where Are They Reco...
At present, Islamic marriages are not recognised as legally binding by UK law. This is out of step with many other religious ceremonies which are recognised such as Jewish and Quaker marriages. Unless the married couple go on to seek a civil ceremony, their marriage is not considered legal and will miss out on rights enjoyed by other married couples. Does this apply to other countries and can they be legalised for use overseas?
UAE Suspends Good Conduct Certificate Requirement
In an about-turn from their notification earlier this year, the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MoFA) has now issued a directive to all Embassies worldwide that from the 1st April they are postponing the requirement for Good Conduct Certificates to be provided when applying for a UAE Residence Visa.
UK Birth, Marriage and Death Certificates now available in the UAE
In the UAE and don’t have access to your birth certificate? Maybe you’ve just moved to a new job and want to call your spouse over, but they’re tearing their hair out looking for your Marriage Certificate! Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered.
Five Great Reasons To Move to Dubai
Winter is coming. The days are getting shorter, skies are getting gloomier, and the sun's packed up and gone south for the next 6 months. As you stare out of your office window and see nothing but a sea of grey, don't you wish you could be somewhere warmer, sunnier and more full of life?
Related Posts
Can a Distance Education Certificate be Attested for use in Qatar?
When deciding on a degree course to study, your main focus is choosing a quality provider and ensuring that the structure of study will fit in with your life. With so many adults deciding to re-train or boost their expertise around current jobs or family commitments, distance learning qualifications are becoming more and more popular. But what are the pitfalls you may face further down the line?
Qatar Accepts Islamic Marriage Certificates – Service Update
Following an update from the Qatari Embassy, we can advise that Islamic Marriage Certificates can now be legalised for use in Qatar. There may be further requirements once you reach the country, but this is a step towards making things easier for those wishing to relocate to Qatar.
Ten Things To Know About Legalising Your Documents For Qatar
Our ten year anniversary is coming up, and as part of the celebrations we’ve decided to create a brand new blog series focused on giving you great information in lists of ten! Continuing our countdown, here’s a list of ten things you really need to know about legalising your documents for Qatar.
4 Comments
Leave a Reply
Popular Topics
Other Topics
Stay up to date...
Sign up to our monthly round-up newsletter, where we will let you know about any news, exciting new services we can offer and other information we think you'll enjoy.
Can you point the case for Canada (Specifically Canadian Spousal Sponsorship)?
Hi Firas, if you need your marriage certificate legalised for Canada we can look into that for you. If you e-mail us at sales@vitalconsular.com and state that you commented on our blog post, we can assist if you can also attached a photo or scan of your document. Many thanks for commenting.
Hi there, please can you tell me if uk-issued islamic marriage certificates are ok for employee pension scheme entitlements?
Hi Adam, if this is within the UK it should be fine but to ensure there’s no issues you should contact whomever you are presenting the certificate too and check their requirements, as it can depend on their needs.